Wordsworth and Coleridge's Response To Nature Nature has played an important role in inspiring poets throughout time and William Wordsworth's involvement in discussing this topic is especially intriguing, considering the strong connection that the poet seems to have with the natural world. By taking into account Samuel Taylor Coleridge's perspective on Wordsworth's writings, one can gain a more complex understanding concerning the latter's feelings with regard to the environment. Wordsworth practically worshipped nature and this is reflected by most of his poems, especially considering that the emotions he described make him one of the Romantic era's greatest nature lovers.

This proposal is meant to discuss with regard to the relationship between Wordsworth and Coleridge and to how this respective relationship was deeply influenced by the feelings that the two poets experienced with regard to nature. Coleridge's poem "To William Wordsworth" actually relates to how the poet understood his friend and how he understood his friends love for nature. Coleridge virtually supports this type of affection and puts across his personal love for the natural world, but cannot abstain from recounting his personal issues. It is actually rather difficult to determine the exact message that he wanted to put across through this poem, as while he seems to want to praise Wordsworth and the love that they both feel toward nature, it also seems that he considers himself to be in an unprivileged position -- one that prevents him from being able to advance.

Research question

The research question discussed in this proposal regards the relationship between Wordsworth and Coleridge by focusing on their understanding of nature. One of the most impressive concepts regarding Wordsworth and his feelings with regard to nature is that he emphasizing as a separate entity in most of his poems. He does not describe it as simply being there to provide for humanity, as it has an identity of its own and as the poet seems determined to provide it with special treatment. Coleridge is also concerned about showing nature as a poor concept and as something that needs to be praised on account...

Even with the fact that the two poets collaborated in writing this novel and that they both openly emphasized their love for the natural world, they tend to disagree on certain aspects regarding nature. The fact that they both consider it to be one of the strongest forces in the universe influenced them to try and enable the masses to see it from their perspective. To a certain degree, it appears that Wordsworth wanted to portray nature as a sacred concept only as a result of its relationship with humanity. In contrast, Coleridge focused on describing nature as a body that was sacred on its own and that did not necessarily need to develop a connection with people in order to be appreciated on account of its sacredness.
Even with the fact that he made important contributions to Lyrical Ballads, Coleridge's involvement in the book pales in comparison to Wordsworth's. The latter is virtually responsible for most of the book. However, it is intriguing to see how Coleridge's poems are in certain occasions especially important in making readers better acquainted with Wordsworth. To a certain degree, it would seem normal to consider Coleridge as being more disturbed and as being more interested in writing with regard to abstract concepts. Wordsworth's descriptions of the natural world actually seem to be simpler, despite the fact that they relate to very complex ideas.

Theoretical context

Lyrical Ballads is certainly self-explanatory when considering Wordsworth and Coleridge and their common affection concerning the natural world. The book shows Wordsworth as a poet who seems determined to have society understand his perspective on nature. "In the poems he tries to show the power and the blessings of Nature in the life of a man, and in the introduction he declares that the natural language of simple people is a suitable vehicle for poetic pleasure." (Lacey 1948, p. 1)

Coleridge played an important role in…