Aesthetic and Poetry

Since the beginning of time, writers have found what is beautiful in their eyes and written about it eloquently. This is a common theme in all of the periods we have learned about this semester, but especially in the Romantic era. The Romantics used nature and all of its various flora, fauna, and landscapes to delve into the world of poetic artistry. For instance, in William Wordsworth’s Preface to Lyrical Ballads he brings up the point that human passions are connected to nature (which makes them more permanent) and focuses on the beauty of the natural element in “Nutting” by noting “the woods” and “the pathless rocks.” (pg.157). Another example of a romantic poet who is all about nature, Lord Byron, writes that, “There is a pleasure in the pathless woods…” and that the speaker “[loves] not man the less, but Nature more…” While this topic is still rather prevalent in many poets and authors today (ex. Mary Oliver), Romantics are definitely known for their natural themed works. While this theme has been completely constant throughout different time periods and world events, it has not been at the forefront of what every era has deemed alluring or appealing. 

In the Victorian era, there are many other themes of beauty. There is a heavy influence on the beauty of comparison between art and life. This comparison can be seen in many of Oscar Wilde’s work, where he claims that life imitates art, rather than art imitating life and it’s elements. Another very important element can be seen in both Arnold’s “Dover Beach” and Tennyson’s “Crossing the Bar”: death and God. Both of these things were focused on as important in the Victorian era. Religion, or the questioning of religion, was a huge influence in many authors during this time. Tennyson’s use of imagery in “Crossing the Bar” romanticizes death and the idea of seeing God in person. This can be seen in the fourth, and final, stanza where it says, “For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place/The flood may bear me far/I hope to see my Pilot face to face/When I have crost the bar.”  By Tennyson using the imagery of a vast and endless ocean of water, and the Pilot (God), he views seeing God finally as alluring and pulchritudinous.