ASSIGNMENT

ON
A Sketch of My Most Favourite Poet From the Romantic
Era

Course Code: ENG-305

Course Title: Romantic Literature

Submitted To:
Farhana Chowdhury
Lecturer,
Department of English
Bangladesh Islami University
Dhaka 1203.

Submitted By
Sunjida Khanam
ID: BAERF 05052020
Batch :5th
Semester: Summer, 2010
Department of English
Bangladesh Islami University
Dhaka 1203.
Submitted Date: 22.08.10
BANGLADESH ISLAMI UNIVERSITY
My Favourite Poet in Romantic Era:-

The Romantic Period

in English literature is dated as beginning in 1798 and as ending in 1832.
This period is also called the revival of Romanticism because the romantic
ideals of the Elizabethan period revived during these years. Lyrical Ballads
brought a great change in literature-both in subject and style. Instead of
aristocratic people and pedantic style, common people and common
language were preferred. The important events of the age were- after the
French Revolution it was accepted that every individual was free and equally
important. Small industries disappeared and large industries with huge
capital developed. In 1829 Catholic Emancipation Act was passed and
religious equity was ensured.

Romanticism is a doctrine which holds that art and literature should be

free from classical and neo-classical rules and constraints. This literary
doctrine had its origin in the Elizabethan Age. However, it revived with full
force towards the end of the eighteenth century during the time of
Wordsworth and Coleridge. The main features of romanticism are high
imagination, love of nature, subjectivity, breaking the set rules, love of
liberty and freedom, presentation of common life, spontaneity and
sensuousness, escape to the middle age, supernaturalism etc.

There are many famous writers in Romantic Age who are remembered
for their famous writings. They are- William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor
Coleridge, lord Byron, Percy By she Shelley, John Keats etc.

My favorite poet of this age is William Wordsworth. All his writings

and his writing style are attracted me so much.
 William Wordsworth was born in 1770 at Cockermouth, Cumberland
Hills, in English. He was the son of an attorney. His mother died in 1778 and
his mother died in 1783 . Before his father’s death, the family had suffered
some financial hardship. He was sent to the grammar school in Hawhshead
in the lake District. After his father’s death his uncle took care of young
Wordsworth. He was sent to St. John’s College at the University of
Cambridge3 in 1787. In 1791 he took his B.A degree.

Wordsworth is known for his love of nature. This does not mean that
his poems present detailed pictorial description of landscape very frequently.
He is interested in the relationship between nature and human beings. In his
poetry there is a detailed account of the complex interaction between man
and nature rather than a simple observation of nature.

His poems reflect that in different phases of his life, he responds to

nature differently. In childhood nature is just a physical source of “coarser
pleasures” As he grew up, he started feeling the presence of a divine power
that pervaded through all objects of nature. Wordsworth’s belief in the
presence of a divine power in nature is known as “pantheism” To
Wordsworth nature has been a living being that has healing influence n those
human beings who require it. Many of his poems also reflect that nature is a
moral teacher, a guardian and philosopher for those who are able to make
spiritual communion with it. In the last phase of life, when he developed a
philosophical mind, he found nature as the mirror of human miseries.

William Wordsworth began his career as a poet a quite an early age.

His earliest verses were composed under the influence of Pope and were “a
tame imitation of Pope’s versification.” At the University he composed
poems which found a place in college magazines of his work as a university
student. An Evening Walk, and Descriptive Sketches are worthy of notice.
The first fruits of his genius were given out in the lyrical Ballads. The
publication of this monumental work ushered in the new era of romanticism
in poetry and smashed the old, artificial, superfluous and hackneyed theory
of English poetry of the previous age. The major poems of Wordsworth are
lines Written in Early Spring, The Thorn, The tables Turned, Tintern Abbey,
Ruth, Michael etc.
 William Wordsworth is one of the greatest protagonists of the romantic
movement called the “Renaissance of Wonder.” He was the great pioneer
leader who made the transition from classicism to romanticism in poetry
during the nineteenth century.

Subjectivity is often called a egoist in his poetry- the “egoistical

sublimes.” It is a personal experience that his poems embody. It is his
reactions to certain scenes that the poems convey. Tintern, Abbey, Elegiac
Stanzas, The Simplon Pass and the famous ode are all results of personal
feelings.

Prominence of imagination and emotion id an important characteristic of

his writing styles. It was Wordsworth’s task to throw the colour of
imagination upon the common things of life and nature so as to make them
apart to be like supernatural things.

“The earth and every common sight

To me did seem
Apparalled in celestial light
The glory and freshness of a dream”

Breaking the set rules is another characteristic of his writings. In the

eighteenth century, poetry was governed by set rules and regulations. There
were well chalked out lines of poetic composition and any deviation from
the beaten track was frowned by mentors of poetic thought. Wordsworth
broke these set rules in his poetry by a strong reaction and protest.

From the poetry of Wordsworth, we find love of Nature. The poet

elevated nature to the dignity of adoration and gave a colour of romance and
glory to the simple annals of country-men living in huts and cottages in the
midst of nature’s beautiful surroundings.
 Love of liberty and freedom is found in Wordsworth’s poetry. He
introduced the cult of writing with freedom without any subordination to
rules and regulations given by writings of the 18th century. He was a poet in
his own independent right, expressing what he actually felt in his heart.

Simplicity is found in style and expression of Wordsworth. He used

simple diction in his poetry. His theory of poetry and poetic diction
introduced the new world of romanticism. It is very simplicity of the
language of the Thorn that brings out all the more vividly the quality of
paths. It is the simplicity of diction that makes the “Lucy Poems” so
beautiful.

Wordsworth’s numerous lyrics odes and sonnets were also romantic in

colour and in them the note of music, emotional excitement and imaginative
supremacy which were the half-marks of the poetry of romanticism were
introduced in the fairest measure possible. As for lyricism, it is significant
that he called his first edition of poems “lyrical” ballads.

At last, there are many poems of Wordsworth which represent the fine
flower of his genius. In every poetic from that he used with the possible
exception of the narrative, Wordsworth is seen here at the height of his
powers.

My favorite poet of romantic age is William Wordsworth. I love all of

his poems. His “Ode: On intimations of immortality from Recollection of
Early Childhood” has been enchanted me so much. He is known for love of
nature. I also love nature.

His all the writings are attracted me so much and he is my favorite poet.