English 2 - Pre-AP
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. Shapiro was
in World War II and, much like Ernest Hemingway, wrote primarily of war. His poems of
war 'disclose the ugliness of wartime world that has replaced the merely tawdry
cheapness of prewar America. But, the naturally increased bitterness resulting from the
war may conceal a change not only in what the poet sees, but in the perspective from
which he sees it well' (Magill, 1680). The only human greatness in his poetry is a
greatness forced from the heart of human darkness. Shapiro has 'studied peace as if the
world was flat' and 'faltered at each brilliant entity - drawn like a prize from a magician's
hat (Magill, 2542). He was more interested in social meaning rather than nature
(Stepanchev, 485). He bean writing on the philosophy that 'everything we are taught is
false' (Spears, 487). 'Karl Shapiro's poems are fresh and young and rash and live: their
hard clear outlines, their flat bold colours create a world like that of a knowing and skilful
neo-primitive painting, without any of the confusion or profoundity of atmosphere, aerial
perspectives, but notable vision and satiric force' (Randall, 485). In one of Shapiro's
lesser known poems, 'Phenomenon,' he illustrates the illusion of war to nature. He states
that the evening was 'saturated with the obscurity of night.' He depicts the wonder and
mystery of night. While Lawrence humanized nature, Shapiro is expressing his confusion
and wonder of nature. Shapiro neither likes or hates nature, he has no point of view. He
believes that it is mysterious. He goes further nd states that the sun was 'an irritated rim.'
He is very melancholy and sure of nature affect of people. He speaks as if it is more
harmful than helpful. It, again, is compared to something that is not a major factor is his
life. He writes this poem as if nature is just a pigment of life. Karl Shapiro was, indeed, a
twentieth century poet. He did not see the beauty of nature that D.H. Lawrence saw.
While the Romantics were more in touch with nature, the twentieth century cared more of
future ideas. Shapiro cared more of social issues rather than the quest for a meaning of
nature.
In conclusion, even though two poets are in the same century, they may not have
the same views and writing techniques. One major idea of conflict within century poets is
the concept of nature. Many poets are either before or behind their own time. Karl
Shapiro wrote as a twentieth century poet, while D.H. Laurance wrote as a Romantic.
Bibliography
Albright, R.H. 'A View on D.H. Lawrence's Poetry.' http://www.std.com/albright/l3.html.
February 6, 1996.
Becker, George. D.H. Lawrence. New York : Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 1980.
Granner, R.C., and Malcolm Stern. McDougal, Little Literature. Evanson, Ill: McDougal
Little and Company, 1989.
Magill, Frank. 'Karl Shapiro.' Critical Survey of Poetry. Englewoods Cliffs, N.J.: Salem
Press, 1982.
Randall, Jarrel. 'Karl Shapiro.' Contemporary Literary Criticism. Detroit, Michigan:
Gale Research Company, 1975.
Spears, Monroe. 'Karl Shapiro.' Contemporary Literary Criticism. Detroit, Michigan:
Gale Research Company, 1975.
Stepenchev, Stephen. 'Karl Shapiro.' Contemporary Literary Criticism. Detroit,
Michigan: Gale Research Company, 1975.
I. Nature in Poetry
A. Time Period - 20th Century
B. Poet's writing techniques in the twentieth century
1. Love
a. Nature
b. Peace
c. Beauty
2. Ridicule of Authority
3. Satire
C. Poets of the same century can have multiple views, many differing. D.H.
Lawrence loved and was in touch with nature, while Karl Shapiro cared
more of
war and satires of government.
D. Even though both poets share and differ in views, both are twentieth century
poets.
II. The Twentieth Century
A. 1900-1939
1. Began with the dawn of the new century and in England, the death a Queen
Victoria.
2. Leading poets were D.H. Lawrence, James Joyce, Joseph Conrad, Dylan
Thomas, and H.G. Wells.
B. Views
1. Science Fiction
2. Obsessed with future
3. Language change
4. Anti-war protagonists
5. Ridicule of authority
III. D.H. Lawrence
A. Views of Nature
1. Loved inner self (Magill, 1686)
2. He was known to fill the heart with peace (Magill 1686).
3. Viewed nature as humanistic.
4. His writings were pure because of his puritan adolescent environment
(Becker, 5).
5. He was thought to be homosexual (Becker, 5).
B. Examples
1. 'You are celebrate and single...'
a. human imagery
b. passion
2. 'Sea, only you are free, sophisticated.'
a. human imagery
b. passion
c. love and thoughtfulness of nature
C. Lawrence was in the twentieth century, but wrote as if he was in the Romantic
era. He has the passion and love that most do not.
iV. Karl Shapiro
A. Views of Nature
1. He was in WW2 and, much like Hemingway, wrote of war.
2. He wrote numerous satires.
3. His war poems 'disclose the ugliness of wartime world that has replaced the
merely tawdry of prewar America.' (Magill, 1680)
4. More interested in social meaning rather than nature. (Stepanche, 485)
5. His motto is 'everything we are taught is false.' (Spears, 487)
B. Example
1. 'Saturated with the obscurity of night.'
a. passion
b. wonder and mystery of nature
2. 'You could see the sun, and irritated rim.'
a. melancholy
b. oddness of nature
C. Karl Shapiro was, indeed, a twentieth century poet. He was not into the beauty of
nature as what the Romantics were. He cared more for social issues.
V. Conclusion
A. In conclusion, even though two poets are in the same era, they do not have the
same views.
B. They may differ in views of nature.
C. Many poets were way ahead or behind their time. Lawrence was behind his
time.
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