Wordsworth The Romantic

Wordsworth the Romantic

William Wordsworth was recognized as a profound thinker, who displayed great originality and helped in creating a new dimension to poetry in the 18th century, the beginning era of romanticism. A very sensitive man to human nature and all of its phases of existence. He sifted through the experiential change as one progresses from infancy through to old age, experiencing each moment in its own unique way with individual characteristics. Looking at the individual qualities as they had a life of their own, bringing those qualities to life through a vivid, clear, descriptive imagination.

So deep did he dwell into his thoughts and analysis in any one particular area that the difference between the real and imaginary were often to differentiate. Similar to the way that the sub-conscious mind emerges when we sleep providing information that we may have temporarily lost, but so intensely we experience it, it is hard to decipher upon waking, between fantasy and reality. Then we may begin to question our definition of reality. We can see a similar transition from childhood to adulthood, as one progresses and matures emotionally, going through many stages in life, comparable to the changing seasons of nature. As in “Tintern Abbey” we can see the transition: “Wherever nature led: more like a man/Who sought the think he loved. For nature then/(The coarser pleasure of my boyish days,/and their glad animal movements all gone by.” (70-74). Wordsworth uses analogies of nature in much of his writings, he identifies with it vividly, guiding us through with the intensity like the eye of a painter focused on his subject of creativity. He created a clear, and detailed picture in the minds of his readers, so that they may also experience as he has, through his words. This was useful in keeping the spirits up for those family members were serving during wartime. He used his poetry as a constant reminder