Mysticism In Wordsworths Poetry English Literature Essay

Mysticism In Wordsworths Poetry English Literature Essay William Wordsworth and Coleridge are the two pioneers of the English Romantic Movement who changed the dry, sterile rationalism in English poetry in a new era by establishing the primacy and sovereignty of insight and imaginative vision in literature and in life. William Wordsworth has an amazing capacity for expressing personal beliefs and thoughts. According to the Romantics, imagination is the only way of perceiving and realizing the one in the many, the abiding behind the flux, the infinite behind the finite, the eternal behind ephemeral, and the transcendent behind the immanent. Romantic vision is on the basis of the ultimate priority and superiority of imagination over the logical and speculative reason of the human mind while it does not deny or belittle the limited values and utility of the latter in human life. It appreciates the view that the realms of experience are so high that cannot be explored and comprehended by finite human reason. And it is only the imagination which can offer fleeting flashes of profound and penetrating insight into the heart of the reality. Imagination based on direct intuitive insight or flashes of immediate awareness is a faculty that transcends but does not reject the reason and intellect of man (Barker 5). Wordsworth emphasizes the great importance and power of imagination when he very per ceptibly says: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..Imagination, which, in truth, Is but another name for absolute power And clearest insight, amplitude of mind, And reason in her most exalted mood. (Prelude, Book IV) While reason divides, disrupts and dissociates things, imagination links, unifies and binds them together. Thus in sharp contrast to the Cartesian metaphysics of Descartes which maintains a dichotomy between matter and spirit, microcosm (man) and macrocosm (universe), the Romantic imagination finds in the entire universe between the sentient living beings as well as inanimate objects, a bond of all-embracing unity, solidarity and fellowship. Another distinctive feature of the Romantic imagination is the experience of owe, wonder, ecstasy or rapture and reverence aroused in the perceivers mind when it contemplates and communes with the things of the universe. Such awe ­ inspiring or rapturous supernatural (or numinous) experience is a vital factor in Romantic experience and the prime source of its vitality and intensity. William Wordsworth is one of the greatest imaginative Romantic poets whose style and poems are always distinguished from other Romantic poets because of his illumined spiritual vision as a mystic. Romantic imagination reached to its climax, its crowning revelation and consummation in the Wordsworths mysticism. Mysticism could be considered as the quintessence of Wordsworths poetry and the supreme source of its inspiration (Mackay 110). Mysticism, broadly defined, is a state of sublime imaginative and spiritual experience in which one has direct, immediate and intuitive perception of an all-embracing infinite and eternal reality the immanent-transcendent Absolute Being underlying and pervading but also transcending the sensible material universe. It is the sense of God in all and all in God. It is this sense of one ultimate Divine principle permeating all things and all life of the universe as well as guiding, cherishing and sustaining them that inspires the mystic to conceive the vision of the ultimate divine unity of the universe, of all life. Mystic imagination sees a living relationship between the soul of man and the soul of the universe a vision of cosmic unity, fraternity and fellowship.   The mysticism of Wordsworth is something unique in its kind, though there are some characteristics that can be seen in all modes of mysticism. It is a type of Nature-mysticism. Wordsworth mystical experiences are mainly depicted in the context of his treatment of nature. He had never limited his poems within the confined boundaries of the sights, sounds, odors, and movements of various elements of nature. His aim was to attain something ultra-earthly and divine and leaving the traces of his mystical experiences in nature and human life in his poetry. So his poetry is not simply just talking about the lovely and tranquil aspects of nature but it also covers his mystical experiences. Though it is consist of a certain degree of affinity to Spinozistic pantheism, it is not absolutely the same thing because it does not consider Nature as the be-all and end-all of the universe or equate and identify it with the Supreme Divine Spirit. Wordsworths mysticism also differs from the Neoplatonic mysticism of Plotinus or the Christian mysticism of St. John of the Cross and St. Augustine. But it has something of the sublime beatific vision of Blake or the glowing paradisal vision of Dante. Like all true mystics Wordsworth believes that human life has a divine origin and divine destiny (Wyman 517). As he said in his Ode on Intimations of Immortality: Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting; The soul that rises with us, our lifes star Hath had elsewhere its setting And cometh from afar; But trailing clouds of glory do we come From Gold, who is our home Man is introduced as an essentially divine and immortal spirit in wordsworth poems as we repeatedly see such phrases like the Pilgrim of Eternity or the Child of Immortality which proves his fervent and glowing faith as the most genuine mystic poet of all ages. It is evident that he believes so deeply in infinity as he says: Our destiny, our beings heart and home, I Is with infinitude, and only there; and that the great thought by which we live is infinity and God. Wordsworths love of Nature and the way Nature is glorified, worshiped and divinized is apparent in his verse. Wordswoths attitude towards Nature is somehow different from other Romantic poets of his age. For instance, although Shelley shares some common characteristics with Wordsworths viewpoint on Nature but he also attempts to intellectualize and conceptualize Nature transforming the object of Nature into some dogmatic socio-political doctrine, ideology or an abstract idea, as in Ode to the West Wind, while Wordsworths vision of Nature is constantly and consistently spiritual.   For Wordsworth, the vision of Nature always represents the vision of the Divine spirit, the vision of that Cosmic Being. So Shelley on the basis of a Wordsworthian spirit describs in his illuminating and soul-stirring lines: That Light whose smile kindles the Universe, That Beauty in which all things work and move, That Benediction which the eclipsing curse Of birth can quench not, that sustaining Love Which through the web of being blindly move By man and beast and earth and air and sea, Burns bright or dim, as each are mirrors of The fire for which all thirst: .. (Lament for Adonais) Wordsworths worship and adoration of Nature was never inspired by passion for aesthetic beauty, elegance and splendor. All forms and objects, aspects and appearances of Nature  ­whether graceful, lovely and magnificent or somber, awe inspiring and forbidding alike stirred and stimulated his visionary imagination, for they all of them were to him equally the living emblems and images of the Divine spirit, the hieroglyphics of divinity. How even the dreary, appalling and awesome spectacles of Nature could bring intimations of the Divine Reality and profoundly impress on his mind its sublimity, majesty and grandeur is vividly revealed in one of the celebrated passages of Prelude in the description of a scene on the Alps: Black drizzling crags that spake by the wayside As if a voice were in them, the sick sight And giddy prospect of the raving stream, The unfettered clouds and region of the Heavens, Tumult and peace, the darkness and the light-  ­Were all like workings of one mind, the features Of the same face, blossoms upon one tree; Characters of the great Apocalypse, The types and symbols of Eternity, Of first, and last, and midst, and without end. (prelude, Book VI) This passage is a representative of a profoundly moving and glowing description of one of the most memorable mystic experiences of Wordsworth. The essential features of Wordsworths mystic vision is also greatly depicted in those impressive lines of his, where he says: One interior life In which all beings live with God, themselves Are God, existing in the mighty whole, As indistinguishable as the cloudless east Is from the cloudless West, when all The hemisphere is one cerulean blue.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   From a fragment found in a Ms. notebook containing Peter Bell or when he refers to à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..the sentiment of Being spread Oer all that moves and all that seemeth still; Oer all that, lost beyond the reach of thought And human knowledge, to the human eye Invisible, yet liveth to the heart; Oer all that leaps and runs; and shouts and sings, Or beats the gladsome air; Oer all that glides Beneath the wave, yea, in the wave itself, And mighty depth of waters. (Prelude, Book II) All objects, high or low, sentient or insentient are to him mixed with the presence of the Divine and instinct with life and feeling and even with consciousness and their own will. This is interestingly expressed in the following me ­morable lines: To every natural form, rock, fruit or flower, Even the loose stones that cover the highway, I gave a moral life: I saw them feel, Or linked them to some feeling: the great mass Lay bedded in a quickening soul, and all That I beheld respired with inward meaning. (Prelude, Book III) Wordsworths perception of One interior life in all leads to evoking his vision and fill him with lofty and elevated thoughts which is derived from ordinary and apparently trivial things of Nature. Trances of thought and mountings of the mind kindling him to the sublimely reverent and profoundly mystic contemplation of the Divine immanent in all creation. To me the meanest flower that blows can give Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears. (Ode on Intimations of Immortality) And he says that even the tiniest things of Nature seemed provoked and illuminated with a heavenly splendor and sublimity. The earth, and every common sight To me did seem Apparelld in celestial light. (Ibid) Since Nature brought a profound vision of the Deity or the Wisdom and Spirit of the universe in Wordsworths mind as he calls it in his Prelude, he regarded it as the source of his poetic inspiration and of moral and spiritual enlightenment and vision. He appreciates Nature as he says: Well pleased to recognize In nature and the language of the sense The anchor of my purest thoughts, the nurse, The guide, the guardian of my heart, and soul Of all my moral being. (Tintern Abbey Re-visited) All objects and units of Nature had for him some sublime and enigmatic moral and spiritual message to convey: One impulse from a vernal wood May teach you more of man, Of moral evil and of good. Than all the sages can. (The Tables Turned) It is the crucial faith of a mystic that the heart of light is the silence. In the true spirit of a mystic, Wordsworth arranged a supreme value on silence and contemplative stillness or, as he called it, wise passiveness and meditative peace and was aware of its deep and huge spiritual potentialities for bringing him divine revelation and for enabling him to penetrate into the ultimate cosmic mysteries. Among his visions of Nature, there came moments of such profound and hallowed stillness of transcendent peace and silence as Wordsworth called it that through his imagination Wordsworth attained the highest peak of his mystic vision gaining insight into the heart of reality (Jarvis 4). It was in moments of that peace which passeth understanding that Wordsworth says: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Gently did my soul Put off her veil, and self-transmuted, stood Naked, as in the presence of her Got (Prelude, Book IV) In moments of such holy tranquil and peace, his mind was transport ­ed to a state of sublime ecstasy, a trance-like consciousness. Oft in these moments such a holy calm Would overspread my soul, that bodily eyes Were utterly forgotten, and what I saw Appeared like something in myself, a dream: A prospect in the mind (Prelude, Book V) Emphasizing those moments of sublime stillness and serenity and their inestimable value and significance, Wordsworth in an illuminating passage in Tintern Abbey Re-visited says: that serene and blessed mood, In which the affections gently lead us on, Until, the breath of this corporeal frame And even the motion of our human blood Almost suspended, we are laid asleep In body, and become a living soul: While with an eye made quiet by the power Of harmony, and the deep power of joy, We see into the life of things. and also in Ode on Intimations of Immortality he states: Hence, in a season of calm weather Though inland far we be, Our souls have sight of that immortal sea Which brought us hither. Wordsworths mysticism is different and remarkable for its contemplative mood and pantheistic conception of nature. It is structured based on the belief that nature is a living being and the dwelling place of god. Nature is the means through which a man comes into contact with god. Wordsworth claims that a divine spirit can be seen through all the objects of nature. As a true pantheist he also says that all is God and God is all. This notion is particularly depicted in Tintern Abbey. He also finds the existence of god in the mind of man. Wordsworth claims that there is a pre-arranged harmony between the mind of man and the spirit of nature, which enables man to relate or communice with nature. The relationship is materialized when the mind of man forms a kinship with the thoughts of nature. And it is this cordial and intellectual junction between man and nature that helped to shape his belief that nature has the power to teach and educate human beings. Man reaches perfection and practical knowledge through the education he obtains from nature. He believes that the person who doesnt receive education from nature is worthless and his life is not successful. The poet believes that nature is the nurse and the protector of the mankind (Gill 163). In Wordsworths viewpoint, nature has the ability to alleviate the damaged mind of man. The beautiful and frolicsome aspects of nature are an infinite source for healing power. The material life sometimes becomes so painful that human beings loose the aspiration for living. When life becomes such unbearable then the sweet and affectionate contact with nature can easily drive away the cloud of cynicism from the mind of the viewer of nature. The noise and disturbance of the town or city life may make human life intolerable but even the recollections of nature in some lonely room can eliminate the burden of desolation, anxiety and suffocation. Wordsworth honors even the simplest and the most ordinary objects of nature and human life.   For him nothing is mean or low, since everything that is present in the universe is touched by divine life. To conclude we ought to say that Wordsworth never looked at nature like the way we do. With great devotion and enthusiasm, he sought to read the profoundest meaning of human life in nature. In the way of doing so he forged himself as a great poet of nature with a true mystical vision.

Reel Injin vs. Doctor Lawyer Indian Chief

Coastlands of films have somehow, directly or indirectly, touched on the subject of native issues. The Reel Injury and Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief are Just a couple of examples. After comparing the two films, I believe that the Reel Injury is the better- suited movie to be studied by my grade 9 class. This is true since the film is more interesting to the age group, the timeline is broader, and it addresses native issues in greater detail. The film, the Reel Injury is more interesting for a class of grade g's than Doctor,Lawyer, Indian Chief. The film Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief is much harder for the students to relate to. Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief was made in 1986 and while the Reel Injury was made recently, in 2009. When students are viewing this film it could be distracting and feel dated since the film was made over 25 years ago. Since 1986, there have been drastic improvements in the way films are being shot and the picture quality. Everything that the grade 9 class has be en viewing in modern media has been in the same format as the Reel Injury and has also contains the same fashions and appearances.Since the Reel Injury was filmed within the last 5 years, students can connect more with the language, art form and media quality. The Reel Injury contains more action, which students will find more interesting. The Reel Injury contains movie clips from over the past century whereas Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief is strictly interviews. As a result of the Reel Injury incorporating movie clips, it adds extra action. The higher level of action will keep the students intrigued and they will pay more attention to the information. The format for Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief is ere dull as it only contains non-fiction clips taken by the Director.The timeline in which the Reel Injury contains is superior to Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief. The Reel Injury shows the progression over time. â€Å"Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond takes an entertaining and insightful look at the Hollywood Indian, exploring the portrayal of North American Natives through a century of cinema. † (Aquatint). The Reel Injury in traveling through a century of cinema whereas Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief is only focusing on the year of 1986. This is less effective in showing the regression of how things are improving.As a result of the improvements being noted, students will be more inspired, and can have hope towards solving the issues completely one day. Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief only focuses on the year in which the film was made. A quote from the description of the film states that â€Å"Each of these women talks about how she got to where she is today†¦ † (Geodes). However where she is â€Å"today' was in the year of 1986, when the documentary was produced. As a result of the film being produced so long ago the stories are now irrelevant as the runner state of native women in the workplace has drastically changed.When the film the Reel Injury displays the information with a timeline, starting a century ago, it is event how far we have come and also how far we need to go. This provides an idea of hope, but also shows that there is still a problem for natives today. The Reel Injury deals with native issues to a greater extent than the film Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief. Doctor. Lawyer, Indian Chief focuses only on the positive side of things. Comparatively, the Reel Injury exposes what is wrong with the way native people are portrayed. A tribute to Native women everywhere, this short documentary focuses on 5 Native women from across Canada†¦ They have achieved success in a variety of careers†¦ † (Geodes) is a quote from the National Film Board when describing the film. The film is not a documentary to expose native issues but a tribute to native women who have successful careers. This is not effective for a class of grade 9 students, as they will not think there are any issues. Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief will not inspire anyone to make a change towards the native obstacles we are errantly facing.Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief takes a more positive approach as it only talks about successes with native women in the work place. The Reel Injury however exposes problems within the film industry. This will inspire people to look into more issues relating to natives. When the students start thinking about their own stereotypes towards natives that are exhibited in the movie, they will become more aware of what is wrong with societies view. This will inspire the students to further their own research on native issues. From this it could grow to help change al of the obstacles natives are facing today.Showing a movie, which incorporates the stereotypes natives are dealing with, can make students change their own views on natives. â€Å"Traveling through the heartland of America, and into the Canadian North, Diamond looks at how the myth of â€Å"the Injury† has influenced the world's understand ing – and misunderstanding – of Natives. † (Bantering). This is a direct quote from the National Film Board website and outlines what the movie addresses. While this â€Å"myth† is being exposed in the movie, it could change the views of the dents in the class.The ultimate goal of the moviegoers was to try an expose the myth of the Injury directly within the film industry but also within all of society. I believe the film met this goal and therefore would help in changing the stereotypes of natives that the students believe. In conclusion, the Reel Injury is the better-suited movie, in comparison to the Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief, to be studied by my grade 9 class. The Reel Injury is more interesting to the age group, it has a superior timeline, and it addresses native issues ore effectively.

There are two kinds of skepticism, local skepticism, which...

There are two kinds of skepticism, local skepticism, which states that some areas of inquiry don’t allow for knowledge, and global skepticism, which states that we cannot know anything about the world, (Bogosian). One of the most common arguments for skepticism is the Brain in a Vat argument, which is very similar to the argument of the Evil Demon who controls us. In opposition to this is a philosopher by the name of Hilary Putnam, who uses language as proof for us not being brains in vats. I am going to explain to you why I think that Putnam is correct. â€Å"If you cannot be sure that you are not a brain in a vat, then you cannot rule out the possibility of all of your beliefs about the external world being false.† (Bruekner, 2004) I†¦show more content†¦In his idea, someone who has never seen a tree, would not automatically call a tree by that name when they saw it, however while we go through life we call things by their names. (Brueckner, 2004)He states that if he were a brain in a vat, and he called something a tree it would be no more accurate than someone who had never seen a table using the word to describe a duck. He uses the simple argument of: a. If I am a BIV, then my word ‘tree’ does not refer to trees. b. My word ‘tree’ refers to trees. So, c. I am not a BIV (Brueckner, 2004) However, it is also stated that you cannot know that the image and knowledge of trees were not programmed into the brains in vats, so they could know that the word tree means the image of a tree. So unfortunately this, like most other Cartesian skepticism arguments, for me at least, is a hard sell. If I had to decide on one of the two arguments to be the strongest, I would choose the argument against the idea of brains in vats. 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Lillian Hellmans Feminist Concern in the Childrens Hour...

Between the dark and the daylight, When the night is beginning to lower, Comes a pause in the days occupations That is known as the Childrens Hour. em_/emem_ Henry Wadsworth. Longfellow, The Childrens Hour And every word will have a new meaning. You think well be able to run away from that? Woman, child, love, lawyer -- no words that we can use in safety anymore. Sick, high-tragic people. Thats what well be. _/emem_/em Lillian Hellman, The Childrens Hour While Henry Wadsworth Longfellows The Childrens Hour as quoted above eulogizes the happy hour for the children to play between dark and daylight, Lillian Hellmans play by the same name deals with a dark hour when†¦show more content†¦This paper intends to study her feminist concern with womens independence at central stake in the play, though she herself declines to be even a female writer by saying I am a playwright....You wouldnt refer to Eugene ONeill as one of Americas foremost male playwrights. (Wright, 85) Sally Burke insists Hellman deserves a place among the feminist playwrights of the era between the first and second waves of the womens movement for more than just one reason. To start with, her work meets with the meets the criteria of what playwright Megan Terry has said anything that gives women confidence, shows them to themselves, helps them to begin to analyze, whether its a positive or a negative image, is nourishing, and Vivian Patraka has called herself The Dramatist of the Second Sex to add to the fact. Moreover, her work has dramatized the inequalities of a patriarchal, capitalist system; repeatedly exposed instances of injustices and oppression; and was committed