Romanticism Cover Image

Romanticism

Start Free Trial

Themes: Pantheism

Download PDF PDF Page Citation Cite Share Link Share

Pantheism, the belief that the creator and creation are indistinguishable, suggests that God is not separate from the world but is present within it. This concept was embraced by the romantics. For example, Wordsworth expresses this in his poem “Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey, on Revisiting the Banks of the Wye during a Tour, July 13, 1798”:

And I have felt A presence that disturbs me with the joy Of elevated thoughts, a sense sublime Of something far more deeply interfused, Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns, And the round ocean, and the living air, And the blue sky, and in the mind of man.

This feeling of a divine “presence” in everything signaled a change in how people perceived nature. Before this time, most individuals were primarily focused on earning a livelihood, mainly through agriculture, and viewed nature simply as a resource to exploit, not as a source of renewal and purity. However, with the onset of the Industrial Revolution, cities became increasingly crowded and polluted. To the growing urban middle class, the lush countryside became attractive as a place for leisure and a refuge from the mounting grime and chaos that industry brought to urban areas. The romantics also regarded nature as a realm of spiritual purity and tranquility, where one could be rejuvenated by connecting with the divine force inherent in the natural world.

Expert Q&A

How did the Romantics view the relationship between man and nature?

The Romantics viewed nature as both a source of inspiration and a victim of human abuse. In poetry, such as William Wordsworth's "Lines Written in Early Spring," nature is celebrated for its purity and beauty. However, works like "The World Is Too Much With Us" criticize humanity's disconnection and exploitation of nature. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein further illustrates the consequences of attempting to control and distort natural forces.

Discuss nature in Wordsworth and Shelley's Romantic poetry.

Both Wordsworth and Shelley had a Romantic preoccupation with nature as expressing a higher spirit than civilization. For Wordsworth, nature was most often a source of joy and solace, a soothing balm and a source of happy memories. Shelley was more focused on extreme elements of nature, such as Mt. Blanc, and the ways nature expressed his sense of his own inadequacy by being superior to human endeavors.

The connection between nature and Romanticism

Romanticism emphasizes the connection between nature and human emotion, viewing nature as a source of inspiration, beauty, and spiritual renewal. This literary movement often portrays nature as a powerful, almost divine force that reflects and influences human feelings and creativity, contrasting with the industrialization and rationalism of the period.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Previous

Themes: Dreams and Visions

Next

Themes: The Self

Loading...