Wordsworth Context Flashcards
How can you link the French Revolution to Wordsworth?
He lived in France briefly in 1791-92. He at first found the revolution inspiring, swept up by its idealistic form of Liberalism. But when he returned to the Lakes with Dorothy, the contrast between major revolting cities and the countryside made him realise the peace is in the country. The French Revolution only caused suffering and corruption.
What was Coleridge’s plan for Lyrical Ballads?
He wanted to make things which seem unordinary and supernatural somehow believable. Contrastingly, he set out that Wordsworth would ‘give that charm of novelty to things of every day’. They could therefore both meet at a middle way between fantasy and reality, giving that doubleness element seen in Romantic literature.
How could you link Wordsworth’s value of imagination with another of his poems?
‘Peter Bell’ - poem about a character who lacks imagination. ‘A yellow primrose was to him, And it was nothing more’. The character doesn’t recognise the greatness of using the imagination, the moral quality that comes with it etc and lacks that pantheist ideology. Good extra context to drop in if you are emphasising a point about imagination, symbolism etc.
How can you summarise Wordsworth’s work in terms of his use of the sublime?
Often regarded as the standard of the romantic sublime. Lines 37-41 of Tintern Abbey shows his ideas that the spirit is able to grasp the sublime temporarily and is lightened. His ultimate goal is to find Enlightenment with the sublime. He demonstrates both aspects of it being beautiful and terrifying. 2nd gen tended to lean more towards the terror and ecstasy of it.
What is the key word which describes Wordsworth’s opinion of nature?
Pantheism - God and the universe are one and the same (think philosophy process theodicy). God is in nature, nature is thus divine and the ultimate restoration. He regards it with spiritual appreciation.
How is the Lake District related to his poetry
Most of his life he lived there. 1800 edition to Lyrical Ballads - wants his poetry to represent the local culture of being passionately involved in the landscape and rural life. Saw it as an authentic culture, even wrote a guide to the Lakes to invite others to enter such a community.
How is a sense of place important in his poetry
Firstly, the importance of the Lake District. Poems like Tintern Abbey can link to this theme. His poem ‘The Brothers’ reflects on his connection to the Lakes, how he felt he didn’t belong in quite the same way when he returned from France. Wanted to attach a human quality to place, like virtue and morality. Keats in 1817 went on a Northern tour and said the poetry of the places he saw by Wordsworth communicated the virtue and values of the real place.
