When it comes to the subject of Romanticism I am somewhat lost and confused. I however, don’t see myself being in the Neoclassicism group had I been born in this time, but not really in to the Romanticism movement either. I will try my hardest to analyze the poem assigned as if I had every idea of what the Romantics were trying to convey through their poetry.“Literature depicting emotional matter in an imaginative form,” is an easy enough way to grasp the concept of Romanticism and Floating Island by Dorothy Wordsworth does depict nature and emotion in such a way. Take this particular stanza for example:
Once did I see a slip of earth,
By throbbing waves long undermined,
Loosed from its hold; -- how no one knew
But all might see it float, obedient to the wind.
The poet describes the island as a “slip of earth” that was undermined by “throbbing waves”. The words are full of imagination and emotion. The idea of the waves throbbing conveys a certain emotion to the reader. The idea of the wave throbbing almost makes them seem alive. The word choice gives the waves a pulse of some sort. It is a fascinating idea to consider these “living”, pulsing waves “loosed from its hold” the piece or “slip” of earth and now the poor little island is at the mercy of the wind or at least “obedient to the wind”. Now someone who would describe an island through the use of scientific rationalization might not write a poem that would bring rise to the same emotions as Wordsworth’s poem. Instead of “slip of earth” they may simply substitute “island” and that wouldn’t be very imaginative at all. “Slip of earth” makes the island seem delicate and fragile. If you said “Once did I see an island surrounded by waves gashing in the wind, the same waves that tore it away from its continent and the wind slowly eroded it.” The reader doesn’t feel connected to the island at all in the poem. In phrasing the poem the way Wordsworth phrased it the reader almost feels like the island has emotion. The reader can make an emotional connection with the island.
Towards the end of the poem it talks about the island sinking and disappearing under the waves. The poem again makes the island seem as if it had been alive by comparing this scene to its death.
Without an object, hope, or fear,
Thither your eyes may turn -- the Isle is passed away.
By throbbing waves long undermined,
Loosed from its hold; -- how no one knew
But all might see it float, obedient to the wind.
The poet describes the island as a “slip of earth” that was undermined by “throbbing waves”. The words are full of imagination and emotion. The idea of the waves throbbing conveys a certain emotion to the reader. The idea of the wave throbbing almost makes them seem alive. The word choice gives the waves a pulse of some sort. It is a fascinating idea to consider these “living”, pulsing waves “loosed from its hold” the piece or “slip” of earth and now the poor little island is at the mercy of the wind or at least “obedient to the wind”. Now someone who would describe an island through the use of scientific rationalization might not write a poem that would bring rise to the same emotions as Wordsworth’s poem. Instead of “slip of earth” they may simply substitute “island” and that wouldn’t be very imaginative at all. “Slip of earth” makes the island seem delicate and fragile. If you said “Once did I see an island surrounded by waves gashing in the wind, the same waves that tore it away from its continent and the wind slowly eroded it.” The reader doesn’t feel connected to the island at all in the poem. In phrasing the poem the way Wordsworth phrased it the reader almost feels like the island has emotion. The reader can make an emotional connection with the island.
Towards the end of the poem it talks about the island sinking and disappearing under the waves. The poem again makes the island seem as if it had been alive by comparing this scene to its death.
Without an object, hope, or fear,
Thither your eyes may turn -- the Isle is passed away.
Alright so apparently I have no common sense because I didn't realize that the "slip of earth" was the freaking island. How did I not get that? Haha.
ReplyDeleteI like how you thoroughly examined the stanza and pointed out how it was Romantic and not scientific.
You and Heather are the only ones who've already done your blogs, therefore you get comments. :-)
I love how you described the differences in word use of throbbing and slip of earth. I didn't give that much thought and agree that it gives great emotion to the reader and makes the island much more alive than simply calling it an island or gashing waves. Great example.
ReplyDeleteI think you hit on all the important emotional parts, which is the point of the poem- to evoke emotion. Or at least that is what I think. Great post!
ReplyDeletewhat exactly is still a point of confusion for you? you can bring it up in class.
ReplyDeleteTo elaborate on the word choice of "throbbing waves" and that this makes the sea seem alive, couldn't we also also say that the sea is like the island's heart (throbbing=pulse) and that the island (person) is moved directionless by the whims of its oceam (heart)?
ReplyDeleteThere is another aspect of Romanticism that your post made me realize. Poetry is so freaking dense. Awesome job of drawing that out.