NATURE AND THE SUBLIME: ROMANTIC IMAGINATION IN WORDSWORTH’S TINTERN ABBEY AND SHELLEY’S MONT BLANC

Abstract

Abstract: This paper examines Romantic conceptions of nature and the sublime in the poetry of William Wordsworth and Percy Shelley as representatives of each poet’s generation in the Romantic era. The poems “Lines Written a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey” and “Mont Blanc: Lines Written in the Vale of Chamouni” were chosen for their topic and immediate natural settings. By analyzing the sublime imagery and philosophical ideas in the poems, this paper shows how each poet engages with nature. Although both poems address the sublime and human feelings, the two poets offer different visions: Wordsworth’s presentation of nature as a restorative, benevolent force is juxtaposed with Shelley’s awe-inspiring and existentialist view of nature. The comparison sheds light on the Romantic fascination with the natural world and illustrates the poets’ intention of composing long-lasting poetry.
Keywords: Romanticism, poetry, sublime, landscape, philosophy, natural world