Varied generations of writers have risen to produce works of literature that define their respective eras as is evident in the close analysis of specific productions. Romanticism, for example, was a literature movement that began in the mid Eighteenth Century with writers expressing a deep interest in nature as a source of inspiration and a tool for forging the underlying thematic concerns. William Wordsworth, in this light, is revered for introducing romanticism in English literature together with Samuel Taylor when they jointly published Lyrical Ballads in 1798. A critical analysis of his poem titled “Lines Written at a Small Distance From my House” reveal Wordsworth’s keen interest on nature whereby the persona marvels at the environment, the cosmic and humanity as is characteristic of the Romantic Movement.
The poem title conforms to the tenets of the Romantic Movement by highlighting the poet’s location as an inspiration in its production. By the poet revealing that he was out in the fields with his house in the vicinity, it is apparent that the natural setting in his homeland was important in influencing his thoughts (Beach, 2010). The critical reader, therefore, is expected to envision the poet in the middle of the expansive world where his ideals are not intimidated by the confinement of the walls within a house as would be the case in writers who do their writing indoors. In the fields, the poet is close and more in touch with the natural world and thus embraces nature as the fundamental inspiration.
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The poem begins with the persona making observation of time of the year to suggest the climate season as is characteristic with Romanticism Movement literature. By informing that it is in the month of March, Wordsworth invites the reader to make deductions that it is springtime in the romantic era England. Indeed, it is the flora and fauna that has lured him to the fields such that he cannot help intertwining what goes on in his mind with what he sees around him. The persona further confirms the author’s adherence to romantic ideals by being captivated by the beauty of nature such that things only get better with time. Spring, therefore, serves as a symbol of growth and underlines the optimism in the author who is inspired by nature. Wordsworth further makes note of the tall tree outside his house and the singing bird bringing in flora and fauna as part of the collective nature that confirms his poem as part of the Romantic Movement literature.
The poet is persistent in his admiration of nature as is evident in the second and third stanzas where the persona expresses his pleasure as he takes in the general terrain (Cerf, 2002). He intimates that “there is a blessing in the air” revealing that the spring climate has brought with it a freshness that is characteristic of springtime. It is therefore not surprising that he makes mention of the green field to inform that it is covered with grass. He also speaks of trees and the mountains which are symbols of nature that reveal the wide natural scope from which the poet seeks inspiration. More so, it brings out the Romantic Movement poet as a free soul that can wander and seek satisfaction from the beauty of nature. The third stanza closes with the persona inviting the woman outside so that they may both enjoy the sun’s warmth.
Human interactions as part of nature have been extensively highlighted as the persona sends his son to deliver the message to the woman who is presumed to be the persona’s wife. The relationship between the persona, the addressee and the messenger is an indicator to the reader that the people are conforming to nature by paralleling its beauty with a conflict-free life. The persona repeatedly begs the woman to put on the most fitting dress for outdoor and join him outside. This is characteristic of the Romanticism Movement literature considering that man does not detach himself from nature but the two embrace to complement each other in diverse beauty (Raymer, 2009).
“ Lines written at a small distance from my house” is about love which goes beyond the erotic love between man and woman to embrace man’s love for nature and vice versa. Whereas the man seems to be wooing the woman, it is also worth noting that nature has also won his love. The persona understands that love is a birth which is universal confirming that human relations are part of nature which stretches to the cosmic universe (Raymer, 2009). With the sun providing the warmth that brings man and woman together, the persona believes that it is a give and take situation with nature expressing its love through its beauty and warmth while the people express their love for nature through appreciation and being an enviable part of it.
Unarguably, nature is an integral part in the making of literature in romanticism as is notable in Wordsworth’s “Lines written at a small distance from my house” because the persona’s inspiration is at its peak while he s out in the fields. Springtime has brought with it flora and fauna whereby the man is awed by the beauty of it all and the accompanying sun. This bids him to send for his wife so that they may marvel at it together and escape from the usual bustle. These are the features that shape romanticism, a movement that was introduced to English literature by the poet.
References
Beach, Joseph Warren. “Reason and Nature in Wordsworth.” Journal of the History of Ideas , vol. 1, no. 3, 2010, pp. 335–351. JSTOR , www.jstor.org/stable/2707091 .
Cerf, Barry. “Wordsworth's Gospel of Nature.” PMLA , vol. 37, no. 4, 2002, pp. 615–638. JSTOR , www.jstor.org/stable/457163 .
Raymer, A. J. “Virgil and Wordsworth: The Poetry of Romanticism.” Greece & Rome , vol. 9, no. 25, 2009, pp. 13–25. JSTOR , www.jstor.org/stable/641294 .
