Thursday, April 18, 2019
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud
Wordsworth's poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" was inspired by his observations from a day spent in the Lake District. In April of 1802, Wordsworth and his sister were going for a walk when they came across a long stretch of daffodils. The poem encapsulates the core values of Romanticism; Wordsworth describes the natural world, the solitariness of the individual, and the awe that is inspired by nature.
The daffodils are described by Wordsworth as "Fluttering and dancing in the breeze" (6), personifying the daffodils by giving them human characteristics. The word choice in this line is significant, since "fluttering" and "dancing" have a carefree connotation, stressing the beauty and gracefulness of the flowers.
In the last stanza of the poem, Wordsworth is saying that when he's finally able to enjoy some time alone and free to think, he pictures the daffodils he saw on that day in April. Upon this memory, Wordsworth writes, "my heart with pleasure fills" (23).
"I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on 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."
The daffodils are described by Wordsworth as "Fluttering and dancing in the breeze" (6), personifying the daffodils by giving them human characteristics. The word choice in this line is significant, since "fluttering" and "dancing" have a carefree connotation, stressing the beauty and gracefulness of the flowers.
In the last stanza of the poem, Wordsworth is saying that when he's finally able to enjoy some time alone and free to think, he pictures the daffodils he saw on that day in April. Upon this memory, Wordsworth writes, "my heart with pleasure fills" (23).
"I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on 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."
Works Cited
Wordsworth, William. “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45521/i-wandered-lonely-as-a-cloud.
Why Romanticism?
As written in my posts about myself, I'm very interested in both the arts as well as science. I believe that art and science are two sides of the same coin; While some may deem the two subjects total opposites, I consider them much more interconnected and complementary than we may have been led to believe. From my own experiences, I've concluded that science and art are just different ways in which people try to understand and describe the world.
Based off this concept of myself, I related my interests to topics covered in this class, and narrowed it down to Romanticism and Realism. These genres are very different from one another. One of the man differences between the two is that Romantic writing is often about nature, beauty, and the dramatic, whereas Realism often depicts ordinary, everyday experiences and societal problems. In the end, I chose to make my blog about Romanticism. While I felt that Realism could complement the more realistic and logical side of myself, I was overall not so interested in Realistic literature. The decision to write about Romanticism was simply because the content of these poems appealed to my sensibilities, and provided a sense of comfort and relaxation. Poems of the genre almost feel like an escape from the reality of daily life. “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”
Based off this concept of myself, I related my interests to topics covered in this class, and narrowed it down to Romanticism and Realism. These genres are very different from one another. One of the man differences between the two is that Romantic writing is often about nature, beauty, and the dramatic, whereas Realism often depicts ordinary, everyday experiences and societal problems. In the end, I chose to make my blog about Romanticism. While I felt that Realism could complement the more realistic and logical side of myself, I was overall not so interested in Realistic literature. The decision to write about Romanticism was simply because the content of these poems appealed to my sensibilities, and provided a sense of comfort and relaxation. Poems of the genre almost feel like an escape from the reality of daily life. “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”
Wordsworth's Influences
Born and raised in the Lake District, a notoriously scenic region in northwestern England, Wordsworth developed a love for nature at an early age. He spent his childhood outdoors, surrounded by mountains, trees, and lakes. Wordsworth's fondness of nature may have been what initially drew him to Shakespeare, whose works his father introduced to him. Shakespeare used nature to articulate themes within his writing; Consider his famous line, "shall I compare thee to a summer's day." In one of his Ballads, Wordsworth discussed how much he respects and appreciates Shakespeare.
Politics and the French Revolution also had a considerable influence on Wordsworth and his writing. While visiting France as a young adult, Wordsworth was fascinated by the revolutionary spirit of the country. Here, he formed his early political opinions and grew a hatred of tyranny. His newfound interest in politics broadened his mind and strengthened the themes of his poetry.
Politics and the French Revolution also had a considerable influence on Wordsworth and his writing. While visiting France as a young adult, Wordsworth was fascinated by the revolutionary spirit of the country. Here, he formed his early political opinions and grew a hatred of tyranny. His newfound interest in politics broadened his mind and strengthened the themes of his poetry.
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William. “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day? (Sonnet 18).” Poets.org, Academy of American Poets, 14 Mar. 2016, www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/shall-i-compare-thee-summers-day-sonnet-18.
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
Composed Upon Westminster Bridge
"Composed Upon Westminster Bridge" is a sonnet by William Wordsworth, published in 1802. This was almost at the height of the Industrial Revolution in England. In the sonnet, Wordsworth is admiring the view from the Westminster Bridge in London early one morning. The way he describes his surroundings is in contrast to how London usually is during this time period- industrialized, hectic, and busy.
Wordsworth describes the early morning as "silent" (5) and "bare," (5) and says that the air is "smokeless" (8). This is opposed to the usual state of the city, which is loud and crowded, with the air full of smoke from factories. He begins to reflect, stating that he's never felt this calm here before. "Dear God" (Wordsworth 13), he says, exclaiming his amazement over how serene everything is in this moment. The final line includes a metaphor, referring to industrialized London as a "mighty heart" (Wordsworth 14). Like a heart, the city is always active and working; However, at this moment early in the morning, the "heart" is at rest.
Throughout the sonnet, Wordsworth manages to find the beauty in the industrialized city, something that resulted from the efforts of the Enlightenment era. The lack of busy people, loud sounds, and smokey skies makes the natural beauty of the setting much more apparent, and is something Wordsworth is pleasantly taken aback by.
"Earth has not any thing to show more fair:
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty:
This City now doth, like a garment, wear
The beauty of the morning; silent, bare,
Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie
Open unto the fields, and to the sky;
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.
Never did sun more beautifully steep
In his first splendour, valley, rock, or hill;
Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!
The river glideth at his own sweet will:
Dear God! the very houses seem asleep;
And all that mighty heart is lying still!"
Wordsworth describes the early morning as "silent" (5) and "bare," (5) and says that the air is "smokeless" (8). This is opposed to the usual state of the city, which is loud and crowded, with the air full of smoke from factories. He begins to reflect, stating that he's never felt this calm here before. "Dear God" (Wordsworth 13), he says, exclaiming his amazement over how serene everything is in this moment. The final line includes a metaphor, referring to industrialized London as a "mighty heart" (Wordsworth 14). Like a heart, the city is always active and working; However, at this moment early in the morning, the "heart" is at rest.
Throughout the sonnet, Wordsworth manages to find the beauty in the industrialized city, something that resulted from the efforts of the Enlightenment era. The lack of busy people, loud sounds, and smokey skies makes the natural beauty of the setting much more apparent, and is something Wordsworth is pleasantly taken aback by.
"Earth has not any thing to show more fair:
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty:
This City now doth, like a garment, wear
The beauty of the morning; silent, bare,
Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie
Open unto the fields, and to the sky;
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.
Never did sun more beautifully steep
In his first splendour, valley, rock, or hill;
Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!
The river glideth at his own sweet will:
Dear God! the very houses seem asleep;
And all that mighty heart is lying still!"
Works Cited
Wordsworth, William. “Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802 by William Wordsworth.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45514/composed-upon-westminster-bridge-september-3-1802.
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