Nature in poetry - Research Paper Example

Nature in poetry There are many genres that different artists use to express themselves. One literary genre that has been in existence for a long period of time is poetry. Poets use this medium to express their thoughts and ideas on different themes and on different ideas. It is however not uncommon to find common themes among different poets. Common themes transcend different times and are common among poets who belong to different literary movements. One of the common themes explored by many different poets is the theme of nature. For most of the poets, nature is a representation or manifestation of not only the physical world in which man exists, but also of the social, political and economic world that the person exists in. Nature for most of the poets is therefore used symbolically. One of the poets who have explored the theme of nature is Jeffers Robinson (1887-1862). Most of his poetry consists of vivid descriptions of the natural surroundings. In his poetry, Robinson regards nature as having a mystical power. In his poetry however, he has portrayed nature as having certain decadence to it. This is reflective of the nature of mankind. While he has explored nature in its quiet and peaceful way, he seems to have a preference for stormy and harsh weather. One of his most recurring symbols is the hawk. To him, the hawk is representative of the freedom that is so often craved by mankind. This is how Robinson portrays most of his women characters that are often wild and free. As opposed to other poets who portray the hawk as a symbol of violence and destruction that is perpetrated bb men towards their fellow men in the society. To him, the hawk is an exaltation of the marvelous power of nature. The instinctive nature of the hawk is an admirable quality. When the hawk strikes, it does it out of necessity as opposed to being motivated by pure greed. The hawk is therefore not a threat to the harmony and order of nature (Jeffers Gelpi, 183). The decadence that is seen in the nature is seen to be a reflection of the reality in the society. This decay can be seen in the consciously of empire that pervades the society. He therefore advocates a return to the natural way of living and coexisting with each other. According to him, the rampant civilization should be seen as the enemy of man. In his poems, man is doomed unless he changes his ways. This is perhaps the reason as to why he seems to glorify the inhuman in his poetry. He also addresses the shift from the natural world to an artificial one. This shift leads to wars that will cause an inevitable defeat for mankind. The nuclear war is proof for his theory on the inevitable disease of mankind. His poetry encourages humanity to focus on being uncentered from themselves. Nature according to Robinson is a force that is far greater and much more important than man. One of the poets who have extensively focused on the theme of nature is Robert Frost. Most of his poems make use of symbolism that is related to nature. The focus on nature has caused many people to refer to Frost as a nature poet. This is however not the case. Frost is not a nature poet, but a poet who extensively uses the various aspects of nature to express his ideas on different issues as he observes the society around him. In writing his poetry, Frost did not align himself to any particular literary movement. He preferred to speak naturally in his poetry and make use of nature to express his ideas on life (Hoffman 65). For one to understand the poetry of Robert Frost, one should pay critical attention and importance to his (Robert Frost) worldview, and his dualistic and deeply philosophical view of life. Upon understanding this, one can then begin to understand the themes that he explores in his work, and therefore understand the depth in his poetry. It is said that his poetic work was often a reflection of his life and his beliefs. One of his main beliefs is that man is shifting from a natural way if life to an artificial one. The shift according to him will have negative consequences for mankind as it presents a shift from the natural world to an artificial world. Most of his poems deal with the human relationships and the human actions as reflected in nature. His poetry appears simple upon the first reading but upon closer inspection his work often reveals a darker and deeper meaning which reflects the complexity of life and the different situations that human beings are faced with and their actions in these situations (Faggen 77). He often addresses the conflict that man often finds himself in, as is often represented in the violent changes that occur in nature, and in the unpredictable nature of the environment. His poems are inspired by the natural world and the events that shape the day to day life. This inspiration is from the fact that Frost spent a great deal f his life in a farm in New Hampshire. He however has the ability to put emotion into simple activities such as mowing and simple natural phenomena such as watching ice fall on trees on a dark night. Frost however does not limit himself to expressing nature in its beauty and glory as most poets of the time. His poetry also brings out the harsh conflicts and desperation that exist in the world such as the struggles that a farmer goes through or the struggles of the rural life. His poems are also rich in symbols and metaphors. The imagery that is related to nature that is used by Frost is mostly used to discuss the various burdens that the individual finds himself having to carry that are imposed on him by his surroundings. The symbols in his poems include roads or paths (the road not taken), Frost makes use of particular seasons as symbols in his poetry such as ice (stopping by the woods on a snowy evening), fences (mending wall), among other symbols. An example of the interpretation of the symbols is the irony of the fence in mending wall where the fence brings the two neighbors together in the act of mending as well as drives them apart despite being neighbors. The symbolism in his poetry means that most of his poems have dual interpretations, one interpretation being the surface interpretation of the poems and the other being revealed upon closer inspection of the poems. Frost’s poetry is rich in imagery that is effectively used to inspire thought that is beyond the object mentioned or the situation expressed. The poetry is however written in such a way that not every single word used is an image or a representation of something else. Frost uses all the seven different kinds of imagery which include the visual imagery, the auditory imagery, the tactile imagery, the gustatory imagery, the olfactory imagery, the organic imagery, and the kinesthetic imagery. This use of imagery makes his poetry rich in meaning (Faggen 77). One must seek to determine the metaphorical meaning of the poem. The scythe and the philosophical view of work that has been taken in the poem can be seen as a reflection of the philosophical views of work and life in general that Frost has. The poem seems to say that one must work hard to gain understanding of different things and also for any results to be seen. The poem can however also be interpreted to mean that it is sometimes necessary for destruction to take place for something new to be created. Grass has to be mowed, and therefore destroyed in a sense so that something else-hay, can be created. Mankind in some cases must also undergo destruction before he can be rebuilt. It can also be interpreted to mean that the shift that man insists on from the natural order will lead to destruction. However, the involvement of nature in the poems is used as a way to describe the psychological aspects that are in human experience. These aspects are however only revealed by a careful study of the poem. In a poem such as ‘The road not taken,’ despite the description of the different roads encountered, the emphasis in the interpretation of the poem is not on the paths but on the process that a person goes through in deciding to choose one path over the other. The poem is also an analysis into the things that cause man not to take action. Frost also uses nature to contrast nature with man (Thompson 11). In the poem ‘the most of it’ a man cries out for love but he only gets an empty echo of his voice in a reply to his cry. The need or desire for love by mankind is therefore in contrast with the nature’s lack of love. Line 1 of the poem, the physical setting of the poem ‘Two Roads Diverged in a Yellow Wood,’ the woods are described as being yellow. Woods are known to be yellow during autumn. This setting can be said to be of metaphorical significance as autumn could be representative of the fact that the choice by the traveler is being made in a period of his life when he feels that he is growing old, and therefore has to make a choice about the direction his life will take. The ‘undergrowth’ represents the uncertain future that he is faced with. This poem also brings into emphasis the distance that exists between man and nature. The poem is said to be the most misinterpreted poem by Robert Frost. In this poem, the natural setting is described in such a way that it inspires the feeling of wonder and amazement. This is despite the fact that the speaker is somehow familiar with the woods. ‘…whose woods these are I think I know…’knowing this however does not stop him from enjoying the magical scene around him. Despite the description of the environment being unfriendly, the traveler finds it inviting and welcoming. There is a certain pull that he cannot seem to resist from the woods. It is also the woods that provide the relationship between the traveler and the owner of the woods. The snowy evening seems to offer some sense of hope to the traveler despite the fact that he realizes that he has a long way to go. In interpreting and understanding the depth that is in the Robert Frost’s poetry, one must look at the issues that he addresses, and the language that he chooses to talk about these issues or themes. One must also consider the depth of the human emotions that are as a result of the various issues addressed. Most of his poets have a setting that lays emphasis on the surrounding environment. The poems have direct references to nature. The poems also reflect his thoughts on other issues such as economic conditions and the labor relations that people have. This means that it is possible to read his poetry with economic depth and criticism. In a poem like Mowing, the narrator questions the relationship that exists between him, his scythe and the hay. Frost aligns these three elements to form a complex yet mystical union. While working, the narrator considers himself, and is indeed one with nature and as such he is able to experience peace and satisfaction in his work Pale orchises), and scared a bright green snake. The fact is the sweetest dream that labor knows. My long scythe whispered and left the hay to make. This narrator is the opposite or the contrast of Silas, the laborer in The Death of the Hired Man who is highly unsatisfied in his work, and feels disconnected from his working conditions. He (Silas) is unable to stay in one place and develop a relationship with nature as he has to move from one place to another in search of better working conditions and a better pay. People around him however seem to think that he has a habit of disappearing when he is needed the most (Fagan 78). He refuses to borrow from his wealthy brother who is a banker despite the fact that his wife feels that ‘I think his brother ought to help, of course I’ll see him to that if there is need. He ought of right To take him in…’ And instead prefers to work so as to ensure that he regains his sense of self worth and respect. The two poems therefore contrast to show the effect that the relationship with nature has on one’s perception of self. The death of the hired man gives meaning and dignity to the life of the old man Silas despite the fact that he did not have any material wealth to show for his years of hard labor. Working has helped him give some value to his life (Frost 5). In his poem, it is evident that Frost believes that there is a distance between one man and the other. There is also a distance that exists between man and nature, and the two are entirely separate, even in their qualities. Frost takes the view that the relationship between man and nature should be that of mutual respect despite the fact that borders have to be crossed. There could however be dreadful implications below the surface of what the poem say, meaning that a disrespect of the boundaries between man and nature may have dreadful consequences. in the same way, the abandonment of nature and the natural world by man, and the transition to an artificial one will have dreadful consequences. The voice of the narrator in this poem (Mending wall) can be taken to be expressing the views held by Frost. He feels that it is necessary for people to be connected so that they can be fulfilled in their lives. According to him, having relationships with those around you is more important than being secluded. He therefore feels that ‘there where it is we do not need a wall: He is all pine and I am an apple orchard My apple trees will never get across And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him’ (Frost 2). There is clearly no point of having a wall according to him. This shows that he considers it important for one to seek connections with people. The poems interpretation can have a lot of relevance in many different situations including political ones (Hoffman 76). .The traveler in another of his poems is caught between the seemingly seductive woods and the daily responsibilities that are outside the woods (Zubizarreta 348). The speaker shows a lack of clarity in his thoughts which translates to what he sees. He says: “…the woods are lovely dark and deep. But I have promises to keep’ And miles to go before I sleep. The poem contrasts night and day, and also contrasts waking and sleeping. This translates to a contrast between certainty and uncertainty, and life and oblivion. There is also a contrast between the commonly held perception of woods as being wild and dangerous with the description of the woods in the poem which do not appear threatening at all. What is simple is therefore no longer simple in this poem, and what is considered dangerous is no longer dangerous. The poem therefore makes the reader participate in the thoughts and the feelings of the speaker as he describes his surroundings as: Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year. In the last lines, the poem becomes about the life journey of the speaker (Zubizarreta 28). There have been many critics to the Robert Frost. He has especially been criticized for his concentration on nature. He has often been referred to as a nature writer. However despite his concentration on nature, his poetry often consists of deeper messages. Nature therefore acts as his preferred symbol of passing his messages along, and of expressing various themes. There is hardly any poem that Robert Frost wrote that cannot be read with a deeper meaning than what is merely said by the words. His work talks about the questions of human existence, the purpose of life and life’s events, and depicts the situations that one must go through, and the tragedies that must be faced in life by making a comparison with nature. His poetry is enjoyed by many different audiences and at many different levels. The different poet’s look on nature can be seen to be representative of their views on life in general. For most poets, changes in nature usually occur in violent forms such as storms and hurricanes. This can be seen to represent the views that the poets have on change in the society. in most cases, change within the society are usually violent in nature. The violent nature of the changes however usually brings about the much needed change in the society. Works cited Faggen, Robert. The Cambridge companion to Robert frost. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2001. Print. Frost, Robert. North of Boston. Montana: Kessinger Publishing, 2004. Print. Hoffman, Tyler. Robert Frost and the politics of poetry. UPNE, 2001. Print. Jeffers, Standford. Gelpi, Albert. The wild God of the World: An anthology of Robinson Jeffers. Stanford University Press. 2003. Print. Zubizarreta, John. The Robert Frost encyclopedia. Westport, CT. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2001. Print Read More