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Punctuation (Period or Comma or ...?)

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Hungry  #345118  Thu, 29 Mar 07 11:03 PM

Could someone please have a look at the following sentence for punctuation mistakes? I’ve put parentheses where I myself doubt.

 

They are the beginning of life or, as Wordsworth put it, “the child is the father of the man”(.)0  the origin and the future.

  
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Clive  #345134  Fri, 30 Mar 07 12:05 AM

Hi,

They are the beginning of life or, as Wordsworth put it, “the child is the father of the man”(.)0  the origin and the future.

Definitely don't put a period there. If you must leave the sentence as written, put a comma.

However, the quotation sits awkwardly in the middle of the sentence. In addition, the sentence has three 'parts' and there is duality in parts two and three but not in part one. I suggest something like -

They are the beginning and the later stage (the end?) of life, or the origin and the future. As Wordsworth put it, “the child is the father of the man”.

I thought Wordsworth actually wrote "The child is father to the man"?

Best wishes, Clive

  
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Hungry  #345170  Fri, 30 Mar 07 02:30 AM

Dear Clive,
It’s so nice of you for always being there to help me. I am very thankful to you. Please bear with me if I don’t thank you adequately. Because I think what you have done for me so far deserves a colourful bunch of thanks. I really appreciate your help, and respect your kind suggestions, comments and advices. I pray to God you get every good thing you want in your life.

Here is the whole text. I will be very pleased, if you see it, and tell me how I write it?

v     COMMENTARY ( of 'Children' by 'Henry Wadsworth Longfellow')

 

This poem starts with a call of welcome to children, for the poet sees them as our future and hope. They are the beginning of life or, as Wordsworth put it, “the child is the father of the man”.  the origin and the future. The poet is now old or in the autumn of his life, and soon snow will fall, but children in contrast are full of life and energy. Life without children is like a desert, dead and hopeless. The poet may also allude to Shelly’s West Wind which comes in autumn to make room for life in spring, but the children here open the eastern windows that face the sun (life). He uses metaphors from nature: sun (sunshine), the brooks (water as a symbol of life), birds singing and the trees. He contrasts or imagines two lives: life with and without children. I think this poem appeals to all the senses: the reader hears, looks, smells, tastes… When the poet looks at children, he forgets the questions that perplex him. All our knowledge is useless compared to what we feel in the company of children.

  
Clive  #345216  Fri, 30 Mar 07 05:37 AM

Hi,

Please read very carefully as I've made a small number of small alterations.

You're welcome.Smile [:)]

Clive

v     COMMENTARY ( of 'Children' by 'Henry Wadsworth Longfellow')

 

This poem starts with a call of welcome to children, for the poet sees them as our future and hope. They are the beginning of life or, as Wordsworth put it, “the child is the father of the man”.  They are our origin and our future. The poet is now old or in the autumn of his life, and soon snow will fall, but children in contrast are full of life and energy. Life without children is like a desert, dead and hopeless. The poet may also allude to Shelly’s West Wind which comes in autumn to make room for life in spring, but the children here open the eastern windows that face the sun (life). He uses metaphors from nature: sun (sunshine), the brooks (water as a symbol of life), birds singing and the trees. He contrasts or imagines two lives: life with and without children. I think this poem appeals to all the senses; the reader hears, looks, smells, tastes … When the poet looks at children, he forgets the questions that perplex him. All our knowledge is useless compared to what we feel in the company of children.

  
Hungry  #345506  Fri, 30 Mar 07 11:36 PM

Dearest Clive,

Thanks a lot for taking some of your very precious time out for me, and making the respectable alterations.Smile [:)]

May the blessings of God always shower upon you.

Hungry

  
Hungry  #349556  Wed, 11 Apr 07 02:24 PM

Won't "t" be capitalized (i.e., "The child is the father of the man.")?

By the way I have googled on both of the sentences.

"The child is the father of the man." --- Results 1 - 10 of about 11,300

"The child is father to the man." --- Results 1 - 10 of about 21,100

Could you please tell me what actually Wordsworth put?

  
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