The Images of Nature in Wordsworth’s and Al-Bohtory’s Poetry: A Comparative Study of Selected Poems

Abstract

This study tackles the representation of nature in poetry, mainly in Wordsworth’s and Al-Bohtory’s poems. This study is based on the theoretical and analytical approaches of Russian Formalism that focuses on studying the linguistic aspects of the literary texts. Russian Formalism studies texts through “structures, imagery, syntax, rhyme scheme, paradox, personification and other literary devices” (Bressler, 2011, p. 49). The significance of the study lies in its purpose to introduce a comparison between two different poets whose cultural backgrounds, languages, traditions and societies are different. Wordsworth sees nature as the perfect place for tranquility and pleasure. He emphasizes that man and nature as basically adapted to each other, and the mind of man as the machine of depicting nature. Wordsworth states that this pleasure comes from the human’s interaction with nature in its fascinating images of Spring, flowers, clouds, horses, rivers, castles, seas, gardens, and animals generally. Al-Bohtory also presents nature as a place of pleasure and peace; he accentuates the profound relationship between nature and man, and how nature is admired by humans in its beautiful views. He explains that the beautiful images of nature affect the human’s mind and soul. Al-Bohtory portrays most of his poems in marvelous images of nature, such as Spring, horses, clouds, rivers, animals, castles, seas, and flowers. These two poets seek to glorify nature and its magnificent impact on humans’ life and pleasure.