Welcome to Module 3! (1.5 – 2 hours)
Here’s what you need to do this week:
- Think further about the text and format you will choose for your class project (proposal due next week).
- Read from the Anthology:
– Vol. 5: “William Wordsworth” (p. 1751); “Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey,” by William Wordsworth, 1798 (pp.1753-1756); read what you can of the excerpt from “Preface to the Lyrical Ballads” (pp. 1758-1770).
– “La belle dame sans merci,” by John Keats, 1820 (his bio is on p.1838 of the Anthology). - Watch the lecture below (Part 1 and Part 2).
- Come up with one question about the readings and write it in the comments below: has anything confused you? Struck you? Awed you? Revolted you? Interested you, in any way? We will use your questions for dicussion in class.
NB: you can’t write the same question as anyone else that has already commented before you. - Fill out the exit ticket for this lecture so I can count your participation.
Below is the lecture transcript:
Below are the slides:
Wanna do more?
- The School of Life on Romanticism and why we are still hopeless Romantics today: https://youtu.be/OiRWBI0JTYQ
- A very short documentary on Wordsworth: https://youtu.be/Mvps8Nt4AVs
- A podcast by Writ Large in which a text by Persian poet Abd al-Qāhir al-Jurjānī is compared to Wordsworth’s poem: https://www.writlarge.fm/episodes/indications-of-inimitability
- An helpful article to decrypt Keats’ “La belle dame sans merci” (though we differ on the interpretation of the related Punch Magazine cartoon): https://ricochet.com/597760/archives/quote-of-the-day-la-belle-dame-sans-merci/
Feel free to write a second comment or reply to any of your classmates’ comments if you feel like saying anything else about the module content 🙂
The way Wordsworth describes nature in the “Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey” makes the reader feel a sort of connection to nature itself. His descriptions give life to nature and open the readers minds to a whole new perspective of viewing things that surround us. This is how I felt as I was reading. It creates a connection between the reader and the writing.
The quote “ it is this, that the feeling therein developed gives importance to the action and situation, and not the action and situation to the feeling” stood with me. Most people believe that situations and actions influence our feelings, Wordsworth believed the opposite. Did he mean, in part, that people’s reaction to situations are based on their feelings, and not that situations cause feelings which influence reactions?
Wordsworth shows his love for nature throughout the poem. Yes nature is basically the same today but if the lived in this generation his beliefs and mindset be the same?
Thank you everyone for your comments and questions! As every week, your input gives the class a wealth of perspectives, and those choosing to dive deeper into a certain module’s literary period will have great food for thought thanks to your comments.
In this poem, Wordsworth expresses his love for nature and how it influenced his life and morality. Romantics believed that the human mind and nature interact with one another and valued experience, beauty, and the majesty of nature. How can memory play a role in maintaining the bond between humans and nature?
Excellent question, Maggie! It also relates nicely to last week’s themes around autobiography, individualism and memory.
For Wordsworth, I think nature means not itself, but nature that is recreated through memory. Nature as itself is outside of itself, but the nature of memory is nature as an interior where nature and I are united. For Wordsworth, his first encounter with nature is still only a half-baked delight.
Then why do you think he describes the feeling as “aching joy” in paradox?
Great point about nature in a less literal sense, Sumin! Very finely observed!
Is there a connotation behind the importance of Nature in the Romanticism movement? Why was nature such a vocal point of the movement as opposed to indulging in writing or philosophies that questioned religion?
I thought Wordsworth use of plain language (at least at that time) was impactful and it was to emphasis the importance of the common man and nature. Was Wordsworth the first to use plain language in his poems or was he influence by another?
That’s a great way to take literary movements from critical point of view, Eliana. In fact, there were other times prior to Romanticism where simple language was valued (e.g. Ancient Greece). Romanticism claims simplicity of language as a new feature, but nothing is new under the sun. It’s just new in comparison to what preceded (poetry starts to use very refined and ornate language from the Middle Ages on, and it still is, to some extent, for the most part of the 18th century. For example, broadside ballads, a form of street literature very prolific in that century, is usually plain enough to understand but still uses rhyme and still “plies” language to pre-made poetic structures. Note that Keats’ “La belle dame sans merci” echoes more old-fashioned poetry in that respect, as it uses rhyme and antiquated forms of language (even then), such as using “thee” instead “you”, “begone” instead of “gone”, etc.
This week’s readings about Romanticism to me were kind of interesting. it was interesting to me because of how each and every poem was filled with so many of the narrator’s thoughts and feelings. And how he smoothly used nature in his poem as well. They were put into the poem so well. When you read the poem/poems, it was like you were able to paint a picture in your mind of exactly what was happening. What it would be like. And what it would look like. That alone would make it pretty simple to follow along with the poem. I feel like being able to create visuals in your mind helps you to better analyze and understand the poem. The one that I was most intrigued by was the poem and the lady. How her love was unattainable. And how instead her partner was the more emotionally available one in their relationship. How he better expressed his love for her. Overall, I thought that was very interesting. I wonder, Would the poems of Romanticism hold the same importance and longevity in Literature had they not included emotions, feelings, nature and used lyricism?
In “Lines a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey,” William Wordsworth expresses his sense of how time has passed. Five years have passed, and he returns to Tintern Abbey, during which Wordsworth has experienced, as it were a great cycle of thought, from a combative supporter of the French Revolution to a member of the counter-revolution, he eventually gave up politics. During these five years, the view of Tintern Abbey remained as magnificent as ever, pleasing and soothing to Wordsworth’s mind. His affection for Tintern Abbey had changed from the rough love of his childhood to the quiet contemplation and joyful expectation of the future. The feelings generated by Wordsworth’s re-visit to Tintern Abbey make me think of modern people. The world is running at a high speed and the economy is booming. People feel more and more lonely in the increasingly prosperous but noisy city. So many people, like Wordsworth, want to hide in nature, in an unpolluted place full of green and vitality, where it seems that we can awaken those long-forgotten feelings — generosity, love, selflessness, nature with her magic and deep power to give peace to the human mind. This led me to the question, “How many people are willing to give up modern life and really go back to nature?”
Time is a big theme in this poem, Ma! I’m glad you brought it up.
Do you think that Wordsworth influenced or inspired other poets of his era? If so, how? Are there any other poems written in this era that resembles Wordsworth’s?
I find it interesting that Wordsmith found tranquility above the abbey and how while reading it I didn’t even realize that he didn’t discuss the abbey at all, and only realized it during the lecture when it was pointed out. Maybe he excluded describing the abbey itself because it reminded him of industrialization (I’m sure the abbey was built much earlier than industrialization however), or perhaps the cryptic nature of verses in the bible reminded him of pompous and excessive language. I didn’t really come up with a question during the reading but enjoyed the one posed during the lecture: If you were to put it [a poem in verse] in prose, would it still be poetry? I think it would be, it is still art, after all. It just wouldn’t be in verse. I find it interesting how Wordsmith undoubtedly had to find the right words that would work with the verse while trying to balance his poetry being “raw feeling”. I think it would have been important to him that he stayed as true to his feelings as possible without changing their initial description too much. Maybe restricting himself to verse allowed him a skeleton structure in which he could fill using the plain language he found important.
Wordsworth writes in a way that readers are able to use a strong sense of imagery to the setting he is describing. He intends for readers to be in his shoes, and experience the life he lives. In “Lines Composed A Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey”, this is especially true when he starts off with repetition of the past “Five years have past; five summers, with the length Of five long winters!”. How does the tone and attitude of this first sentence elevate Wordsworth main points in this particular poem? Do these points still apply to today’s world in the same sense?
Wordsworth is reminiscing nature, how it has changed throughout the years and what has become of it now. “For I have learned To look on nature, not as in the hour Of thoughtless youth, but hearing oftentimes The still, sad music of humanity” (Lines Composed A Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey). He is stating that when you are young, you don’t necessarily see the beauty of nature and often tend to look through this fact. As you get older and you remember the past before industrialization, you notice how nature has changed and you begin to cherish nature. It also seems as if he is despising industrialization . He is referring to industrialization as sad music that humanity has bestowed upon nature. “more like a man Flying from something that he dreads, than one Who sought the thing he loved” (Lines Composed A Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey). He is comparing how before- as a child he used to go in nature as a way of escaping something he dreaded and now he goes to nature to truly enjoy it. I liked especially the lines where he says will you remember me as he encourages the readers to enjoy nature, ie; when you are taking a walk, make sure to see the moon. He mentions that though it has been so long that he came in this specific place, he still regards nature as dear to him. In the Preface to the Lyrical Ballards, Wordsworth acknowledges that these poems were an experiment to a new genre in poetry and was unsure of its initial reaction from the readers. He chose to write differently from others during this era.
Question: Though nature and industrialization is seen on opposing sides in this poem, can one decipher that both are ‘equally’ crucial in today’s world?
I loved reading poems for this homework and found real meaning behind “Lines Composed A Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey ” William Wordsworth. In this poem there was a common theme of comparing romance to nature. He explains romance through nature and how nature has its ups and downs the same way that romance does. To go further he uses nature to express that nothing ever lasts and everything has its cycle of coming and going similar to the seasons. A question I would have is, does everything really come to an end? That is a flaw that I found while reading this which made it not all so believable when it comes to romance. Because personally I believe that romance doesnt always have to end.
On the overarching theme of Industrialization, while it has greatly increased the life-expectancy of those of us who live in advanced countries, I view it as something that has destabilized society, made life unfulfilling, subjected human beings to indignities, led to widespread psychological suffering and has inflicted severe damage on the natural world. The continued development of technology then just as now only worsens the situation. In this way I stand with Wordsworth’s sentiment when he says “But oft, in lonely rooms, and ‘mid the din Of towns and cities, I have owed to them, In hours of weariness, sensations sweet, Felt in the blood, and felt along the heart” in regards to his reminiscing on natures beauty while surrounded by an industrialized environment.
Hear, hear, Vaughan! People have been paying the price for industrialization for decades, but we’re only starting to realize the cost now. In my view, we’ve gone too far already and have become too accustomed to a life of convenience, so change won’t happen easily.
The poems and love writings of this era were particularly fascinating and enjoyable to read, in my opinion. I adore William Wordsworth’s “Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey,” which emphasizes the value of nature and how it affects all aspects of our life and steers us in the correct direction. Nature stimulates our imagination and fosters creativity. I particularly like Wordsworth’s reiteration of the significance of our feelings and emotions in the “Preface to the Lyrical Ballads,” which is ideally in line with the romantic movement. Additionally in John Keats’ “La belle dame sans merci” I loved the romantic word choices he utilizes to convey the knight’s feelings towards the woman such as describing her cheek as a “fading rose” and how she is “full beautiful” and a “faery’s child” as well as how her eyes were wild. I particularly enjoyed how the poem’s conclusion, contrary to what many people would think, was brutal and portrayed the dying knight without any comfort or joy in his final moments. It’s amazing to see how our views on nature have changed through time in terms of relevance and worth. We become so engrossed in developing new technology all the time to meet our needs and desires. I wonder whether there will ever be a day when we appreciate nature as highly as we did in the middle of the 1700s given how much we value technology today. As we destroy the earth with our advanced technology, I wonder if it is even possible to reestablish the connection to nature we once had. I wonder if the industrial revolution and the prioritization of material comfort above our planet will ever be reversed, especially when crises such as pollution and global warming become more and more prevalent every day. If so, may we proceed in the direction of bringing that love of nature back with the help of a movement that promotes poetry and writing akin to that of the romantic era? I also question, why did John Keats decide the poem’s ending should be so gruesome and dark rather than lighthearted and happy as many liked to do during the romantic era?
The Industrial Revolution was a technological movement that advanced civilization while slowly cutting ties with humanity’s relationship to Nature. Because of this, I believe Wordsworth began to hold a certain resentment towards humankind and urban life. Consequently, his love for Nature sparked something in him and made him realize that the solution to an uncorrupt society is by reconnecting to the natural world. My question is, do we still hone the connection with Nature, despite the development of technology today?
Something that has interested me about this weeks readings and even last weeks module has been the common theme of nature in the readings. In “Lines Composed A Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey ” William Wordsworth writes about the importance of nature to him and how imagining nature’s calmness has helped him through troubling times in life. When looking back to the Romantic movement are you able to see any parallels in the importance of nature back then and today? If so, do you think our reasoning for caring and loving nature has changed or stayed consistent with the Renaissance movement?
Hi Nicholas,
Did you mean Renaissance or Romanticism?
I meant Romanticism. Sorry.