Nature and God are the main themes in “Robert Frost poem, “Nothing Gold Can Stay”, William Wordsworth’s poems, “The World is Too Much With Us”, and “It is a Beauteous Evening”. The poets portray the themes of Nature and God both explicitly and implicitly, exposing the reader to a variety of ways in which nature and God is synonymous.
Robert Frost’s poem, “Nothing Gold Can Stay”, is an excellent demonstration of the cycle of life with its consistency in beginnings and endings. The snapshot of birth to death is synonymous in nature and God. An example of this is tulips in early spring, they bloom very well then they are gone and unless one experiences the tulips they will never know they are there In the first line of the poem, Frost is showing that “Nature’s first” is full of promise for wealth with his reference to “gold” and the promise to be able to achieve this wealth with new life in his reference to “Nature’s first” (Frost..) . A baby represents first, first in newnss and first in terms of a new start it represents hope for the future and hope to get wealth. Gold is extravagant and one of the universal indicators of wealth, however, Frost said it is the “hardest to maintain”(Frost.. . The poem reads, “Natures first green is gold,/her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf’s a flower; but only so an hour” (Frost..) . Frost is showing that nature in its most beautiful state, is short lived. Alluding to the powerlessness to hold onto the colors of flowers when they are most beautiful, describes the unending process of evolution. Nothing is sustainable in their best state; things have a limited time in its given form. The leaves changing after a season ends depicts the concepts of evolution referred to by Robert Frost. ...
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...aw flashes of lightning, dazzling jewels and crystal, rainbows and fire, and heard terrifying bursts of thunder.” (Pagels 42). This demonstrates that Nature and God have been synonymous throughout time.
An element of poetry in William Wordsworth's poem, “It is a Beauteous Evening, Calm and Free” is Diction. His descriptive words such as, “beauteous” “calm”, “free”, “breathless”, “adoration”, “tranquility”, “thunder” and “solemn” are words that conjure up a powerful feeling in the readers mind.
Nature and God are consistent themes throughout all three poems. Whether it is the calming tone in Wordsworth’s ,“It is a Beauteous Evening, Calm and Free”, the abrupt tone in Frost’s “Nothing Gold Can Stay” or whether it contains ebb and flow as it does in Wordsworth’s “The World is Too Much With Us”, they all showed the connection between Nature and God.
The author of Mending Wall and Nothing Gold Can Stay uses figurative language like metaphors and personification to demonstrate his overall tone. In Nothing Gold Can Stay, the author stated that “Natures first green is gold” meaning that the budding of a leaf is precious like gold is precious, having great value to people. When Robert Frost stated “Her hardest hue to hold...Her early leaf's a flower,” he was using personification acting as if nature, itself, was an actual person giving birth to a budding flower. He talks about leaves and flowers only lasting for a short time; in fact, only an hour to demonstrate his overall tone that nothing good stays and beauty is not permanent. He talks about the dawn of day also being extremely short
The poem had been one of the owner’s favorites and the house read it to her every night before bed. When the poem is read to the woman before bed, the house says, “There will come soft rains and the smell of the ground, and swallows circling with their shimmering sound…” (4). This line from the poem read by the house describes the perfect image of nature and its purpose. The poem discusses different images and proves life’s beauty to its reader. Whoever was to read the poem is meant to recognize the significance of nature and its beauty, and how often it is overlooked. People expect nature to tend to their every need, when in fact, nature is in no debt to
Robert Frost's choice of words start off with introducing the topic of nature, using "Nature's first green is gold. Her hardest hue to hold." As a way to sneak the meaning in with an analogy. Since a flower is beautiful once it blooms, there is also a possibility that later on the flower can wilt and turn into something uglier than it originally was. "Her early leaf's a flower; But only so an hour.." Gives the meaning that even a beautiful flower can also rot. "Then leaf subsides to leaf.." Has the
An individual’s solitude can come from the state of being alone; however, this word goes deeper for the purpose here. To be in a solitary state does not mean an individual is lonely or isolated in a negative way. The word instead means a chosen state in which an individual has time to reflect internally. This gives an individual time to observe and reflect. The observation can lead to a positive or negative response. This is seen in two contrasting poems: William Wordsworth’s “Daffodils” and William Blake’s “London.” In Wordsworth’s poem, his persona is observing “[a] host, of golden daffodils” (Line 4). His persona is initially “lonely” but gains a sense of solitude after seeing these yellow flowers (1). This solitude allows him retreat to personally reflect on what he has seen. In Blake’s poem, this poet’s persona has not physically separated himself from other people. He is, instead, observing his external surroundings and internally reflecting on them. Each poet depicts a solitary speaker observing his surroundings. This reveals each individual’s internal reflection. The main contrast, however, arises when Wordsworth’s persona responds positively in observing the natural world, whereas Blake’s persona responds negatively in observing an industrial London.
Bryant illustrates the beauty and mystery of nature by personifying Nature as a nurturing, caring woman who comforts the reader as he begins to fear death. Nature opens herself “To him who in the love of Nature holds/ Communion with her visible forms” (lines 1-2). He is almost in a holy relationship with Nature; and in these moments of communion, Nature appears to communicate with him. As he begins to fear death, the speaker tells him to “Go forth, under the open sky, and list/ To Nature’s teachings” (lines 14-15). The reader can find Nature’s comfort and insight in the calmness of the outdoors. Moreover, what once nurtured him will claim him; he will become one with Nature “To mix with the elements” (line
Robert Frost's poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay" uses a metaphor of nature to explain loss and time passing. The poem explains that nature cannot hold onto leaves and flowers. Spring turns into summer, which turns into fall, and then winter. Time goes on and there is no way to stop it. Colors fade and gold things change. Each line of the poem contributes to the idea that nature and good things fade away or move on. The poet uses imagery to explain his ideas, and the color gold to show importance.
“ Nothing Gold can Stay” ((Frost, Robert); Kennedy, X.J.; Gioia, Dana)by Robert Frost shares with the reader a message of wisdom by using examples of the changing of seasons. It gives the reader a feeling that in life there is change, and examples are given throughout the poem. Robert Frost creates a bittersweet tone through the uses the literal element of alliteration, metaphor, allusion and personification. Innocence is unrecoverable and inescapably lost.
Robert Frost wrote poetry about nature and it is that nature that he used as symbols for life lessons. Many critics have been fascinated by the way that Frost could get so many meanings of life out of nature itself. Frost‘s poetry appeals to almost everyone because of his uncanny ability to tie in with many things that one is too familiar with and for many, that is life in itself. “Perhaps that is what keeps Robert Frost so alive today, even people who have never set foot in Vermont, in writing about New England, Frost is writing about everywhere” (294).
Wordsworth and Hopkins both present the reader with a poem conveying the theme of nature. Nature in its variety be it from something as simple as streaked or multicolored skies, long fields and valleys, to things more complex like animals, are all gifts we take for granted. Some never realize the truth of what they are missing by keeping themselves indoors fixating on the loneliness and vacancy of their lives and not on what beauty currently surrounds them. Others tend to relate themselves more to the fact that these lovely gifts are from God and should be praised because of the way his gifts have uplifted our human spirit. Each writer gives us their own ideals as how to find and appreciate nature’s true gifts.
The poem “God’s Grandeur” by Gerald Hopkins is a poem of the relationship between God, nature and humans and the idea that no matter what is done to nature, it will heal itself. The title of the poem could be literally be taken to say “God’s Magnificence” and from this it can be inferred that the poem will draw positive connotations and images of the greatness or glory of God and his creation of nature. The poem spans and speaks literally of the effect God has on nature and man’s work that changes the landscape by production and industry but the “freshness” of nature is protected always remains and could never be destroyed. The poem is directed towards the reader where the tension of the work is the relationship between God/nature and man.
Robert Frost is considered by the casual reader to be a poet of nature like that of a Wordsworth. In a sense, his poetry is about nature, yet with strong underlying tones of the drama of man in nature. Frost himself stated, “I guess I’m not a nature poet,” “ I have only written two without a human being in them (138).” Marion Montgomery’s critical essay plays with the epitaph that Frost proposes for himself in The Lesson for Today: “I have a lovers quarrel with the world.” Montgomery says, that the lovers quarrel is Frost’s poetic subject, and states, “throughout his poetry there is evidence of this view of mans’ existence in the natural world (138). The essay examines how Frost’s attitude toward nature is one with armed and amicable truce and mutual respect interwoven with boundaries of the two principles, individual man and the forces of the world. But the boundaries are insisted upon. The critical essay examines how Frost’s direct addresses of nature are often how man is essentially different from objects and features of nature. Montgomery insists, “…his trees and animals, though he speaks to them, do no take on grave countenances (140).” The jest of Montgomery’s ideal is when Frost speaks directly to or directly of natural objects or creatures, “that ...
Robert Frost’s nature poetry occupies a significant place in the poetic arts; however, it is likely Frost’s use of nature is the most misunderstood aspect of his poetry. While nature is always present in Frost’s writing, it is primarily used in a “pastoral sense” (Lynen 1). This makes sense as Frost did consider himself to be a shepherd.
Albert Einstein, a German-born theoretical physicist, once said, “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better” (Wilkes). Einstein refers to nature as a portal into the unknown. Initially, a person can find the answers to any question within nature. Furthermore, nature can help a person to look at the greater purpose and reflect. This idea supports the Romantic authors as they write about the value of nature. Walt Whitman has become one of the utmost famous Romantic authors. After traveling across the states, he began to look at America differently. Then he begins to devote himself to his poetry about nature. Two of his many poems, Song of Myself and When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer, exemplify the value of nature. Ralph Waldo Emerson has also become a famous Romantic author. He becomes known as the Father of Transcendentalism, as he believes that when people become independent and self-reliant within nature, they become their best selves. He later writes an essay, Nature, which expresses the value of nature. As these authors write their literature about nature, they illustrate the significance that it brings to oneself, community, God, and those relationships. It is important for modern readers to value nature, as the Romantic authors do, because it is there that a person reflects on his or her self, finds a greater understanding of life and his or her surroundings, and becomes close to God.
All in all, throughout all the history of American poetry, we can easily find numerous poems concerning nature from different angles, for nature will never betray a nature-loving heart just as William Wordsworth says.
To conclude, William Wordsworth uses form and syntax and figurative language to stress on his mental journey, and to symbolize the importance of the beauty and peace of nature. In my opinion, the poet might have written this poem to show his appreciation towards nature. The poem has a happy mood especially when the poet is discussing the daffodils. In this poem the daffodils are characterized as more than flowers, but as humans “fluttering and dancing in the breeze” (line 6). In addition, the poet mentioned himself to be part of nature since nature inspires him to write and think. Therefore, the reason that the poet wrote this poem was to express the feeling of happiness in his mental journey in nature.