The Representation of Nature in Ibn-Khafaja’s and Wordsworth’s Poetry: A Comparative Stylistic Study of Selected Poems

Abstract

This study analyzes the depiction of nature in poetry, especially in Ibn-Khafaja’s and Wordsworth’s selected poems. This study is based on New Criticism's conceptual, analytical, and theoretical approaches. New Criticism studies the achievement of the works’ meanings by studying their “interrelationships of sound, texture, structure, rhetoric, and a host of other literary devices” (Bressler, 2011, p. 57). The significance of the study is to provide a parallel comparative study between these two poets whose religions, traditions, languages, and eras are dissimilar. Ibn-Khafaja recognizes his surrounding nature as the ideal and beautiful place where people feel relaxed, hopeful, and pleased. He states that humankind and nature are originally adapted to each other, and people are always fascinated by the beauty of nature. He sees nature as the typical shelter to stay happy and peaceful. He is fascinated by the images of the mountains, horses, birds, and trees. On the other hand, Wordsworth shows nature as a place of happiness, perfectness, and peace. He accentuates the deep relationship between human beings and nature, and how people admire nature in its beautiful images. Wordsworth presents how the fascinating images of nature can affect man’s mood and mind.