Contrasting Poets Lawrence And Shapiro In Their Views Of Nature :: essays research papers fc

Contrasting Poets Lawrence and Shapiro in Their Views of Nature Throughout the history of literature, poetic views of nature has evolved through time. One of the most differing eras is the twentieth century. With it's non-classical views, the twentieth century is one of the most influential eras. While the Victorian era practiced traditional values, the twentieth century influences techniques of love and the loss of the beauty in nature. Poets of the same century have multiple views, many differing. Two major twentieth century poets are D.H. Lawrence and Karl Shapiro. D.H. Lawrence loves and is in touch with nature, while Karl Shapiro cares more of war and satires of government, not giving much thought to nature. Even though both poets share and differ in views, both are twentieth century poets. The twentieth century lasted from 1900-1939. It began at the dawn of the new century and in England, is set by the death of Queen Victoria. Reading attracted a large audience because of the tremendous growth in education opportunities (Granner, 616). One major downfall and factor of the twentieth century was World War I. This was had pulled up new roots that were "buried in the past," causing multiple conflicts between nations (Granner, 611). The war reflects the bitterness and troubles put on twentieth century poetry. The poets wrote of science fiction, anti-war protagonists, and ridicule of authority. Leading poets in the twentieth century are D.H. Lawrence, James Joyce, Joseph Conrad, Dylan Thomas, and H.G. Wells. D.H. Lawrence views on nature are more humanistic, rather than natural. He loves individuality and "inner self" (Magill, 1686). His writing were pure because of his adolescent puritan environment (Becker, 5). D.H. Lawrence, although in the twentieth century, is a die-hard romantic (Albright, 1). To Lawrence, nature was an item of beauty and creativity. He respects nature. In Lawrence's poem, "The Sea," he humanizes the sea. He states that the sea is "celebate and single," referring to a person. He treats this part of nature as if it is a real person. He does his with great passion showing his love for nature. He goes further stating, "Sea only you are free, sophisticated." Here again one views the humanistic views upon nature. Nature to Lawrence is an individual, trying to survive in this world of chaos. He refers to the sea as being a perfect individual. Throughout this poem, Lawrence constantly refers to nature as humanistic, much unlike most twentieth century poetry. He has the passion and love that most poets of that century do not. Karl Shapiro is another leading poet amongst the twentieth century.