Abstract
The Romantic era of writing is characterized by a number of reoccurring themes, one of which is the intermingling of man and nature. William Wordsworth, writing during this time, proved to be no exception to the rule. Two of his writings, “I wandered lonely as a cloud” and “Strange fits of passion have I known,” exemplify this particular theme, that of the individual experience, human emotions, and the relationship of man and nature.
“I wandered lonely as a cloud,” is truly a classic from Wordsworth. He depicts a simple scenario of the poet out walking who stumbles across a field of daffodils near a lake. As a nature-lover, the poet is delighted to find the flowers and remarks that he often thinks back to this time, as it elicits a feeling of happiness and contentment. The scene is one that he individually experienced, but one that evokes feelings that he wishes to share with others. The results of his own experience are feelings that everyone can share in, regardless of what provokes them. The Romanticism is subtly presented in this work as a comingling of man and nature. From the very beginning, Wordsworth attributed natural characteristics to himself, referring to himself as “wandering lonely as a cloud/that floats on high.” At the same time, he personifies the flowers that he sees, remarking that they were a “crowd” and that they seemed to be “dancing in the breeze.” For Wordsworth, the idea of human is not complete without nature, and the opposite is true as well. Man possesses natural characteristics and nature possesses human characteristics. True to the Romantic theme, there is a defined and inherent relationship between the world of man and the natural world that surrounds man.
“Strange fits of passion have I known” is another of Wordsworth’s writings that explores human emotions and the relationship of man and nature. This work does not rely on personification as much as “I wandered lonely as a cloud.” In one instance, the horse that is taking him to the cottage “moved on; hoof after hoof/he raised, never stopped.” This line implies the sense of urgency that Wordsworth felt checking on Lucy was translated to his horse as well, that the horse understood the situation and adjusted his behavior accordingly. Conversely Wordsworth attributes natural qualities to a human, claiming that his beloved “looked every day/fresh as a rose in June.” As in the previous writing, Wordsworth explores the complexity of human emotions through his own experience. He conveys a sense of hushed storytelling by saying he will recount his tale, “but in the Lover’s ear alone,” allowing a feeling of closeness between the reader and Wordsworth himself. The story itself sets a tone of tranquility and peacefulness, as the reader is transported on a journey through a landscape with a beautiful moon, on the path to see a loved one. However, at the end, Wordsworth takes a quick turn into the macabre, exclaiming a deeply felt fear, wondering “if Lucy should be dead.” This abrupt outburst of thought is one that most people can relate to. Humans are slaves to their unbidden thoughts, and fear is one of those, especially fear of loss, as portrayed in this writing. Wordsworth sheds light on the idea that humans, unconsciously, feel a terror at losing someone they love, and these thoughts can appear at random and inopportune times.
Conclusion
The literary themes of the Romantic era are themes in which William Wordsworth was a master. His grasp on complex human emotions was exquisite and he possessed the rare ability to delicately explain emotions which were not widely discussed. He used nature to expand upon humans and remarked on the close relationship between the two. “I wandered lonely as a cloud” and “Strange fits of passion have I known” are two works that exemplify Wordsworth’s handle on these Romantic notions.
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