Compare Wordsworth and Thomas as poets of childhood or boyhood, particularly (MEG 102) (DYLAN THOMAS)

Compare Wordsworth and Thomas as poets of childhood or boyhood, particularly

Ode on the Intimations of immortality with “Poem in October” and “Fern Hill.

Hints: (a) consider in particular the following lines from Wordsworth‟s ode: Our

birth is but a sleep and a forgetting,

The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star, Hath

and elsewhere its setting, And cometh from afar:

Not in entire forgetfulness,

And not in utter nakedness,

But trailing clouds of glory do we come Form God,

Who is our home:

Heaven lies about us in our infancy!

Shades of the prison-house begin to close upon the growing boy:

But he beholds, the light, and whence it flows,

He sees it in his joy;

The youth, who daily farther from the east Must travel,

still is Nature's priest.

And by the vision splendid;

Is on his way attended;

At length the man perceives it die away,

And fade into the light of common day,

Would Thomas agree with Wordsworth's view of God and Soul? Could

Wordsworth write "the heron priested shore

The morning beckon

With water praying and call of seagull and rook ...

If not, why not? The celebratory pantheism of Thomas is akin to Wordsworth‟s

nature-worship. Do you agree?

b) Other English poets, e.g. Henry Vaughan and William Blake, have sung of childhood.

Read "The Retreat" by the former, and Songs of Innocence by the latter.

c) Wordsworth's desire for immortality contrasts with Thomas's preoccupation with death. Do you agree? Elaborate your idea. Time as creator and destroyer, evanescent and eternal: the poets view it from different angles. Bring out the difference.

Both Wordsworth and Dylan Thomas are known for their portrayal of childhood or boyhood in their poetry, albeit in different ways. Wordsworth's "Ode on the Intimations of Immortality" and Thomas's "Poem in October" and "Fern Hill" are examples of how the two poets explore this theme.

In "Ode on the Intimations of Immortality," Wordsworth presents childhood as a time of purity and closeness to the divine. He suggests that the soul is divine and comes from a spiritual realm before being born into the physical world. The child retains some memory of this realm and experiences a sense of wonder and joy at the natural world around them. However, as the child grows older, they lose this sense of wonder and become more disconnected from nature and the divine.

Thomas, on the other hand, celebrates childhood as a time of freedom and joy in "Poem in October" and "Fern Hill." In these poems, he portrays childhood as a time of uninhibited playfulness and wonder. The natural world is an integral part of this experience, and the child feels a sense of oneness with it.

In terms of their views on God and the soul, Thomas and Wordsworth differ. Wordsworth believes in the immortality of the soul and suggests that the divine is present in all of us. Thomas, on the other hand, is more preoccupied with death and mortality. He portrays death as a natural part of life and suggests that it is something to be embraced rather than feared.

The poets also differ in their approach to nature. Wordsworth sees nature as a spiritual force that connects us to the divine and reminds us of our true selves. Thomas, however, celebrates nature as a source of joy and playfulness, rather than as a spiritual force.

Other English poets have also explored the theme of childhood. Henry Vaughan's "The Retreat" portrays childhood as a time of innocence and simplicity, which is lost as one grows older. William Blake's Songs of Innocence depict childhood as a time of joy and wonder, but also suggest that innocence is fleeting and can be corrupted by experience.

In conclusion, while Wordsworth and Thomas share an interest in exploring childhood and boyhood in their poetry, they approach the theme from different angles. Wordsworth sees childhood as a time of spiritual purity, while Thomas celebrates its playfulness and joy. Their views on God, nature, and mortality also differ.