In the following essay the presentation of the rural life in William Wordsworth's 'Michael: A Pastoral Poem' and in Robert Burns' 'To a mouse' shall be analyzed and compared. During the close examination of the poems at hand it will be considered whether Burns actually wrote a Pastoral since Burns monologue towards a mouse is sensible and melancholic but does not explicitly meet the definition of a pastoral. The pastoral poem in general concerns with a shepherd’s lifestyle with special focus to the natural surroundings and their ascendancy for the individual's attitude towards life. The poet engages in ideas about innocence and 'the incidentals of pastoral become the guardians of his soul' in a most interesting way. While ultimately many poets have written poetry of pastoral nature it was treated rather as a mode than as a genre and allowed for considerable playfulness and ingenuity. (Fairer, p. 79) Thanks to said malleability the pastoral, although its ideals have to a certain extend been deflated by the use of extensive irony and satire, could persist and be formed anew. Wordsworth's poem serves as a remarkable example of such irony and due to the greater length of ‘Michael: A Pastoral Poem' the focus will naturally be put there yet both shall be dealt with in sufficient length. Wordsworth role as a narrator and perceivable character corresponds with Fairer's assessment of the poet’s role in pastoral poems. According to Fairer 'the poet is self-consciously listening to his own bland rhetoric before the final rueful comment emerges – conclusive, yet almost in parenthesis, as if he is turning away from the scene.'
Although it may be argued that 'self-consciously' can easily be misunderstood in that the poet overestimates his own importance, it also highlights the poet’s role as the presenter of critical thought and initiator of discourse. Moreover, pastoral writing has defined the scope of living in town and living in the countryside. However, the descriptions of poetry and the actual living conditions in rural ambiance must not be confused. According to Goodridge great caution needs to 'be exercised in extrapolating social history from literature, especially from the most mystifying of literary forms, poetry.' Subsequently, the notion of the pastoral, thus the presentation of rural life differs vastly amongst poets which raises the need for close examination of the topic.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Analysis and comparison
3. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This essay aims to provide a comparative analysis of the portrayal of rural life in William Wordsworth’s 'Michael: A Pastoral Poem' and Robert Burns’ 'To a Mouse', specifically examining how both authors use the pastoral mode to explore themes of solitude, social hardship, and human vulnerability.
- The evolution of the pastoral mode in British Romantic literature
- The depiction of rural hardship and economic pressure in 18th-century poetry
- The role of the narrator and the psychological connection between human and nature
- Comparative analysis of how irony and disillusionment function in pastoral narratives
Excerpt from the book
Analysis and comparison
Robert Burns 'To a mouse' from 1785 is written in Scots which makes it hard for non-native speakers to understand and analyze the poem. Subsequently a translation of the quotations used in the consequent analysis shall be included to the footnotes in an attempt to debilitate this disadvantage, if necessary. 'To a Mouse' addresses the suffering of hunger and cold in the form of a monologue which is directed to a mouse. The very nature of the poem is shown by the narrator who is concerned with assumed emotion and problems of a mouse; melancholy and solitude. The narrator does not make reference to human beings aside from himself except when he apologizes to the mouse that 'man's dominion/ Has broken Nature's social union'. The narrator's sensibility and empathy towards the mouse and its living conditions alongside the lack of humane social interaction in the poem emphasises the notion of solitude. The feeling of solitude is vitally important for the presentations of the pastoral at hand. Wordsworth implements the feeling of being alone in his poem as well and does it thoroughly. 'No habitation can be seen; but they/ Who journey thither find themselves alone/ ... It is in truth an utter solitude;' The feeling of solitude is brought to a peek when the shepherd’s home is described as a 'cottage on a plot of rising ground' which stands 'single, with large prospect, north and south,'.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter defines the scope of the study, introduces the two poems, and outlines the theoretical relevance of the pastoral mode as a literary device in the 18th century.
2. Analysis and comparison: This section offers a detailed thematic exploration of solitude, togetherness, and the influence of civilization on the rural setting within both poems.
3. Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the findings, confirming that both poems qualify as pastoral works while highlighting their departures from the traditional, idyllic perception of rural life.
Keywords
Pastoral, Romanticism, William Wordsworth, Robert Burns, rural life, solitude, poetry, 18th-century literature, irony, social history, nature, shepherd, economic hardship, literary analysis, British Romanticism
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic essay?
The essay explores the representation of rural life in two specific poems: William Wordsworth’s 'Michael: A Pastoral Poem' and Robert Burns’ 'To a Mouse'.
What are the core thematic fields addressed in the analysis?
The central themes include the interpretation of the pastoral mode, the portrayal of solitude, the impact of economic and societal pressures on rural inhabitants, and the connection between humans and nature.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to analyze and compare how these two poets utilize the pastoral mode to depict rural existence, moving beyond traditional definitions of peace and simplicity.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author uses a comparative literary analysis, examining textual elements, narrator perspectives, and historical context alongside academic theories regarding the pastoral.
What content is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body focuses on the motif of solitude, the narrator's empathy towards nature, the influence of civilizational harm, and the use of irony to deconstruct the traditional 'Arcadian' ideal.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Pastoral, Romanticism, rural life, solitude, irony, and social history.
How does the author define the 'pastoral' in the context of these poems?
The author views the pastoral not merely as a description of an idyllic countryside, but as a malleable mode that reflects human desires for a simple world while often incorporating irony and socio-economic critique.
What specific contrast does the author draw between Burns and Wordsworth?
While both poems deal with hardship, the author notes that Burns focuses on the accidental cruelty of nature and human vulnerability, whereas Wordsworth emphasizes the devastating impact of societal and economic forces on the family unit.
What is the significance of the 'sheepfold' in Wordsworth’s poem?
The author concludes that the sheepfold serves as an ironic symbol that ultimately fails to provide shelter, reflecting the collapse of the family's 'best-laid schemes'.
Does the author conclude that Burns' poem is a true representation of 1785?
No, the author argues that while Burns' poem is a valid example of the pastoral mode, it does not serve as a literal or purely realistic representation of life in 1785, but rather as a subjective, melancholic reflection.
- Quote paper
- M. A., M. Ed. Felix Krenke (Author), 2014, An analysis and comparison of the treatment of rural life in Wordsworth’s "Michael: A Pastoral Poem" and Robert Burns "To a mouse", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1007992
