NATURE AS MUSE: ROMANTIC IDEALISM IN THE POETRY OF JOHN KEATS AND WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

Abstract

This research examines the role of nature as a poetic muse in the selected works of William Wordsworth and John Keats, focusing on how each poet represents the natural world as a source of emotional, philosophical, and artistic inspiration. Through the application of Romantic Idealism, Affect Theory, and Ecocriticism, the study analyses four poems from each poet, exploring their thematic depth, stylistic choices, and underlying philosophical frameworks. Wordsworth portrays nature as a spiritual and moral teacher, emphasising memory, reflection, and transcendental insight. In contrast, Keats approaches nature as an aesthetic and sensual experience, celebrating its beauty and emotional intensity while acknowledging its fleeting and mortal aspects. The findings reveal that although both poets are grounded in Romantic tradition, they express fundamentally different relationships with nature. Wordsworth’s poetry fosters a sense of ethical responsibility and ecological reverence, while Keats’s work invites emotional immersion and imaginative escape. Together, their poems illustrate the Romantic ideal of nature as a dynamic, living presence that fuels poetic expression. This study contributes to literary scholarship by offering a comparative analysis that links Romantic poetics to broader environmental and affective discourses, reaffirming the enduring relevance of Romantic literature in understanding the human relationship with the natural world.