Final answer:
The contrast between 'the world' and references to Christ in literature often emphasizes spiritual loss and moral decay against the backdrop of eternal and divine truth. Poets like Wordsworth lament the disconnection from nature, longing for a spiritual reconnection. This juxtaposition highlights the need to transcend materialism for true fulfillment.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Christianity, 'the world' often denotes the fleeting and flawed sphere of human existence contrasted against the spiritual and eternal. This thematic dichotomy is poignant in various poetic works where the turmoil and sin of the mortal realm are juxtaposed with the purity of Christ or a higher, more divine reality. The poems that highlight this contrast tend to evoke a sense of spiritual loss or a longing for a return to an ideal state of harmony with nature or divinity, as seen in Wordsworth's lament for a connection with the natural world untainted by the mercantile preoccupations of society. Literary works of the era frequently grapple with the tension between a corrupted and transient world against the unchanging truths of faith or Platonic ideals.
The effect of contrasting 'the world' with references to Christ lies in underscoring the moral decay and spiritual alienation humans experience. In 'The World Is Too Much with Us,' for example, Wordsworth expresses a profound dissatisfaction with the modern world that has lost touch with nature's divine aspects, wishing he could be 'a pagan suckled in a creed outworn' to reconnect with the spirituality found in the natural environment.
The references to nature's divinity, which is overlooked by the modern, profit-driven society, amplify the sense of estrangement and accentuate the need to look beyond materialism.
In works where 'purity' and 'sin' are analyzed, the stark contrast often leads to introspection, as in the case where the shepherd contemplates 'wicked deeds' due to his dire poverty. Such expressions serve to highlight the pervasive sense of despair and moral crisis that can arise from the perceived gulf between the ideal and the actual conditions of life. Furthermore, the imagery of Christ presented in literature, as the embodiment of life and love, accentuates the spiritual vacuum in worldly pursuits.