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Romantic Idealism v/s Modern Realism: Nature in Wordsworth and Frost


Authors : Chandra Mukesh Swami

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 5 - May


Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/4cv7kjr8

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/mv9drjtn

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26May517

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.


Abstract : This study explores the evolving concept of nature in English poetry, focusing on the transition from Romanticism to Modernism through the works of William Wordsworth and Robert Frost. Traditionally, nature has been perceived as a harmonious and interconnected system, reflecting philosophical ideas of constant change and scientific perspectives such as Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity. It was also regarded as a symbol of divine perfection, though human intervention has increasingly disrupted its balance. Historical perspectives on nature reveal significant shifts. Medieval thought viewed nature as degraded after humanity’s fall, while classical Greek and Roman traditions idealized it. Renaissance writers like William Shakespeare employed vivid natural imagery, and the Enlightenment emphasized scientific inquiry and divine order. Romantic poets, especially Wordsworth, celebrated nature as a spiritual and moral force, particularly in response to industrialization. In contrast, Modernist literature shifted focus toward urban life, while events such as the First World War challenged idealized views of nature. Through comparative analysis, this paper argues that Wordsworth portrays nature as nurturing and spiritually significant, whereas Frost presents it as indifferent and ambiguous. This shift reflects broader cultural and philosophical changes in humanity’s relationship with nature.

Keywords : Frost, Nature, Romanticism, Transcendentalism, Wordsworth, Concentric Circles, Greek and Roman Literature, Industrialization.

References :

  1. Cop, T. (2014). William Wordsworth. Wikipedia. Available at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Wordsworth.
  2. Faulkner, V. (1963). More Frosting on the Woods, College English, 24, 1, 560-561.
  3. Gorder, R. (2014). Romanticism. British Romantic era Poets. Available at www.mariahecarter.com
  4. Irwin, W. R. (1963). Robert Frost and the Comic Spirit, American Literature, 35, 1, 299-310.
  5. Johnson, J. (2015). The France of Victor Hugo, Unmasking the Bourgeoise: The Romantic Era. Available at www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/rschwart/hist255/jkr/romanticism.html.
  6. Jones, R. (2014). Transcendentalism. Wikipedia. Available at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendentalism.
  7. Juhnke, A. K. (1964). Religion in Robert Frost's Poetry: The Play for Self-Possession, American Literature, 36, 1, 153-164.
  8. Lawrence Thompson. Robert Frost: The Early Years,1874-1915. Henry Holt & Company, Inc, 1966.
  9. Lawrence Thompson. Robert Frost: The Years of Triumph,1915-1938. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1970.
  10. Lawrence Thompson. Robert Frost: The Later Years,1938-1963. Henry Holt & Company, Inc, 1977.
  11. John F. Lynen. The Pastoral Art of Robert Frost. YaleUniversity Press, 1960.
  12. Rene Wellek & Austin Warren. Theory of Literature. PeregrineBooks, 1985, pp190.
  13. George W. Nitchie. Human Values in the Poetry of Robert Frost.Gordian Press, 1978.
  14. French, Warren, (ed.). Twentieth-Century American literature.London: The Macmillan Press Limited, 1980, 218-219.

This study explores the evolving concept of nature in English poetry, focusing on the transition from Romanticism to Modernism through the works of William Wordsworth and Robert Frost. Traditionally, nature has been perceived as a harmonious and interconnected system, reflecting philosophical ideas of constant change and scientific perspectives such as Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity. It was also regarded as a symbol of divine perfection, though human intervention has increasingly disrupted its balance. Historical perspectives on nature reveal significant shifts. Medieval thought viewed nature as degraded after humanity’s fall, while classical Greek and Roman traditions idealized it. Renaissance writers like William Shakespeare employed vivid natural imagery, and the Enlightenment emphasized scientific inquiry and divine order. Romantic poets, especially Wordsworth, celebrated nature as a spiritual and moral force, particularly in response to industrialization. In contrast, Modernist literature shifted focus toward urban life, while events such as the First World War challenged idealized views of nature. Through comparative analysis, this paper argues that Wordsworth portrays nature as nurturing and spiritually significant, whereas Frost presents it as indifferent and ambiguous. This shift reflects broader cultural and philosophical changes in humanity’s relationship with nature.

Keywords : Frost, Nature, Romanticism, Transcendentalism, Wordsworth, Concentric Circles, Greek and Roman Literature, Industrialization.

Paper Submission Last Date
30 - June - 2026

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