But what is the down side of that? There is a loneliness in turning away from the cities where most people are. You can also call something a ‘false dichotomy’ if you think it is misleading.) On the one hand there is an emphasis on the beauty of nature and power of nature. Like Yin and Yang or like the dichotomy between the Republicans and Democrats in U.S. (Note: A dichotomy is a system of division in which things are interpreted as being part of one of two opposed groups. Thus, there are two dichotomies that characterize British Romantic Period poetry. The British Romantic Period poets voiced the inspiration for this general aversion to cities and science. They wanted to escape a life of industrialization and return to the beauty of nature, which holds everything one might need, all of the building blocks for some degree of food, shelter, entertainment, and comfort (indeed, the Amish people put this into real practice even today). Some artists and scholars, writers and thinkers, naturally turned away from the cities and the reason and rationality (what we call today “science”) that had brought the awful industrialization. Children were leaving farms and working in new industrial settings at clothing (textile) factories, food factories, locomotive factories, and many other kinds of factories. Back then the cities, especially in Wordsworth’s England were being populated by big factories that were spewing huge amounts of black smoke from the burning of coal. Lecture: “What does it all mean? What makes Romantic poetry Romantic poetry? In the 19th century / 1800s, what was happening across Europe at this time? It started in England and spread from there, changing people’s way of life? Right, the Industrial Revolution. They can each take one line and move down row by row (24 lines in the poem), or they can read it to each other in partners.ġ.5. Lecture: “For poetry, it is good to read it many times, over and over again.” Have the class read it aloud now. Hand out the British Romantic Period Worksheet. Immediately after saying “gay” you may add “meaning happy.” For the last stanza, it is suggested that you sit in a desk or chair and put your feet up and your hands behind your head to express “For oft, when on my couch I lie.”ġ.4. Teacher recites the poem from memory (or uses a copy in hand) to students adding ample hand gestures and facial expressions. He happened upon a huge field of daffodils along a lake and he wrote this poem about it.”ġ.3. His came one day while he was walking around Britain’s Lake District. Like you, Wordsworth had a beautiful moment with nature. He served as Britain’s Poet Laureate for many years (which is something like a national mascot and national monument rolled into one). His last name should be easy to remember, his Words were worth a lot. Lecture: “William Wordsworth was a famous poet of the British Romantic Period. Begin your presentation with William Wordsworth’s name on the board (you may need to explain that Romantic does not mean hearts, dating, and marriage kind of romance). After a minute or two, ask students to share these moments with the class or with each other in partners and then with the class.ġ.2. It could be any time walking outside, looking out a window, or even viewing a movie or a documentary about nature. Resources: If desired, read additional background materials on Wordsworth and his poetry, Shelley (who, despite modern labeling, was not an atheist) and his poetry, and Keats and his poetry.ĭay 1: Wordsworth’s “Daffodils,” the British Romantic Period in General, the Meaning of the Poem, and the Techniques of the Poemġ.1 Ask students to think of a moment when they felt the beauty of nature. Materials: To download a Word file of the poems click here. Students will be able to understand, appreciate, analyze, and recite some British Romantic period poetry by the end. Objective: To teach students to understand and appreciate some of the greatest works in English literature. The good values that are inherently fostered will improve classroom behavior as well as appreciation and respect for English literature and the English language in general. Inherent in classical poetry is a respect for tradition, for order, for discipline, and for the uplifting heritage of our shared human civilization. Note: Teaching classical poetry rather than other forms of poetry or modern literature makes a difference.
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