Saturday, April 26, 2014

Is Nature a dominant theme in Romantic Poetry?answer in detail

While, broadly speaking, nature is a dominant theme in
Romantic poetry, it is more important to examine what these poets are saying about
nature and how they use it.  Romantic philosophy was a response to the Enlightenment and
Rationalism and the scientific and technological advances it brought.  Romantics
believed that logic and reason could no longer solve life's problems and, in fact, were
creating more.  As such, Romantics sought to restore man's relationship with nature. 
They saw nature as something pure and uncorrupted and, therefore, almost spiritual. 
Most Romantics believed that humans were born pure and good and that society corrupted. 
Nature, therefore, became a symbol of life without society, a truly good life.  Nature
becomes a place where one can go to reflect and comtemplate the many questions of life,
a place where one can find solace and happiness in its purity.  While most Romantic
poets do write about nature, some also write about life in the city.  However, these
poems tend to be much more dark and emphasize the idea that society corrupts. 
 


For an illustration of these ideas consider Wordsworth's
"The World Is Too Much With Us in It."  Throughout this poem he seems to be chastising
mankind for losing their connection with nature and becoming much more caught-up in
things like consumerism.  He ultimately rejects such a society in favor of a much more
simple past culture (Ancient Greece), where nature is appreciated and celebrated.  Also
consider Keats's "When I Have Fears that I May Cease to Be."  Throughout this poem Keats
lists the various worldy fears he has, using references and comparisons to nature,
ultimately to state that when he experiences such anxiety all he must do is go out into
nature and think until all of these fears "to nothingness do
sink."


Examples like these are abundant in Romantic
writing, and I would encourage you to examine the poems you are studying to find
examples that connect to these ideas.

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