Sense of Humanism in Wordsworths poems
Sense of Humanism in Wordsworth's PoemsOne might say that the great guiding principle of the Romantic revolt was reinvigorated humanism, which was greater than any since the Renaissance. The principle dealt greatly with individualism. Humanism affected every cycle: politics, philosophy, religion and arts. Generally, Wordworth is considered a poet of nature, and yet we could sense the doctrine of humanism in his works as well. His poems suggest that he thinks highly not only of nature but also man.First, Wordworth sees significance in every man, especially common ones. This is quite startling because never before poets see importance in ordinary people. Wordsworth sees this and he wrote a number of poems about them. He treated them as if they were very significant. "She Dwelt among Untrodden Way" is a good example. The poem deals with an ordinary and obscure country lass who has almost nobody to appreciate her beauty as she lives in the remote country. And yet her death has strong impact on the poet. "She lived unknown, and few could know
Finally, Wordsworth's sense of humanism is suggested in his great esteem on childhood. Almost all of his poems concerned about himself and his mind; he rarely wrote about another subject matters. Therefore, childhood is cherished, as it is the state that has not been tarnished by the world or social code yet. When the poet wants to depict his beautiful memory of the daffodils, he uses human term to describe them. Children's nature is more 'original' and closer to the nature of 'man' than the adults' nature (for children' s nature has not spoiled yet. "Sonnets Composed upon Westminster Bridge" shows his tremendous pride for London. The doctrine of individualism is reflected in his works for almost all the poems. Third, Wordsworth's great appreciation for nature is, somehow, based on humanism. Second, Wordworth has a strong sense of individualism. The statement that 'The child is father of the Man', written in the poem " My Heart Leaps Up", does not only conveyed the thought that the adult, in order to be able to appreciate life, has to learn to share excitement and innocence from the child but also the thought that the state of childhood exposes the 'real' nature of man. And yet he sometimes 'humanise' nature as well. Wordsworth is well known for his skill of 'naturalise' nature. ("The Prelude", which the poet considers "Growth of a Poet's Mind; an Autobiographical Poem", is composed of 14 books!) Wordsworth is intensely a personal poet. He sees the worth in every single man - no matter how small they are.
Common topics in this essay:
Heart Leaps,
Dwelt Untrodden,
Wordsworth's Poems,
Finally Wordsworth's,
London World,
Lonely Cloud,
Imitation Ode,
Third Wordsworth's,
Prelude Excursion,
Autobiographical Poem,
wordsworth's poems,
poems suggest,
childhood exposes,
personal life,
'real' nature,
sense humanism,
cherishes childhood,
|