Clinging onto Memories

"The sounding cataract

Haunted him like a passion: the tall rock,

The mountain, and the deep and gloomy wood, 

Their colours and their forms, were then to him

An appetite, a feeling, and a love,

That had no need of a remoter charm, 

By thought supplied, or any interest

Unborrow'd from the eye"

When I first read "Tintern Abbey," I didn't take much out of it. I usually don't when I read poems for the first time. But after reading it numerous times and intensely dissecting it in class, I began to understand what William Wordsworth was writing about. Wordsworth is remembering how his memory was a strong feeling for him and that nothing was better. He is remembering how he, when in a bad spot, can look back and remember how peaceful and beautiful the abbey was. The only thing I don't understand is his word choice for his good memory. The word "haunted" really nags me. It's as if the memories were always with him but he didn't want them to be. The words "deep" and "gloomy" also raise my curiosity because if it's a good memory, why is Wordsworth using words that are usually paired with bad things? If I was to use "deep" and "gloomy" I would say, "I was deep in the quick sand" and "The graveyard was gloomy." Those are bad things. Not good things. "Tintern Abbey" remind me of my favorite place in the mountains. I go every summer and I would certainly not use those words to describe my time. Actually, I take that back. I would use "deep." But I would say that we go "deep" in conversation. We have a "haunted chapel." Maybe that's how Wordsworth is using them but that is not how I interpreted them.
Mary Shelley incorporates "Tintern Abbey" into Frankenstein because Victor is mourning the death of Henry Clerval when she brings it in. Victor is thinking about how that beautiful world in nonexistent for him anymore because he has released this awful creature is destroying his life and everyone he cares about. Victor believes that he will never again live in peace and quiet. Victor is also leaning towards that good memory because he doesn't have anything else that's good at the moment to help him get through the death of Clerval. To Victor, the words of "Tintern Abbey" remind him of Clerval and how he had helped him in many ways. Clerval helped him basically come back from almost dying after Creature is released into society. Clerval also helps him in a way he doesn't know. Clerval goes with Victor to be with him when he creates a female creature. Victor realizes his memories of Clerval is all he has left. But that also haunts him because he is the reason Clerval died. If he hadn't created Creature, Clerval would still be living. Victor is realizing the deaths around him are his fault. He now wants to go back to that place where he was happy and not surrounded by death. Victor knows he can never have that same moment back and that everything is changing. He, like Wordsworth, looks back on that perfect moment and clings onto it. They both keep it close to them and think of it often.