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3. 3. One source of inspiration William Wordsworth (7 April 1770 23 April 1850) A Romantic Poet... - Launched the Romantic age together with Samuel Taylor Coleridge. - Poems contain his own experiences due to being inspired directly by nature. e.g. Daffodils - Essential features of romanticism in his poetry: - Places nature on a pedestal. - Inseparable relationship between humans and nature (solace and comfort, healing property of nature, a source of inspiration) e.g. Daffodils - Uses nature as a tool to bring out the dark side of the human condition. e.g. Lines written in Early Spring Tragic and disappointing experiences in wordsworths life ( e.g. loss of sympathy for the French revolution) influenced him to contrast the nature and the evils of human nature. e.g. Lines Written in Early Spring 3
4. 4. Robert Lee Frost ( March 26, 1874 January 29, 1963) Maintained a close relationship with nature since childhood. - Most of his poems portray the influence of his own experiences with nature. (e.g. Birches) Known as a Pastoral, Modern and Dark Romantic Poet. Pastoral poet? - According to J.F. Lynen, In pastorals the subject is , a way of life, and nature is merely the setting within which we see this. The pastoralist does not write about nature; he uses nature as his scene. - Frost uses nature as his scene to reveal the dark depths of human disposition through symbolism and analogy. e.g. Design Modern poet - Frosts poetry unveils the modern diseases of mankind such as loneliness, regret, suffering and deterioration of values. (e.g. Gods Garden) Not romantic, but dark romantic? - Does not see nature through the glasses of a traditional Romantic Poet. E.g. When he describes a tree as "Vague dream-head lifted out of the ground,/ And thing next most diffuse to cloud," the Romantic vision is immediately dispelled by the facts of a different landscape, "Not all your light tongues talking aloud/ Could be profound. (J.F. Lynen) -Does not view nature as a source of escape, solace or a remedy for the dark realities of the human condition. -Portrays nature as harsh, deceptive and cruel as that of the human world. 4
5. 5. William Wordsworth Robert Frost Nature used as a tool to unmask the darkest depths of human disposition nature is placed on a pedestal and its purity is employed to reflect the dark nature of humans. Lines Written in Early Spring I heard a thousand blended notes, While in a grove I sate reclined, In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts Bring sad thoughts to the mind. To her fair works did Nature link The human soul that through me ran; And much it grieved my heart to think What man has made of man. Nature used as a tool to unmask the darkest depths of human disposition - Uses analogy between elements of nature and stark reality of the human condition Fire and Ice Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what Ive tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice. 5
6. 6. William Wordsworth Robert Frost There is hope for humans about the future as nature is a source of wisdom. The Tables Turned And hark! how blithe the throstle sings! He, too, is no mean preacher: Come forth into the light of things, Let Nature be your teacher. She has a world of ready wealth, Our minds and hearts to bless Spontaneous wisdom breathed by health, Truth breathed by cheerfulness. Uncertainty about future. Design What but design of darkness to appall?.. If design govern in a thing so small. Fire and Ice Nature is a source of escape for humans from their dark feelings. - possesses the ability to heal those feelings (healing property). Daffodils For oft, when o my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils. Humans are doomed to their fate and cannot escape the suffering. According to Lionel trilling, Frost's poetry tends to portray man as a helpless pygmy in front of the huge might and complexity of the world that Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what Ive tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great 6
7. 7. William Wordsworth Robert Frost The beauty of nature is portrayed as pure and innocent in order to show a contrast between nature and the human condition Lines Written in Early Spring If this belief from heaven be sent, If such be Natures holy plan, Have I not reason to lament What man has made of man? The beauty of nature is portrayed as deceptive, sinister and evil, similar to that of human nature According to Lionel trilling, One may be caught unawares even at the most unexpected places. Think not that black is the lone color representing evil as white too has the power to disturb & startle you unexpectedly Design What had the flower to do with being white, The wayside blue and innocent heal-all? What brought the kindred spider to that height, Then steered the white moth thither in the night? Expresses pity and sympathizes with the darker side of human beings Lines Written in Early Spring To her fair works did Nature link The human soul that through me ran; And much it grieved my heart to think What man has made of man. Blunt and critical of the darker side of humans and doesnt express any sympathy Fire and Ice But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice. 7
8. 8. In their poems, nature is a constant reminder of the dark reality of the human condition. Acknowledges the dark and inherent qualities of humans. The symbolic nature related titles of the poems reflect the prominence given to nature. Ex: Frost Birches, Leaves Compared with Flowers, Fire and Ice Wordsworth Daffodils, A Whirl- blast from Behind the Hill 8
9. 9. 9 One picture, two artists JEALOUSY Frost - From what Ive tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. Wordsworth - And, though the jealous turf refuse By random footsteps to be prest, And feed on never-sullied dews, DESOLATION FROST - And lonely as it is, that loneliness Will be more lonely ere it will be less - A blanker whiteness of benighted snow With no expression, nothing to express. Wordsworth when all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils SUFFERING AND PAIN Frost - I'd like to go by climbing a birch tree, And climb black branches up a snow-white trunk Toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more, But dipped its top and set me down again. That would be good both going and coming back. Wordsworth - Through primrose tufts, in that green bower The periwinkle trailed its wreaths; And tis my faith that every flower Enjoys the air it breathes. AVARICE FROST - Gold flowers for them to find. And mankind saw the bright flowers, That, glitt'ring in the sun, Quite hid the thorns of av'rice That poison blood and bone; And far off many wandered Wordsworth - This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon; The winds that will be howling at all hours, And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers;
10. 10. Conclusion - It is evident that both poets employ nature as a tool in their poems to effectively convey the subject matter and themes - There is an inextricable link between nature and humans disposition. - This presentation is not a generalization of poetry by Frost and Wordsworth, but rather a discussion of their most prominent features, in relation to nature and the darkest depths of the human condition. - There may be a few exceptions, ( The World Is Too Much With Us by Wordsworth ) deviation from Wordsworths usual style 10
11. 11. Reference List Ackroyd, P., The Romantics. In BBC. Available at [Accessed 20 September 2014] Gillani, N. S., 2009. Robert Frost: A modern poet. In English Literature. Available at [Accessed 14 September 2014] Graham, D and Sintay, K., 2001. After confession: poetry as autobiography. Saint Paul, Minnesota: Graywolf press. Available at [Accessed 14 September 2014] Lahti, D., 2012. Lyrical Ballads, and other early poems. In Reflections on Great Literature. Available at [Accessed 14 September 2014] Lynen, F. J., 1960. Nature and Pastoralism. New Haven: Yale University Press. Available at [Accessed 14 September 2014] Melani, L., 2009. Romanticism. New York: Brooklyn College English Department. Available at [Accessed 20 September 2014] Rzepka, C.J.,1998.Recollecting spontaneous overflows: Romantic passions, the sublime and mesmerism. Paris:France Available atwww.rc.umd.edu/praxis/rzp.html Vincent, C., 2009. The Poetry of Robert Frost. In GradeSaver [Accessed 15 September 2014] 11
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