Mysticism( Pantheism)- The most important characteristic feature of Wordsworth’s Romanticism is mysticism. Wordsworth, Blake, Coleridge , Shelley and Keats contributed to the mystical romanticism in their writings. Wordsworth for instance in his poem “Prelude Book 1” recollects the conscious childhood experiences of joy and his engagement with the world of nature which is mysticism. In addition to this, Wordsworth takes this mystical experience to a higher order which many scholars considers it to be pantheism. Furthermore, in “Tintern Abbey”, there are recollections of the conscious beauty of river wye which is mysticism but he takes this mystical experience to a higher level of hierarchy which many scholars consider it to be pantheism. Hence, Wordsworth is considered to be a pantheist.
Individualism and Humanism– Wordsworth poems evoke a keen sense of what it takes to be a human. His poems projects the idea of individualism where each poets have their own understanding of romanticism. Romanticism creates individualism in writings as well as the development of isolation. The idea of humanism is also evident in his poems such as “Alice Fell or Poverty” where the speaker helps Alice by buying her a new cloak that she gratefully wears. Wordsworth poems highlight the bright side of human nature showcasing human empathy and compassion for one another which he gives a universal sense.
Organic Oneness- Wordsworth largely propagated the idea of organic oneness in his poems. For instance, in “Three Years she Grew in Sun and Shower”, Lucy dies and she becomes one with the world of nature. Becoming one with the world of nature is a romantic trope that other romantic poets also propagate in their poems. They wanted to expose the powerful aspects of nature that gives comfort to man. Romantic poems are in contrast to the cityscape as the city does not provide comfort and peace to man any longer. Hence, Wordsworth and other contemporary poets finds solace and peace by uniting amongst the world of nature.
Egotistical Sublime- Keats coined the phrase “egotistical sublime” in interpreting the writings of Wordsworth. According to Keats, Wordsworth continuous flow of subjective “I” is an “egotistical sublime”. The experiences that’s re brought forward from the recollections in tranquility is taken to a higher degree enrich with different layers of human experiences.
Romantic Recollections- Wordsworth stated that “Poetry is the spontaneous flow of powerful feelings and emotions recollected in tranquility” where Wordsworth gives importance to human emotions directly defending poetry from Plato’s attack who consider poetry to have a negative impact on men. Wordsworth suggests that poetry contains emotion and it is these emotions that makes human beings a human instituting an element of humanism in his poems. In “The Solitary Reaper”, Wordsworth attempts to recollect the song of the maiden who was singing in the fields of the rustic landscape. “Tintern Abbey” also provides the recollections of the conscious beauty of river wye which the speaker contains it for the “food for future” as it helps to subtract or diminish the speaker’s “weight of the world” through the process of recollection.
Simplicity and Rustic Language– Wordsworth poems are simple and rustic in its themes and writing. He selects the humble incidents from the everyday lives of the people and it is evident in almost all of his poems such as “The Solitary Reaper” , “To Daffodils” and others which uses the simple language of men to convey the subjective thoughts and emotional flow to connect with the other man.
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