What do Goethe and Wordsworth have in common? Or more precisely, what does Tintern Abbey have to do with Goethe’s Sturm und Drang poem The Eagle and the Dove? This paper will argue that while the poems may not share much at first glance, they voice similar feelings with respect to the experience of the Romantic Genius. The eagle’s loss of freedom and forced subjugation under a situation constrained by authorities echo Wordsworth’s description of the experience of his younger self. Similar to the eagle, the poet-figure in Tintern Abbey experiences a loss of that intensely emotional, unmediated engagement with the world. Wordsworth’s insight that he has received “abundant recompense” for this loss is foreshadowed in its incipience also in Goethe’s poem.
In order to establish this thesis, the first part of the paper provides an in-depth analysis of The Eagle and the Dove, elaborating on the concept of the romantic genius advanced by Goethe in the figure of the eagle. This analysis will also take into account differences between the English translation by Edgar Alfred Bowring and the German original, as the translation is not always felicitous. Since it would be beyond the scope of this paper to do a close reading of both poems in their entirety, the following part concentrates on a few central passages from Tintern Abbey, delineating the similarities between both poems with respect to the experience of the poet figure. Finally, it will analyse how Wordsworth transcends the loss of his former experience in relation to a similar development implicit in Goethe’s poem.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Eagle and the Dove – the Genius Between Infinite Desire and Finite Conditionality
3. Aching Joys and Dizzy Raptures – the Poet Figure in Tintern Abbey
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the shared thematic concerns regarding the "Romantic Genius" in William Wordsworth's Tintern Abbey and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's poem The Eagle and the Dove, specifically focusing on the dialectical struggle between unmediated experience and the limitations imposed by reality.
- The experience of loss regarding unmediated, instinctive engagement with nature.
- The concept of the "Romantic Genius" and the conflict between infinite desire and finite conditionality.
- Comparative analysis of how both poets utilize symbolic settings (locus amoenus) to represent internal states.
- The process of transcending emotional loss through critical reflection and intellectual adjustment.
Excerpt from the Book
3. Aching Joys and Dizzy Raptures – the Poet Figure in Tintern Abbey
The first stanza sets up the contrast between the narrator’s previous and his current experience through a repetition of the words “again” and “once again” as the poet-figure begins to contemplate the difference between the two situations (cf. l. 2, 4, 9, 14). The following part of this paper will first take a closer look at central passages of Tintern Abbey that deal with the experience of Wordsworth’s younger self. It will then focus on a comparison with specific passages from The Eagle and the Dove in order to establish the similarities of the experience of the Genius in both poems. Subsequently, possible differences in the attitude of the genius towards nature, as indicated in the poems, will be discussed, as well as a possible solution to these tensions.
The central passage in Tintern Abbey describing the unmediated experience of Wordsworth’s younger self is found in l. 58-85. It shows a poet-figure passionately engaged with nature, [...] when like a roe I bounded o’er the mountains, by the sides Of the deep rivers, and the lonely streams, Wherever nature led [...] (l. 67-70).
The expression “like a roe” suggests an instinctive, direct engagement and highlights the animal aspect of the experience. This idea receives further support from the notion of “appetite” introduced in l. 80. The “colors and forms” of nature are perceived in such an intense intense and unmediated way that the poet-figure lacks the distance necessary to take a step back in reflection and [...] paint What then I was. (l. 75-76).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter establishes the thesis that despite surface differences, both poems explore common patterns of thought regarding the Romantic Genius and the loss of unmediated experience.
2. The Eagle and the Dove – the Genius Between Infinite Desire and Finite Conditionality: This chapter analyzes Goethe's poem to explore the eagle as a symbol of the Kraftmensch who struggles against authoritative constraints and finite reality.
3. Aching Joys and Dizzy Raptures – the Poet Figure in Tintern Abbey: This chapter investigates Wordsworth's depiction of the poet's earlier, instinctive connection to nature and how he uses reflection to transcend the loss of that immediate experience.
Keywords
Romantic Genius, Wordsworth, Goethe, Tintern Abbey, The Eagle and the Dove, Sturm und Drang, Kraftmensch, unmediated experience, finite conditionality, locus amoenus, nature, poetic reflection, dialectic, infinite desire, poetic imagery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this paper?
The paper explores the thematic parallels between William Wordsworth’s Tintern Abbey and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s The Eagle and the Dove, focusing on how both authors depict the experience of the Romantic Genius.
What are the central themes discussed?
Key themes include the loss of instinctive connection to nature, the struggle of the "genius" against finite constraints, and the attempt to transcend this loss through memory and reflection.
What is the core research question?
The author seeks to determine how these two seemingly different poems voice similar feelings regarding the experience of the Romantic Genius and the reconciliation with the loss of unmediated engagement with the world.
Which methodology is employed by the author?
The author uses a comparative literary analysis, examining specific passages from both poems and discussing them within the context of their respective literary movements, such as the Sturm und Drang era.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The body analyzes the figure of the eagle in Goethe’s poem, the poet-figure in Wordsworth’s work, and the role of reflection in overcoming the limitations of reality.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Relevant keywords include Romantic Genius, Sturm und Drang, Kraftmensch, unmediated experience, infinite desire, and poetic reflection.
How does the eagle symbolize the Romantic Genius?
The eagle represents the boundless individualism of the Kraftmensch, who finds his freedom restricted by authorities and must navigate the tension between his inner desires and the reality of his confinement.
What is the significance of the "locus amoenus" in the poems?
The locus amoenus, or idyllic setting, serves as a backdrop that highlights the contrast between the speaker's internal state—either mourning the loss of previous intensity or reflecting upon it—and the natural environment.
How does the author interpret the dove's role in Goethe's poem?
The author interprets the dove as a symbol of immature masses who accept their limitations without question, representing an attitude that is the polar opposite of the eagle's struggle.
Does the paper conclude that Wordsworth and Goethe hold the same view?
While the paper finds similar patterns of thought, it acknowledges differences, noting that the eagle's struggle remains a dilemma, whereas Wordsworth explicitly finds "abundant recompense" through his reflection.
- Quote paper
- Katharina Thomas (Author), 2009, The Aching Joys of the Romantic Genius: The Loss and Transcendence of Unmediated Experience in Wordsworth’s "Tintern Abbey" and Goethe’s "The Eagle and the Dove", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/172959
