The Influence of Nature as Seen Through the Lens of Poetry
Across literature, common themes, ideals, and messages are portrayed. With the perspective of time, one can often look back and observe periods where such commonalities occurred. One such period is now understood by historians and scholars as the Romantic period, a time during the nineteenth century in which stress was put upon things such as nature, faith, self-discovery, and the arts. More specifically, stress was put on the importance of one’s personal experience and relationship with nature, examining how such a connection affects the manner in which one lives one’s life. From such examinations, many artists at the time found that nature had the potential to have a profound influence
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For instance, in Canto IV of Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, the ninth line of each part has one more foot than each of the preceding eight lines. The lengthening of the ninth line of every stanza provides a sense of a sustained, more eternal period of time, contributing to the idea that nature is constant and uninterrupted. This can be seen in the third stanza, in which the speaker says to the ocean, “[f]or I was a child of thee, / And I trusted to thy billows far and near, / And laid my hand upon thy mane - as I do here” (Byron li. 25-27), demonstrating that his relationship with nature has been sustained over a great period of time. Not only does the speaker address the constancy of nature, but he even encourages the ocean to “roll on . . . roll!” (Byron li. 10). Similar to Canto IV, “Ode to the West Wind” has a common structure interlaced throughout, as it is divided into stanzas, each ending with a two line division, or couplet. While these couplets often continue the message of the previous twelve lines, they also serve as a punctual statement at the end of each stanza, giving a sense of closure. In contrast, the repetitive nature of the structure of the poem also reflects the rotation of the seasons. Just as the speaker in Canto IV puts his faith in nature, the repetition of a …show more content…
In Canto IV, the speaker addresses the ocean in the third part, expressing what the ocean has meant to him and how it has brought him delight and pleasure for many years. This demonstrates the extent of his love for the ocean, as he thanks it for all that it has done for him. In this poem he clarifies the manner in which he has come to love nature: “I love not man the less, but Nature more, / From these our interviews, in which I steal / From all I may be, or have been before” (Byron li. 5-7). This message explains how it has been nature that has shaped him the most, and through their interaction he has grown immensely fond and reverent of it. Further, the ninth line of each part of Canto IV conveys a more intimate relationship with nature, the speaker saying that which “[he] can ne’er express, yet cannot all conceal” (Byron li. 9). Portraying the importance of the individual’s relationship with nature is not only a strongly Romantic principle, but the manner in which the relationship is portrayed also sanctifies and separates nature, making it seem like an omnipotent and ineffable power. The speaker’s inability to fully express how he feels about the ocean is further seen in his dedication and reverence towards it. His trust is demonstrated when he states that he “laid [his] hand upon thy mane” (Byron li. 27). Notably, his use of the word “thy” (Byron li. 27) in
First of alll, the poem is divided into nine stanzas, where each one has four lines. In addition to that, one can spot a few enjambements for instance (l.9-10). This stylistic device has the function to support the flow of the poem. Furthermore, it is crucial to take a look at the choice of words, when analysing the language.
In this poem, Frost includes his fear of the ocean and exaggerates its destructive power. As Judith Saunders stated that “The first thirteen lines have depicted an ocean storm of unusual force, and through personification the poet attributes to this storm a malign purposefulness” (1). Frost provided human characteristics on the storm to help prove his point that the ocean has bad intentions and its only purpose is to hurt him. Frost does not describe the waves as a result of unfavorable weather; he explains them as having a malignant intention to destroy the world. This poem revolves around the forces of nature and could be included in the long list of nature themed poems by Robert Frost.
“The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude; to lose itself in mazes of inward contemplation. The voice of the sea speaks to the soul. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace.”
John Muir and William Wordsworth use diction and tone to define nature as doing a necessary extensile of life. Throughout Muir’s and William’s works of literature they both describe nature as being a necessary element in life that brings happiness, joy, and peace. Both authors use certain writing techniques within their poems and essays to show their love and appreciation of nature. This shows the audience how fond both authors are about nature. That is why Wordsworth and Muir express their codependent relationship with nature using diction and tone.
“The voice of the sea speaks to the soul. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in
There is also a sense of acuteness as the words in this stanza are short and sharp, and the lines clash and seem to contrast greatly. " Whispering by the shore" shows that water is a symbol of continuity as it occurs in a natural cycle, but the whispering could also be the sound of the sea as it travels up the shore. The end of this section makes me feel as if he is trying to preserve something with the "river mud" and "glazing the baked clay floor. " The fourth section, which includes four stanzas of three lines, whereas the third section included four-line stanzas and the second section included two-line stanzas, shows continuity once again, as if it's portraying the water's movement. "Moyola" is once again repeated, and "music" is also present, with "its own score and consort" being musical terms and giving the effect of harmony.
with the alliteration of the frst five lines : "Kubla Khan'', ''dome decree'', and ''sunless sea''. Coleridge interlaces short exclamations (''but oh!'', ''a savage place!'') and exageratedly long exclamations (''as holy and enchanted as e'er beneath a waning moon was haunted by a woman wailing for her demon lover!'') reinforces the feeling of flowing which is related to the time ''ticking'' irregularly away, creating a sense of timelessness.
By analyzing the structure, the reader encounters the imagination and individuality prized by the Romantics. In addition, an examination of the literary devices presents the reader with the personal connection Romantic writers longed to have with nature. Lastly, the content of these pieces proved to be intertwined and demonstrated the desire to spread creativity and inspiration to others. As said by Michelle Williams “Everything’s connected, and everything has meaning if you look for it”
The use of the word “heart” emphasises this passion as the heart is considered the most important organ and so demonstrates how his passion (the “summer” in the sentence) is alive. Within these three poems, the use of nature as a mechanism impacted the poems, allowing them to convey meanings in an ambiguous sense yet still get across the general meaning of the poem.
It is the duty of the sea to act as a navigation system, so humanity is always going in the right direction. It also acts as a way for us to get the water we need to survive, to catch the food man needs for nourishment, and provide cleanliness, which is equal to godliness. This stanza portrays water as a friend, that guides us in the right direction, and a parent that provides us with everything needed to survive and be prosperous. This once again strikes home the point that the world is an extension of God, created to bring mankind ultimate pleasure - the water that He created acts as a willing servant, and parental figure, such as God is usually
Dickinson begins the first line of her poem by writing in iambic tetrameter. In the second line she switches to iambic trimeter and proceeds to alternate between the two. This rhyme scheme proves to be particularly effective in complimenting the subject of the poem-- the ocean. When a reader looks at the poem it is easy to see the lines lengthening then shortening, almost in the same fashion that the tide of the ocean flows and ebbs.
In relation to structure and style, the poem contains six stanzas of varying lengths. The first, second, and fourth stanzas
Wordsworth and Hopkins both present the reader with a poem conveying the theme of nature. Nature in its variety be it from something as simple as streaked or multicolored skies, long fields and valleys, to things more complex like animals, are all gifts we take for granted. Some never realize the truth of what they are missing by keeping themselves indoors fixating on the loneliness and vacancy of their lives and not on what beauty currently surrounds them. Others tend to relate themselves more to the fact that these lovely gifts are from God and should be praised because of the way his gifts have uplifted our human spirit. Each writer gives us their own ideals as how to find and appreciate nature’s true gifts.
In William Wordsworth’s poems, the role of nature plays a more reassuring and pivotal r ole within them. To Wordsworth’s poetry, interacting with nature represents the forces of the natural world. Throughout the three poems, Resolution and Independence, Tintern Abbey, and Michael, which will be discussed in this essay, nature is seen prominently as an everlasting- individual figure, which gives his audience as well as Wordsworth, himself, a sense of console. In all three poems, Wordsworth views nature and human beings as complementary elements of a sum of a whole, recognizing that humans are a sum of nature. Therefore, looking at the world as a soothing being of which he is a part of, Wordsworth looks at nature and sees the benevolence of the divinity aspects behind them.
... since it deals with the growth of the mind. Therefore, the poet uses syntax and form to emphasize on the important matters that occurred in each stanza.