Final answer:
Edna St. Vincent Millay's “The Spring and the Fall” and H.D.'s “The Helmsman” reject the pastoral tradition by presenting a more realistic view of nature, aligning with Realistic or Naturalistic fiction. This departure from idealization aligns with the broader literary move towards using natural language to explore human experiences and social commentary.
Step-by-step explanation:
“The Spring and the Fall” by Edna St. Vincent Millay and “The Helmsman” by H.D. are poems that depart from the pastoral tradition because each rejects idealized views of nature. This movement away from an idealized countryside and towards a more realistic depiction aligns with the tenets of Realistic or Naturalistic fiction.
Rather than romanticizing nature as harmonious and benign, these works acknowledge the complexities and sometimes harsh realities of natural environments. Such themes can be seen in the Naturalist works of writers like Stephen Crane, whose characters in “The Open Boat” are presented as at the mercy of the indifferent sea.
This is a departure from the romantic or transcendental works of earlier American writers like Emerson and Thoreau, who often imbued nature with a sense of spiritual or moral uplift.
The break from previous literary traditions as exemplified by poets like Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman involved a turn towards the natural language of readers and a focus on more personal, introspective themes.
This shift demonstrated a dedication to articulating a relatable human experience, often drawing on everyday life and familiar experiences, much like Robert Frost's poetry which found popularity for its clear language and accessibility, depicting the beauty of New England's natural landscapes.
In essence, by repudiating the pastoral ideals and adopting a more candid approach to depicting nature, both “The Spring and the Fall” and “The Helmsman” contribute to the ongoing evolution of literary expression and the way the natural world is represented therein.
This evolution includes not only the presence of nature in literature but also the important social commentary that often accompanies depictions of urban landscapes or the environmental challenges posed by industrialization, as discussed in ecocriticism.