What attitude to Nature does Coleridge express in the Ode to Dejection? In what ways does this attitude differ from that of Wordsworth and from his own earlier attitude? (MEG 102) (COLERIDGE: DEJECTION: AN ODE)

In "Dejection: an Ode," Coleridge expresses a complex attitude towards nature that differs significantly from his earlier and from Wordsworth's attitude.

In the poem, Coleridge expresses a sense of despair and isolation that is reflected in his descriptions of the natural world. He describes the landscape as a "mute, melancholy waste," and suggests that it offers no comfort or solace for his troubled soul. This contrasts with his earlier poems, such as "Frost at Midnight" and "The Eolian Harp," in which he celebrated the restorative power of nature.

Coleridge's attitude towards nature in "Dejection: an Ode" differs from that of Wordsworth in several important ways. Whereas Wordsworth saw nature as a source of spiritual and moral renewal, Coleridge sees it as a reflection of his own emotional state. He suggests that the natural world is shaped by his own subjective experience, rather than existing as an objective reality.

Furthermore, whereas Wordsworth celebrated the simple and unadorned beauty of nature, Coleridge sees it as a source of confusion and contradiction. He suggests that nature is full of "half-created things" and "shadows of the forms of things," which reflect his own sense of uncertainty and doubt.

Overall, Coleridge's attitude towards nature in "Dejection: an Ode" is characterized by a sense of alienation and estrangement, which contrasts with his earlier and Wordsworth's celebration of the restorative and transformative power of nature.