The concept of nature and imagination were extremely important to Wordsworth, Coleridge and many of the Romantic poets. This is especially evident in ‘The Nightingale’, where Coleridge reflects on natures association with man- more specifically it’s disassociation and also evident in ‘lines written a few miles above Tintern Abbey’, which celebrates Wordsworth’s return to the Wye valley, which he had visited five years previously when he was on a walking tour, with his sister Dorothy. The importance of nature is presented in both poems through the use of language to convey the idea and themes of nature as soothing, spiritual presence; beautiful in vision and more importantly the importance nature has in inspiring joy.
The concept of nature is evident in Wordsworth’s ‘Lines written a few miles above Tintern Abbey’, as the whole first verse of the poem gives the reader an in-depth commentary of the rustic scenery, in which the speaker, Wordsworth recites the features of the landscape such as: ‘The sea waters, rolling from their mountain-springs’, presenting nature as peaceful and serene. As he then continues to behold the effect of ‘Which on a wild secluded scene impress’ upon him ‘thoughts of more deep seclusion’. The alliteration of the ‘secluded scene’ portrays the sparse cliffs and serves the purpose of putting stress on the word ‘impress’ to emphasize the strong, impressionable effect of nature has upon him.
Nature is also presented as providing a strong and soothing affect on Wordsworth in the ‘lonely rooms, and mid the din/ of towns and cities’, where the memories and images he conjures up in his weariness can be ‘felt in the blood, and felt along the heart,/ And passing even into my purer mind/ with tranquil restoration’. Both the images of the images of ‘blood’ and ‘heart’, invoke a strong and active images of life as the heart is mostly associated with being alive, giving the impression that the images of nature revive him, as well as calm his senses. There is also a strong image of nature ‘In which the burthen of mystery’, which weighs heavily upon at times is lightened. The use of language of ‘burthen’ also puts emphasis on the word weighing it down, only for the word ‘lighten’d’, lightening the mood giving us a sense of uplifting and freedom from troubles.
Nature is also presented as a sublime spiritual presence causing joy is apparent as his present memory of his past experiences of the surroundings float over his present view of these memories, and he feels bittersweet joy in reviving them. As nature is as important as ‘That in this moment there is life and food’, the strong reference to these images of nature being compared to having the same importance as food is fundamental in explaining Wordsworth’s feelings on how highly he values nature.
‘The Nightingale’ is also similar in the portrayal of nature as joyous and an important aspect of life as Coleridge portrays the fact that just because the ‘Nightingale’, which is a bird that is usually heard at night and is usually referred to as ‘melancholy’ by some in forms of literature, it is not always the case. The Nightingale bird is an important symbol of a part of nature and Coleridge uses it to get his point across that, the problem of man’s disassociation with nature.
Coleridge also gets his point across through the structure of his poem, although it has been criticised for being formless, I disagree that this makes the poem inferior because the fact that it’s named a ‘conversational poem’ and unstructured makes the poem more reflective and emphasises the fact of ‘inner debate’ he has with himself, getting the reader thinking about his point.
The strong graphic visual imagery Coleridge also creates, through introducing the elements of the Gothic adds a sense of mystery and creates an unearthly atmosphere as Coleridge adds ‘which the great lord inhibits not’. Giving the castle a secluded feeling, but also the vision of the ‘most gentle maid’ who ‘Glides thro the pathways’ reinforces the mystery and gives the reader the sense that nature is being worshiped.
The use of language to describe the joyous beauty of the birds of the singing is also effective in creating an exciting feeling as they all ‘Have all burst forth in choral minstrelsy’. As there is a strain on the words ‘bust forth’, highlighting the dramatic and sudden sound. This feeling of suddenness is personified through the ‘tipsy Joy that reels with tossing head’, giving an image of ‘Joy’ almost being drunk with happiness.
Overall these dramatic devices serve to present nature as well as its importance as can be seen through Coleridge’s portrayal of nature as essentially joyous and should inspire joy and other human feelings and serving to project these human feelings. It is this lesson Coleridge hopes to instil in his child, those poets and people who describe the Nightingale as ‘melancholy’ have yet to learn it.
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