Nature in the Poetry of William Wordsworth and Robert Frosts: An Eco-critical Study

Abstract

Nature and literature have a close relationship as it is evident in the works of poets and writers down ages in almost all cultures of the world. Writers have long been inspired to tune their lyrics to the difference in landscape, the changes in season, and the natural phenomena around them. In its attempt to investigate the various Concepts for the term Nature, the present study seeks to identify the major similarities and dissimilarities in the use of nature in the poetry of William Wordsworth and Robert Frost. It intends also to investigate the contribution of Wordsworth and Frost’s Poetry to increase the ecological consciousness of man. Their works are analyzed in the light of Eco-criticism with focus on reservation of natural resources and ecosystem to prevent the undulate effects of human life. Thus, the research methods adopted in this thesis are first, the qualitative approach as it is the most applicable approach to use for this sort of study. The second, and the main approach adopted in this study is the Eco-criticism approach which defines itself as a practice of reading literature from earth-centered rather than human-centered perspective. In addition to these two approaches, the Biographical approach is also used. The results obtained show that the meaning of nature has continually changed throughout the history of literature. The research also specifies how nature was used by Romantic Poets with special reference to William Wordsworth compared with how the same concept was used in America with special reference to Robert Frost. The study also reveals that both poet’s representations of nature expressed in their poetry and poems are consistent with conserving nature and the natural environment.