On Wordsworth’s Romantic View of Nature.doc

On Wordsworth’s Romantic View of Nature 外国语学院2010级2010020564 周家明 指导老师【Abstract】 William Wordsworth is considered as one of the most influential poets in the British literary history. As a poet, he is remembered mainly for his short lyrics, epics and sonnets. He is also outstanding in literary theory. His theoretical writings are more substantial than their number suggests. His preface to Lyrical Ballads serves as the manifesto of the English Romantic Movement in poetry. This paper is for the purpose of studying Wordsworth’s Romantic View of Nature. It consists of three chapters. The first chapter is an introduction of the background of the poet, but also the poet’s experience upon his poetic practice and theory. In the second chapter, the author introduces the poet’s theory about nature and self-spiritual reactions on natural phenomena. 【Key Words】 Wordsworthature 1.Introduction William Wordsworth was born and grew up in the Lake District, the beautiful area of mountains, lakes, and streams near the Scottish border in northwest England. The natural beauty and grandeur of this area was a major source of inspiration for Wordsworth throughout his life. His mother died when he was eight. Wordsworth was sent to school at Hawshead, a town further south in the Lake District. He was a lively and sometimes a moody boy. He loved to spend his free time roaming about the countryside and getting to know the country people. The memories of these years were transformed into magnificent verses. . He thinks that nature is good to one’s moral health. The farmers and their children are simple and courageous because they always live in the dells, among clear streams and in broad fields, people should try to find power, beauty and knowledge in nature even if they live in a selfish evil society. Wordsworth was optimistic in his youth, believing in human perfectibility, and was ever enthusiastic with the so-called “Freedom, Equality and Fraternity”. He was greatly inspired by th