"The World Is Too Much With Us; Late and Soon"
In the poem "The World is too Much With Us; Late and Soon," we can really see the connection that Wordsworth has with the movement of Romanticism. Multiple times in the poem, we can see the standpoint that he has on nature and its importance. He believes that, living during the industrial revolution, people have taken advantage of nature, "Little we see, in Nature that is ours; / We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon" (3-4)! Clearly, Wordsworth is angry with the little appreciation humans gave nature. He continues to explain that because of our shallow connection to nature, "For this, for everything, we are out of tune; / It moves us not" (8-9). Without nature, he gathers that humans will be out of touch with life. Wordsworth also uses a comparison to show how far from the norm he wants to be, "Great God! I'd rather be / A Pagan suckled in a creed outwork" (9-10); Here, Wordsworth frustration is key to his beliefs. From this standpoint, anyone can understand how close nature is dear to Wordsworth. His anger and frustration shows in this poem, that the Industrial Revolution was ruining humanity.
Read "The World Is Too Much With Us; Late and Soon" HERE.
"I Traveled Among Unknown Men"
Wordsworth always tied in nature to the themes of his poems. In the poem, "I Traveled Among Unknown Men," William describes the sense of loss and confusion that he feels where he lives in England. He explains how lost he is, even being born in England, "I traveled among unknown men, / in lands beyond the sea; / Nor, England! did I know till then / What love I bore to thee" (1-4). The words, Wordsworth uses verifies the feelings of absence and plain wandering. He shows that the only reason he got rid of the loss and found himself is through the nature surrounding England. Wordsworth uses nature to find himself, with views like the mountains, "Among thy mountains did I feel / The joy of my desire" (9-10); The only way for Wordsworth to fit in is through nature and love. It takes the "mountains" or nature, to feel "joy." He continues on to describe the love that takes him to a place where he can find who he is, "A second time; for still I seem / To love thee more and more" (7-8). William Wordsworth explains his love for nature and his birth place in England, in ways that makes the reader feel at home. The words he uses give off the feelings of comfort when he is faced with nature and love.
Read "I Traveled Among Unknown Men" HERE.
"The Tables Turned"
"The Tables Turned," is another clear definition of Romantic beliefs with an extremely powerful standpoint and message. In this poem, Wordsworth pushes the beauty of nature onto a regular student in school or someone who wants to gain knowledge. The ideas he gives is almost forced down the student's throat, "Up! Up! my friend, and clear your looks; / Why all this toil and trouble" (3-4)? Here, he explains that the student shouldn't even bother with reading the books, for nature teaches without reading. He believes and tells that the only way to really learn is through nature. Typical for Wordsworth, nature is seen as the only great and powerful, "Books! 'tis a dull and endless strife:... / How sweet his[nature] music! on my life, / There's more of wisdom in it (9-12). With great force, it's explained that nature contains more wisdom than anything else, especially "dull" books. Nature's important is a very powerful message in this specific poem, "Come forth into the light of things, / Let Nature be your teacher" (15-16). He basically calls the student blind for not understanding the power of nature and asks for him to let nature be his teacher. As if to not stress it enough, Wordsworth goes on to explain nature's power, "One impulse from a vernal wood / May teach you more of man,... / Than all the sages can" (21-24). Wordsworth really believes that nature can show more to man than any books or instructors can. In another point, he states that when studying or analyzing too much, we kill the things that help us learn, and just by watching nature, understanding comes without say, "We murder to dissect" (28). Basically, when studying or learning, we are analyzing too much, making true knowledge disappear. Finally, William Wordsworth proves that, again, nature is the only way to learn, and only when we watch will we gain the knowledge, "Enough of Science and Art;... / Come forth, and bring with you a heart / That watches and receives" (29-32). Here, he tells the student to stop with subjects like science and fort, once again forcefully. Finishing, he tells him with a heart that "watches and receives," is how he will gain major knowledge. In my opinion, this poem defines Wordsworth as a poet, and as a Romantic. With the explanations and beliefs that he puts into the poem, Romanticism is clearly defined, and nature's importance grasps the attention of the movement.
Read "The Tables Turned" HERE.
"It is a Beauteous Evening, Calm, and Free"
In the poem, "It is a Beauteous Evening, Calm and Free," Wordsworth takes a bit of a different direction, however, still including nature. In the poem, he describes a child, possibly his daughter, that he doesn't really know. He explains that she isn't as observant as he is. In the beginning, he explains how quiet it is being with her, who he isn't so familiar with, "It is a beauteous evening, calm and free, / The holy time is quiet as a Nun" (1-2). The night is quiet, almost as in awkward silence. He continues to understand that she isn't much like him and the feeling is everlasting, "And doth with his eternal motion make / A sound like thunder - everlastingly" (7-8). Clearly, the difference between them does upset him. However, he continues to explain that the difference doesn't take away from the beauty of his child, "Dear child! dear Girl! that walkest with me here, / If thou appear untouched by solemn thought, / Thy nature is not therefore less divine..." (9-11): Although the child has no "solemn thought," he still believes that she is pure and "divine." He means that the difference and little observation that she holds doesn't make her less worthy of being his child. Clearly, the idea of observation and appreciation does hold great importance in the life of William Wordsworth. However, with this poem, we can identify that he won't treat others less if they do not see the way he does. He is not as selfish as he seems. You can see that Wordsworth does use nature as a factor in the poem, even though the message doesn't have much to do with it. All in all, this poem defines a different opinion of the great poet that Wordsworth was.
Read "It Is a Beauteous Evening, Calm and Free" HERE.
"I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud"
In one of Wordsworth's most famous poems, which we read in class, "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud," of course the main theme is nature. Also known as "Daffodils," the poem revolved around a walk through a field of flowers or daffodils. Simply, he describes feelings of bliss that wandering through a field can create, "A poet could not but be gay,... / What wealth the show to me had brought" (15-18). He describes that the feelings and scene of walking through the field, unknowingly gave him a memory that lasts forever. Not only does this poem deal with nature, but memory also plays an important role. He describes in the end that the memory of the field of daffodils played a major role in his life continuously, "For oft, when on my couch I lie / In vacant or in pensive mood, / They flash upon that inward eye" (19-21). Almost like a dream, the memory of walking through the fields constantly comes back to him, in feelings of loneliness or boredom. The memory creates happiness, "Which is the bliss of solitude; / And then my heart with pleasure fills, / And dances with the daffodils" (22-24). The memory creates bliss and in his mind, he begins to "dance with the daffodils," as though he's there and the memory exists. It becomes his little "happy place." William Wordsworth really brings Romanticism ideas to life. He creates an understanding so simple, that the movement only seems to be true. "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud," generates a path that nature is the beauty and truth that we all seem to be looking for.
Read "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" HERE.
Works Cited:
Wordsworth, William. N.p.. Web. 14 Apr 2013. <http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174833>.
Wordsworth, William. N.p.. Web. 14 Apr 2013. <http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174789>.
Wordsworth, William. N.p.. Web. 14 Apr 2013. <http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174826>.
Wordsworth, William. N.p.. Web 14 Apr 2013. <http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174793>.
Wordsworth, William. N.p.. Web. 14 Apr 2013. <http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174790>.
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