ENVIRONMENTAL DISCOURSE AND ECOLOGICAL CONSCIOUSNESS: AN ECO-CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF WORDSWORTH SELECTED POEMS

Abstract

This research delves into William Wordsworth's deep and growing relationship with the natural world as portrayed in his poetry. Wordsworth's poetic journey is marked by a shift from early works in which nature serves as an idyllic sanctuary and source of solace to later works in which nature reveals potentially menacing aspects as he responds to numerous environmental changes of his time, notably industrialization. His poetry admires nature's vibrancy and its significance as a source of renewal, healing, and inspiration. These shifting perspectives are strongly related to his poetry's sociopolitical and philosophical impacts such as the Romantic movement's reaction to industrialization. This research further emphasises Wordsworth's description of nature in the context of modern environmental discourse, demonstrating his connection with contemporary environmental concerns as well as his portrayal of nature as a teacher and source of interdependence. Wordsworth's ongoing significance can be seen in the inspiration he provides to modern environmentalists, as well as the profound insights into the relationship between humans and nature that reflect present ecological consciousness. This study emphasises the natural world's endless and transformational power as represented in Wordsworth's poetry.