The Reflections of Nature in Ode on a Grecian Urn, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey .
During the Romantic movement, many poets write about nature thematically. While some express feelings of happiness throughout their works, others show anger or sorrow. In the three following poems, nature is used thematically, but in very different ways. .
In Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey, William Wordsworth reflects on how nature makes him feel inside. He expresses wonderful emotions when it comes to being around nature. Wordsworth writes, "While here I stand, not only with the sense of present pleasure, but with pleasing thoughts that in this moment there is life and food for future years" (Wordsworth 2). He is describing how it feels to love nature. Wordsworth expresses how nature restores his tranquility. As people, we all have something that we look to that will vanish all of our daily stresses, and Wordsworth comments on how nature is the food for his soul. Wordsworth writes, "In body, and become a living soul; while with an eye made quiet by the power of harmony, and the deep power of joy, we see into the life of things" (Wordsworth 2). He finds so much peace being outdoors that he feels as if he is becoming a spirit, or "oversoul". Wordsworth feels so compelled that he wishes the same feelings for his sister. He loves nature more than his own sister, which he writes, "Of this fair river, thou my dearest Friend" (Wordsworth 3). The river is obviously very important to him, as he ranks it higher than his own flesh and blood. .
On the other hand, Samuel Coleridge writes about certain aspects of nature being mythical in Rime of the Ancient Mariner. The story is told to a wedding guest by an ancient mariner who learns a life-long lesson while traveling the sea. As the ship is tossing on the ocean, an albatross flies overhead and is quickly welcomed by the shipmates.
