Question

Read the following poem by William Wordsworth and answer the question that follows:

"It is a Beauteous Evening, Calm and Free"

It is a beauteous evening, calm and free,
The holy time is quiet as a nun
Breathless with adoration; the broad sun
Is sinking down in its tranquility;
The gentleness of heaven broods o'er the sea;
Listen! the mighty being is awake,
And doth with his eternal motion make
A sound like thunder—everlastingly.

Dear child! dear girl! that walkest with me here,
If thou appear untouched by solemn thought,
Thy nature is not therefore less divine:
Thou liest in Abraham's bosom all the year;
And worshipp'st at the temple's inner shrine,
God being with thee when we know it not.

Question:
Which of the following topics from the Romantic period does this poem address?

Answer 1

William Wordsworth's poem "It is a Beauteous Evening, Calm and Free" embodies Romantic period themes such as the beauty of nature, the divine in the individual, and the emotional depth of natural sublime. It reflects Romantic ideals through its descriptive language and personification of nature, contributing to the broader tapestry of Romantic poetry.

Step-by-step explanation:

Themes of Romantic Poetry in Wordsworth's Work

The poem "It is a Beauteous Evening, Calm and Free" by William Wordsworth addresses several topics relevant to the Romantic period. Romantic poetry often embraced the beauty and power of nature, the spiritual and transcendental aspects of the world, and individual emotion and imagination. In this poem, Wordsworth captures the serene beauty of the evening and the profound impact of natural scenery, indicative of Romantic ideals. The poem reflects the belief in the divinity of the individual, which is another characteristic theme of Romanticism. The speaker of the poem admires the beauty of the evening while also expressing a connection between the divine and the everyday life of a child who is seemingly unaware of the solemnity of the moment.

Moreover, Wordsworth's use of vivid descriptive language and personification, describing the time as 'quiet as a nun', underscores the personification of nature, which is a hallmark of Romantic poetry. Additionally, the reverence felt for the mighty being of the sea and its eternal sound is a reflection of the Romantic ideal of the sublime - the awe-inspiring power of nature that invokes emotional depth.