Robert M. Ryan of Rutgers University wrote a paper comparing Wordsworthian philosophy and Darwin philosophy. It is called "Wordsworth's Response to Darwin". A fitting title in my opinion. The basic idea can be summed up in one sentence as it compared the difference in how these two influential men saw nature. Wordsworth viewed nature as almost a religion, while Darwin viewed nature as science. A quote can help add influence to Robert’s view of Wordsworth, "Wordsworth rarely concerned himself with questions of the origin or history of creation. He was interested in testifying to his own experience of a divine Presence immanent in Nature, whose reality, benevolence, and moral intent he never doubted". Nature is important to both of these men. As the quote above stated, Wordsworth believed that Nature was more of a faith and did not need all the answers because he knew Nature was there. Darwin needed science as a way to prove and express his findings about evolution.

Both of these men lived in the same time period, however Wordsworth died in 1850. Nine years later, Darwin published his book, On the Origin of Species. This created some havoc as Wordsworthian philosophy (thinking of nature more as a faith and religion) conflicted in some ways with this radical new scientific idea. While Darwin was off learning about nature from his voyages on the H. M. S. Beagle, Wordsworth was writing poetry and shaping peoples opinions on nature based on said poetry.  At first there was not enough evidence to support Darwin’s theory and thus it was ridiculed. It was years later before people started believing that Evolution could be possible and that humans could have evolved as well. Many people had just started believing in something other than the Catholic church and  many didn’t want to consider that there was nothing divine in this world. That’s what many of these people saw in Darwin’s book. Most of Darwin’s own family were Wordsworthians, including his daughter, Henrietta. It was said “Wordsworth was her religion”. In many of Wordsworth poems, and many other romantic poets poems, nature is a common topic. Often, nature is commonly used as an analogy for humans and human characteristics. This suggests that Wordsworth and the other romantic poets felt something special in nature. Robert says “Wordsworth saw it as his own primary mission to ‘spiritualize’ the appearances of nature. At this profound level, no two visions of nature could be more different. To those who were dismayed by Darwin’s representation of nature as a random, brutal, apparently godless product of natural selection with no bonus of meaning beyond its physical or organic functions, Wordsworth’s prestige as a religious teacher and a reputable authority on the life of nature offered what seemed a legitimate, culturally respectable alternative”/ Another thing Robert points out in his article was a quote by Huxley, that if Wordsworth was to leave “latitude 50 North” and take a walk through a tropical jungle, his opinion on nature might change. This is to say, that Wordsworth would be shocked at what he saw in nature and would have to fight for his survival. In my own personal opinion I disagree. I believe that if Wordsworth (or any of the romantic poets) were to take a walk through a jungle, yes they might be miserable from the heat and bugs, but they would also see the beauty in that. Just because something may not be “perfect” to humans on one level does not mean it wont be “perfect” on another level. I believe Wordsworth would see that nature is perfect here. He may not want to live there as his type of lifestyle would not agree with a tropical jungle, Wordsworth would strengthen his opinion on nature from that voyage. Possibly even have more material to write poetry on because of that expedition. In November, 1859 when Darwin published his book, he sent a copy to his old friend and mentor Adam Sedgwick. Sedwicks response to the book is an interesting one. Robert said, “As a scientist he understood the full importance of Darwin’s argument and as a priest he was sensitive to its religious implications”.  Robert also calls attention to an article in 1864, Reverend John Campbell Shairp, Professor of Poetry at Oxford from 1877 to 1884 wrote “Whereas to most men the material world is a heavy, gross, dead mass, earth a ball of black mud, painted here and there with some color, Wordsworth felt it to be a living, breathing power, not dead, but full of strange life”. Readers of the poetry, he said, “caught, as they read, a glimpse into the life of things such as no other poet of these days has given them”. Robert ends with a question. “There are at this moment walking nature trails in America who connect the outdoor life with moral virtue and even with religious inspiration. There are people walking these Lake District fells who harbor the same sublime sentiments. There are people at the Wordsworth summer conference, perhaps, who sometimes find themselves communing with nature. With what are they communing?” An interesting question. I will end my post the same way. If you feel so inclined, post what you thing they are communing with in the comments.

"The Headless Boyfriend" and interesting name for a blog if you don't mind me saying. For someone who does not know what it refers to, it would be even stranger. Created by Cody Schaffer, Lauren Fleskes and Geoffery Braught. The basic design is good. There is nice color flow and easy to read text. I enjoy the simplicity of the header. There are good pictures and content, however it appears that, aside from the very beginning, only one person uses this blog now. That being, Cody. Lauren was the first to post something, and Geoffery after her, but after that, nothing has been posted by either of those people since.

It is interesting to me that they chose to do an entire blog on a single poem. That appears hard to me. Then again, the poem the chose is big enough to find many thing to talk about. From the content of the poem to its influences on the world, to even a post completely on basil!

I enjoyed the post "Why Basil" as it gave me some new information on that herb that I commonly use while making soup. Gave me a sense of "Huh, I did not know that before now" feeling. I also enjoyed the fact that Cody linked to more content on Basil at the end of his post. I think it is always a good idea to link to more information when you are talking about something like that. Your post can often peak the interest and linking to more content helps the reader satisfy that interest without having to go research on his/her own.

This blog gives lots of good information on the poem. If someone asked me where to find more information on said poem, I would recommend this blog because it gives lots of varying information on the poem. Its not just talking about what the poem means, as many similar sites do. This blog contains information on the poem from many areas.

If the other two authors were to post as well, I believe this blog could have enough content to satisfy someone interested in the poem. Aside from that little flaw, I see no reason this blog should not be widely viewed. It has plenty of content and information to help someone in their understanding of the poem and has an appealing view, in terms of layout and color scheme. If this were a regularly updated blog, I would consider bookmarking it in my commonly visited blog folder to read the new content when it came out.

Back before Wordsworth and other romantic poets were alive, the Catholic Faith was a major power in the European world. Everyone believed the word of God and few questioned it. Then the masses became more educated and learning was a skill that more people acquired. They began reading the bible and realizing that some of the things they heard in church were not real. "Actually we don't have to pay to protect ourselves and our loved ones!" and similar things. People started questioning the Church and the Catholic Faith. By the time the Romantic Poets came along, lots of people could read and lots of people believed many things.

Wordsworth commonly wrote about Nature. For him, Nature was his Faith. His religion. Many people read his poetry and followed his thoughts. In Thomas Henry Huxly's essay "Wordsworth in the Tropics" he says, "In the neighborhood of latitude fifty north, and for the last hundred years or thereabouts, it has been an axiom that Nature is divine and morally uplifting. For good Wordsworthians -- and most serious-minded people are now Wordsworthians, either by direct inspiration or at second hand -- a walk in the country is equivalent to going to church, a tour through Westmorland is as good as a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. To commune with the fields and waters, the woodlands and the hills, is to commune, according to our modern and northern ideas, with the visible manifestations of the 'Wisdom and Spirit of the Universe.' " Let me just say that the fact that us students decided to call ourselves Wordsworthians before even coming to terms with what that really meant (and that it was an actual term (which is awesome)). But I digress. Nature is a important part of a lot of peoples lives. It is not uncommon for people to say they went out into nature and felt at awe with the beauty they saw. Is that awe feeling because we are in the presence of something greater than ourselves? and if so, what is that greater being? Is it Mother Nature herself or even the Christan God himself?

For as long as I can remember, my father would commonly take me for a drive up the Columbia river Gorge. At first, I didn't enjoy these trips very much. However, as I grew older, I started appreciating these trips more and more. I began to feel that sense of awe when I was in the presence of Nature. A couple years ago, I was camping with my grandfather at Lake Timothy, at night I walked down to the lake and looked up. What I saw almost made me fall to my knees. There were so many stars in the sky. I felt such a sense of awe when I looked up into that sky. I felt so small and tiny. I was filled with joy, it was almost a feeling of high, and the sky was my drug. I have longed for that feeling.

 What is it that gives us humans that sense of joy when we see the beauty of nature? Is it perfection that we will never see anywhere else? Or are we really in the presence of a being? Was it just that feeling that we are small and part of something so much bigger than ourselves? When Wordsworth talked about Nature being his faith and religion, was he truly believing in a Deity of nature or did he just not have the scientific knowledge to understand that perfection on Nature that we have today? Maybe he believed in a Deity because they are considered to be perfect, and Nature was perfect. Did he sense that awe in people and, being unable to describe it the way we can now, did he use the knowledge he did have and relate it to religion?

Maybe I am over speculating, but Wordsworth believed there was something special about Nature. I believe he was right. Nature is special and I have felt that sense of awe. I do not worship Nature and I don't believe Wordsworth wanted people to. Like the article quote above, sometimes just walking through Nature and experiencing it is all it takes to get that sense and that joy. Every time I can get out to the wilderness and look into the sky I get that feeling of high. In the city we are covered. Its only when you are out where nothing can get in your way do you see all the lights and stars. Or is it really something more?

The Tree of Memories and Futures

Its the day before Christmas and I still have lots to do. I plug in the lights and our tree comes to life. I lose track of time as I gaze at that tree, looking at all the ornaments, I smile for this brings back many memories.

The white clay stars which were molded years ago. My mother and I made them. There are little wooden men, made for cracking nuts. They hang from a branch now, the paint on them starting to chip. The lights on the tree, gleam off the pieces of tin. Lots of designs on those pieces of tin, from socks, to Santa and Angles. All these remind me of my family, and how much I care for them. I would not be the person I am today, were it not for my family.

The smell of evergreen makes me look up. Look! The bells, many colors and many sizes all hanging from golden string. The star at the top, lit in all its glory. The bells make me think, of something I once heard. That bells ring to remind you of those gone. I think of all the people who I miss, those who passed, and those that were taken. A tear rises to my eye as I smile and reminisce the good times I have experienced with them, and how much more I with I had.

As I gaze around, taking in all the sights and memories, my eye catches a new addition. From a very good friend, who's memories are both good and bad, she gave me a little drum set, hanging from some twine. The bass and the snare sitting together, and the hi-hat at the edge, the little cymbals actually clang when I tap them. Friends and friendship mean a lot to me, and even though they don't always help, friends are there to make the effort. I care and they care. Seems like a fair agreement.

As my eyes continue through the tree I decide to look down. There under this thin Douglas Fur sit the gifts wrapped and bagged. The ribbons and the paper, both tissue and wrapping, makes me wonder whats inside. I think of what is to come, am I really still so young? Life is finite and I still have so much to do, my future within my grasp. I make a vow, there at that tree, before the new years come. I must make more of my life, with experiences and pleasures of all sizes. I think about collage, I think about a wife, I think about my possible career, is movies really my dream? I still have so much to do and I wont let things keep me down when I know they should not. No more sitting and dreaming, its time to take action.

I snap back to reality as my dog licks my hand, the slime and coldness makes me shudder as I laugh and pat her head. I look back at the tree one last time, full of memories and futures. "What will the new year bring?" I ask myself, only time will tell. Then again, its the day before Christmas, and I still have lots to do.

DESIDERIA


by: William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

SURPRISED by joy -- impatient as the Wind
I turned to share the transport -- O! with whom
But Thee, deep buried in the silent tomb,
That spot which no vicissitude can find?
Love, faithful love, recall'd thee to my mind--
But how could I forget thee? Through what power,
Even for the least division of an hour,
Have I been so beguiled as to be blind
To my most grievous loss? -- That thought's return
Was the worst pang that sorrow ever bore,
Save one, one only, when I stood forlorn,
Knowing my heart's best treasure was no more;
That neither present time, nor years unborn
Could to my sight that heavenly face restore.

A short but simple poem. Like all poetry you must read it multiple times to find some meaning to it. That being said, again like all poetry, there is more than one possible meaning. To find the meaning, I had to break it down. So lets break it down and find said meaning.