“The poetry of earth is never dead” (Keats 45), that is what John Keats wrote in the first line of his sonnet “On the Grasshopper and Cricket”. Until now, one could say that his statement from 1884 is true. Poetry still exists and has a significant impact on our present society. Contemporary authors as Kathleen Jamie are modern writers who deal with themes about our lives on earth.
Nature was one of the central topics during the romantic era and is still a persistent theme due to environmental debates as the climate change or the pollution of our planet. It is a well-known fact that the consciousness of nature, during these years, had possibly changed, but, some thoughts and ideas of the romantics might still wield influence on contemporary poetry.
This fact leads to the central question that motivates this paper, namely to what extent the poems in "The Tree House" by Kathleen Jamie contain similarities to the ideas and thoughts about nature, in the romantic era during the 18th century. Is Individualism and Subjectivity still as important as it was for the romantics and is the understanding of nature still the same as it was two-hundred years ago? Does Kathleen Jamie try to escape of the world through imagination or does she face up to the problems of our planet?
To answer these questions, it is necessary to begin by taking a closer look at John Keats and his poetical character. Afterwards, the romantic ideology with its importance of individualism and subjectivity as well as escapism through imagination will be considered. On this occasion, reason and intellect in opposite to emotion will be discussed. After analysing the poems “Ode to a Grecian Urn” and “Ode to a Nightingale” by John Keats, in terms of the characteristics considered previously, the romantic era will be outpaced, and the focus will be on Kathleen Jamie and her contemporary poetry. The new nature writing and its ecocritical awareness will be discussed what, in the end, leads to the main analysis, where a few selected poems of the collection "The Tree House" will be examined and interpreted.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- John Keats - the Chameleon Poet
- The Romantic Ideology in View of Nature Concepts
- "Ode on a Grecian Urn"
- "Ode to a Nightingale"
- Kathleen Jamie
- The New Nature Writing and Its Ecocritical Awareness
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to compare the representations of nature in the poetry of John Keats and Kathleen Jamie, exploring the similarities and differences in their approaches across two distinct historical periods. The analysis will investigate the enduring relevance of Romantic ideals in contemporary ecological discourse.
- The Romantic ideology and its influence on conceptions of nature
- Individualism and subjectivity in Romantic and contemporary nature poetry
- The role of imagination and escapism in representing nature
- The relationship between humanity and the natural world
- The evolution of nature writing and its ecocritical awareness
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This chapter introduces the central research question: to what extent do Kathleen Jamie's poems in *The Tree House* share similarities with Romantic-era ideas about nature? It explores the continued relevance of nature as a poetic theme, particularly in light of contemporary environmental concerns, and outlines the methodology of the paper, which involves a close examination of Keats's poetry followed by an analysis of Jamie's work within the context of "new nature writing."
John Keats – the Chameleon Poet: This chapter provides biographical context for John Keats, highlighting his early life, career shift to poetry, and untimely death. It introduces the concept of Keats as a "chameleon poet," adapting his identity to avoid external influences and cope with his illness. The chapter uses Keats's own letters to support the idea of his shifting poetic persona and explores the paradox of his attempts to achieve immutability through change.
The Romantic Ideology in View of Nature Concepts: This chapter delves into the Romantic understanding of nature, contrasting it with human-made artifacts. It emphasizes the association of nature with spontaneity, independence, and unspoiledness, setting the stage for the comparison with contemporary perspectives.
Keywords
Romantic poetry, contemporary poetry, nature writing, John Keats, Kathleen Jamie, ecocriticism, individualism, subjectivity, imagination, environmentalism.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comparative Analysis of Nature in the Poetry of John Keats and Kathleen Jamie
What is the main focus of this paper?
This paper compares how nature is represented in the poetry of John Keats and Kathleen Jamie, exploring similarities and differences across their distinct historical periods. It investigates the continued relevance of Romantic ideals within contemporary ecological discourse.
What are the key themes explored in this analysis?
The key themes include: the Romantic ideology and its influence on nature conceptions; individualism and subjectivity in Romantic and contemporary nature poetry; the role of imagination and escapism in representing nature; the relationship between humanity and the natural world; and the evolution of nature writing and its ecocritical awareness.
Which poets are compared in this study?
The study compares the works of John Keats, a prominent Romantic poet, and Kathleen Jamie, a contemporary nature writer.
What is the scope of the analysis regarding John Keats?
The analysis of John Keats includes biographical context, exploring his life, career, and the concept of him as a "chameleon poet." It examines his poems "Ode on a Grecian Urn" and "Ode to a Nightingale" within the framework of Romantic ideals about nature.
How does the analysis approach Kathleen Jamie's work?
Kathleen Jamie's work is analyzed within the context of "new nature writing" and its ecocritical awareness, comparing her representations of nature to those of the Romantic period.
What is the methodology used in this paper?
The paper employs a close reading of Keats's poetry, followed by an analysis of Jamie's work, situating both within their respective historical and literary contexts. The comparison aims to highlight similarities and differences in their approaches to representing nature.
What is the central research question?
The central research question is: To what extent do Kathleen Jamie's poems share similarities with Romantic-era ideas about nature?
What is the significance of the Romantic ideology in this study?
The Romantic ideology, particularly its understanding of nature as spontaneous, independent, and unspoiled, provides a crucial framework for comparing and contrasting Romantic and contemporary perspectives on nature.
What are some key words associated with this study?
Key words include: Romantic poetry, contemporary poetry, nature writing, John Keats, Kathleen Jamie, ecocriticism, individualism, subjectivity, imagination, and environmentalism.
What chapters are included in this analysis?
The analysis includes an introduction, a chapter on John Keats, a chapter on the Romantic ideology concerning nature, and a chapter focusing on Kathleen Jamie and contemporary nature writing. Each chapter offers a summary of its key findings.
- Citar trabajo
- Lisa Gribbohm (Autor), 2018, Representations of Nature in Romantic and Contemporary Poetry. A Comparison of John Keats and Kathleen Jamie, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/439024
