William Wordsworth John Muir AUTHORS, BACKGROUND, AND POEMS.

William WordsworthJohn Muir

AUTHORS, BACKGROUND, AND

POEMS

Romantic Poet: poemscelebrate nature for its beauty and moral power.Focus’s on the Englishcountryside, lessons learned from natural setting, encourages the reader to become closer with nature.

BIOGRAPHY: WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

Published a small collection of poems in 1798, Lyrical Ballads= 1 of the most important poetry collections

Use “the real language of men”

Proto-environmentalist

“We murder to dissect”

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

Born in Scotland, immigrated to U.S., then traveled observing nature.

His strict religious upbringing led him to question the fundamental believes, instead finding spiritual fulfi llment in the wilderness and a theology of immanence.

Lived in da woods bc yolo

JOHN MUIR

He roamed California, observing the wonders of the natural landscape.

His poems are popular bc of their contrast between hard concise scientific description of nature and a beautiful loose flowing description focusing on the greatness.

Promoting the preservation of wilderness.

JOHN MUIR

(1819-1892) Huntington, New York. Quaker parentsWork: journalist, teacher, clerk, volunteer nurse in

Civil WarLeaves of Grass 1855, self published, seen as

scandalous bc of sexuality and desires.HomosexualHim + Emily Dickinson greats of 19 th centauryUses grand, eff usive verses, capturing energy and

enthusiasm of America.“I contradict myself? So I contradict myself. I am

large. I contain multitudes.”

WALT WHITMAN