I am an undergraduate student and I must write a research paper on this (as what the title says), for my English Literature class. I must analyze the aspect of it by looking at works that discuss the value of nature. Apparently the value of nature was under strain in this century.
Can anyone help me generate some ideas to form a proper thesis on the subject matter? Any works that involve the value of Nature?
Thank you in advance,
"Apparently the value of nature was under strain in this century."
This is a terrible generalization. The problem is that the outlook of Nature changed radically throughout the century.
What I would do if I was in your position would be to do a comparison between a work from a Romantic poet (say Wordsworth) and a Victorian writer that deal with the "destruction of nature" - there are a couple of those. Or just look at Blake.
I wrote a poem on a leaf and it blew away...
Far From The Madding Crowd- Thomas Hardy. Or do Tess.
Thoreau is of interest here. He has proven quite controversial. He went bush but not quite.
"I will go and live in solitude, far away from the crowds, among Nature.....but not so far that my mom cannot bring me a sandwich every afternoon" - Thoreau
I wrote a poem on a leaf and it blew away...
I would recommend reading "Big Two Hearted River" by Ernest Hemingway
Originally Posted by Charles Darnay
Im sorry for the "terrible" generalization. It is what the prof said in the essay topic. And thank you for your help!
I figured that was the case. Your prof makes terrible generalizations
I wrote a poem on a leaf and it blew away...
The problem is that the outlook of Nature changed radically throughout the century.
Even among the so called "romantics" the perspective changed.
Compare Wordsworth to Shelley, for example.
Thread starter, there is really only one thing you can do: open your poetry anthology and start reading these poems. The differences will only become increasingly apparent with study.
I mean, we could list a thousand names. Big deal. Start with the poems from the period that you have enjoyed reading, and go from there.
chancereading.blogspot.com
Yes, I can see how that really is the only way of formulating my own view on it. However, it does help to know a few names to help narrow things down I guess.
Thanks for your help!
Last edited by Ozzma; 03-17-2012 at 01:51 AM.
What does that have to do with 19th century English literature?
In my opinion, the Wordsworthian English language revolution allowed for a new concept of relationship between nature and the individual, as symbolized by the Aeolian Harp (Coleridge) or the Correspondent Breeze (The Prelude, Wordsworth). This is new, in that the poetic imagination is being moved by a natural world, rather than nature existing as a mathematical exercise, as conceived by Newton influenced persons. Likewise, the actual favor of city over country is reconsidered by Wordsworth, in contrast to earlier writers.
As for the later authors - good luck. They all vary incredibly, you are better off asking the question of specific thinkers.
If I remember correctly, Gaskell's North and South has themes concerning the country (nature) vs the city and farming vs industry.
"...You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?..." E. A. Poe
In the 19th century, the cultural catalogs fell. When nihilism started, regarding symbolic values, the entire nature of general semantics changed. Symbolism became useful to reveal multiplicity of meanings rather than institute one or two synonyms.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
