Nature Poetry

Nature Poetry

"The Natural World is often a source of joy and wonder for the child;

it can also cause fear and guilt"

William Wordsworth was born in Cumberland near the Lake District in

1770. He was educated at Hawkshead and later at St John's College

Cambridge. Wordsworth was one of the first "Romantic" poets in that he

portrayed a romantic view of nature. Wordsworth aimed to use "a

selection of the language really used by men" in his poems. He became

Poet Laureate in 1843 and then died in 1850.

Seamus Heaney was born in County Derry, Northern Ireland. He studied

at Queen's University and then went on to teach at St Joseph's College

Belfast. He was awarded the Noble prize for literature in 1995.

Both poets write about their childhood experiences. Although

Wordsworth wrote in the 18th century and Heaney over two hundred years

later both wrote many poems which are based on rural themes. Heaney,

like Wordsworth, uses detailed and precise descriptions of his

surroundings.

The two poems I have chosen to examine are "Death of a Naturalist" by

Heaney and "Nutting" by Wordsworth. Both show that nature has a dark,

frightening side and that it is not always pleasant and cheerful.

"Nutting" begins with Wordsworth going to collect nuts on " one of

those heavenly days that cannot die" but the poem ends with images of

gloom and despondency. "Death of a Naturalist" begins with Heaney

retelling his memories of collecting frogspawn; however, near the end

guilt and fear are experienced by the child.

The title "Death of a Naturalist" shows the poem is about the ugly

side of nature and suggests that Heaney was indeed a naturalist and

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...h's tremendous respect and honour for nature as it

suggests that he feels nothing should be done to harm nature. The word

"mutilated" shows how dreadful of a deed the boy feels he has done.

The boy returns home " rich beyond the wealth of kings" but yet he

feels a great sense of pain as the "silent trees" rebuked him for what

he had done. He felt so strongly about this that he warned others to

be respectful of nature as "there is a spirit in the woods".

Both poems reveal that nature provides great joy and pleasure as well

as guilt and fear. In both poems the fear and guilt are caused by the

mind of the young boys and not by nature. I preferred Heaney's poem,

as the experience described was something very real that I could

identify with. He uses simple and effective language that invokes many

of the reader's senses.