In Memoriam Analysis

For me, the comparison of these two important eras in literature is most profound in their treatment and the reflection through science and nature. The authors of the former were influenced by the industrial revolution and the great prosperity of the time. People were often related to nature. The latter was forced to wrestle with greater social conflict and, what was at the time, the war to end all wars. There lacked the volume in examples of nature as a theme but it did exist. Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s In Memoriam was written not long after a close friend had passed away. There are many references to nature in this piece as he uses that theme to express his feelings. He opens the second stanza with a reference to the sun and moon; “Thine are …show more content…
This is best described as it relates to God’s nature. “That not a worm is cloven in vain; That not a moth with vain desire.” Even more direct in tone a few lines later he writes, “Are God and Nature then at strife, That Nature lends such evil dreams? So careful of the type she seems, So careless of the single life.” I particularly like this open ended process of thought as he searches for an answer in nature. Near the end Tennyson concludes with more of a philosophical approach when he writes, “Thy voice is on the rolling air I hear thee where the waters run; Thou standest in the rising sun, and in the setting thou art fair. What art thou then? I cannot guess; But though I see, in star and flower To feel thee some diffusive power, I do not therefore love thee less.” A final example from Tennyson is his work The Eagle. The title …show more content…
Disillusionment, uncertainty, even despair made the tone for this time much more dramatic and dark. Given the opportunity, I’m sure these authors would have preferred to have been inspired by more uplifting times and events. As time progressed, no matter what era, writers asked more questions and explored deeper thoughts about society, politics and the existence of life. When life and existence became less hopeful, so did the tone of the literature. That was not necessarily true in prior periods. It has been written that the authors of this period had neither the time nor the interest to connect nature to the events occurring and were more likely to select science and psychology to cope. Certainly I agree with the idea that any symbolism of this time was uninspiring at best. William Butler Yeats’ The Second Coming, was a representative piece from this period. It begins, “Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold.” There is despair in this poem but he does manage to use the falcon as a symbol along with desert birds and a “rough beast.” The tone and symbolism is understandably ominous. The Wild Swans at Coole is an even deeper reflection on the desperation of the day with the use of nature as a back drop. “I have looked upon these brilliant creatures, And