The World Is Too Much With Us by William Wordsworth basically encapsulates the definition of Romanticism in 19th century poetry as a result of Wordsworth adherence in the writing of this poem to most every aspect involved in the formation of that definition. Other famous poetry belonging to the same era also qualify as Romantic poetry based on the same definition, but none quite so fully as The World Is Too Much With Us. A comparison made between Crossing Brooklyn Ferry by Walt Whitman and The Lime-Tree Bower My Prison by Samuel Coleridge effectively demonstrates the validity of this assertion. .
Romantic Poetry in the 19th Century.
Romanticism in the 19th century came about as a result of circumstances peculiar to the era, such as changes in philosophy, religious dogma, and a rapid growth of industrialization in both England and America. Romantic poets belonging to that era challenged rationalism in areas such as religion, science, and philosophy. They promoted, as well as celebrated freedom of expression, imagination, and emotional spontaneity. Romantic poets valued subjective thinking over rational thinking. They esteemed human intuition and emotion over logical thinking. They considered themselves allies of nature against what they believed to be man's blatant disregard for the preservation of nature. They often ridiculed mankind for its growing obsession with material gain and technological conquest. They linked nature with human spirituality. Often they included mentions of the supernatural in their poetry. Their concept of God involved nature. They believed that man and nature were codependent, as well, and that man, in his quest for industrial progress and material gain had lost sight of that relationship. .
The World Is Too Much with Us.
The World Is Too Much with Us by William Wordsworth, much like Whitman's Crossing Brooklyn Ferry, reflects Romantic ideals. In this poem, Wordsworth idealizes nature at the same time he expresses his disapproval of mankind.