Nature in the Poetry of Romantic Poets Wordsworth and Shelley: A Comparative Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT

This study analyzes the depiction of nature in William Wordsworth’s Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey and Percy Bysshe Shelley’s Ode to the West Wind within the context of Romantic literature. The Romantic movement emphasized emotion, imagination, individual experience, and a deep appreciation of nature as a response to industrialization and political revolution. As leading Romantic poets, Wordsworth and Shelley both place nature at the center of their poetic vision. However, they express their ideas in different ways. This research aims to examine the similarities and differences in how these two poets portray nature and how their perspectives reflect Romantic ideals. This study uses a descriptive qualitative method and applies René Wellek’s theory of comparative literature as its theoretical framework. Through close reading and textual analysis, the research focuses on themes, imagery, symbolism, tone, and the relationship between nature and human emotion. The findings show that both poets present nature as a living and powerful force that shapes human thought and feeling. Wordsworth depicts nature as calm, nurturing, and spiritually restorative, offering moral guidance and inner peace. In contrast, Shelley portrays nature as dynamic, intense, and transformative, symbolizing destruction, renewal, and revolutionary change. Although their tones differ, Wordsworth being reflective and meditative, Shelley passionate and urgent, both poets reveal a strong belief in the profound connection between nature and the human spirit. This comparison highlights the richness and diversity of Romantic views on nature.

Keywords: English poetry, nature, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Romantic period, William Wordsworth