NATURE AND PLACE IN THE POEMS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH AND WALTER SCOTT Ayah Arabi Durkawi A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Newcastle University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics December 2013 i ABSTRACT This thesis originates in the lack of studies comparing poetry by William Wordsworth (1770– 1850) and Walter Scott (1771–1832). Living in the north of Britain, the two writers not only knew each other’s works, but also enjoyed a friendship spanning three decades. My study places together texts by the two writers which invite comparison and showcase their attitudes toward issues pertinent to their lives and society. A driving principle behind my thesis is the role nature and the poets’ native regions–the Lake District and the Scottish Borders–play in their poetry. With the exception of ‘Yarrow Revisited’ my project covers poems composed up to 1814. The Introduction compares the education and early writing of the two poets, outlines the thematic and theoretical concerns of the thesis, and gives brief accounts of relevant historical contexts. Four chapters explore Wordsworth’s and Scott’s approaches to the self, its representation and examination, and to society, its problems and inevitable evolution. The first considers Wordsworth’s The Prelude (1805) and ‘Tintern Abbey,’ and Scott’s Memoir and the epistles to Marmion. It traces the influence the two writers attribute to nature in their own development as revealed in their autobiographical writings. The second chapter tackles Scott’s Lay of the Last Minstrel, reading it as an invitation to society to look on the past for warnings and examples of how to best withstand today’s challenges. The third studies the social themes in Wordsworth’s The Excursion and ‘Michael,’ placing a particular emphasis on the portrayal of Grasmere as an ideal community. The fourth and final chapter brings the two men-of-letters together in a reading of Scott’s role, and that of the ballad tradition, in Wordsworth’s Yarrow poems. It is followed by a short Conclusion. ii In memory of my father And for my mother 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS As I write the last few words of this project my mind jumps back some twenty five years to remember the first few letters I ever wrote in my life. It was my father’s hand which held mine and guided it over the page to paint the first shape. His hand held mine throughout my life, offering me the best love and support a father can offer his daughter, and even though he passed away before he could see me accomplish one of my–and his–most valued dreams, I still feel his hand on mine guiding and supporting me from where he is. This thesis is dedicated to his memory which is not alive in my heart alone but in the hearts of everyone lucky enough to have ever met him. I cannot find adequate words to express what my mother’s sacrifice, boundless love, unwavering support, and belief in me has done for me over the years. Having her as my mother has simply made this project possible, and would never have been so without her. I am equally blessed to have two wonderful brothers in my life: Hamdi, whose unlimited love, encouragement, support, faith in me, and continuous presence in my life have seen me through the tough years of my study, and Ghaith, whose warmth, love, sense of humour, constant concern and support on all levels have been the joy of my days. I am equally lost for words to convey my love, gratitude, and appreciation for John’s love, support, encouragement, belief in me, and patience, especially at the last stages of my project. Without him I would not have been able to finish–thank you, for everything, and for being you. Teachers are sometimes more than just teachers: they become shining stars without whose gentle guidance it is impossible to find one’s way in the dark. Such is the role my wonderful supervisor, Prof. Claire Lamont has played not only in my project, but also in my entire life. I learn something new from her every time we meet, and I know for sure that in her I have not only found an academic supervisor, but a 4 friend and sister as well. My deepest respect also goes to my second supervisor, Dr. Michael Rossington, whose patience, continuous support, and bright ideas have been a constant source of inspiration and help at the most crucial stages of my study. Without his wise advice my work would not have been achievable. Dr. James Procter’s timely help and advice were pivotal in realizing my dream and boosting my self–belief; for this I offer him my gratitude and full respect. Certain people have made such a large impact on my life, and have helped me realize my potential and eased the pressure of the long years spent away from home. They are more than friends to me–they are family. Of these people I would like to especially communicate my deepest gratitude and appreciation for Omar, who has always been an invaluable source of wisdom and support, for Haifaa, whose friendship, love, companionship and support I will always value and keep in my heart, and for Sabitha, whose kindness, love and belief in me have always been a source of happiness and inspiration. I am equally indebted to Prof. Suleiman Ahmad for his ever–ready advice and support. He has always been one of the largest influences on my life–I will always be your student. My thanks also go to Samira, Aidan, Meriem, Dervla, and Peter for their friendship and the good times we had together. Finally, my thanks go to Damascus University for financing this project, which would not have been possible without their kind and generous help. 5 CONTENTS Acknowledgements iv Chapter 1: Introduction 1 The Aim of the Thesis Nature and Place Wordsworth and Scott: Childhood and Education Early Writings of the Two Poets The Friendship between the Two Poets Scott, Wordsworth and Ballads Geographical Context: The Discovery of the Scottish Borders and the Lake District Historical Context: The French Revolution British Involvement in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, and British Responses to the Events in France Historical Context: The Industrial Revolution Previous Work Comparing the Writings of the Two Poets Conclusion Chapter 2 Wordsworth and Scott: Nature, Place and Autobiography 63 A Brief Biography of Autobiography The Prelude: Brief History and Aims Childhood in the Lake District, Books I and II Cambridge and Vacation in Hawkshead, Books III and IV London and Helvellyn The French Revolution and the Lake District Shepherd The Snowdon Ascent and Wordsworth’s Zenith of Consciousness 6 Scott, Autobiography and Nature Chapter 3 Nature and Place in Scott’s The Lay of the Last Minstrel 140 Introduction to The Lay of the Last Minstrel The Anglo-Scottish Borders: A Brief Historical and Geographical Introduction The Minstrel Figure Epic and the Three-Strand Plot The Three Abbeys: Furness, Melrose, and Tintern, A Comparison Chapter 4 An Excursion in Nature 193 Introduction to The Excursion The Tenant of the Solitude: the Solitary as Anti-social Model The Vale of Grasmere: Healthy Abiding Place The Natural Education of the Wanderer Natural Visions: The Two Great Revelations in The Excursion Nature and Industrialization Chapter 5 Wordsworth, Scott and the Yarrow 241 Introduction to the Yarrow Poems The Yarrow valley and its reputation in ballads The Wordsworth’s first Scottish Tour and ‘Yarrow Unvisited’ Second Scottish Tour: ‘Yarrow Visited’ Scottish Tour of 1831: ‘Yarrow Revisited’ Conclusion 278 Bibliography 285 7 Chapter 1 Introduction I set out in this thesis to study the poetry of two writers of the Romantic period who described their responses to nature in specific places in Britain: William Wordsworth (1770-1850) in the English Lake District and Walter Scott (1771-1832) in the Scottish Borders. The thesis aims at studying the influence of nature and the specific places of the two writers’ childhood on their poetry both individually and in comparison to each other. This project investigates the ways in which the two poets approached the concept of nature, as seen through a particular geographical area, in their writing. This exploration aims at eliciting the similarities as well as differences existing in the two poets’ response to nature and place. A hypothesis whose validity this thesis tries to explore within the poems chosen as part of the investigation of this project is that nature meant two totally different things to the two men, rather than that their views were similar. The two writers are being compared because of the many experiences in their lives and background which invite comparison. The main purpose of the thesis is to investigate nature and place in the poems chosen; but on occasion literary issues arising from the enquiry are also briefly discussed, in particular the presence of autobiography and ballads in the work. These topics will be addressed in a selection of poems written by 1814. This date has been chosen because it is the year in which Wordsworth's major poem, The Excursion, was published. Scott, who is now best known as a novelist but who first became famous as a poet, published his first novel, Waverley in 1814. The only poems to be given extensive coverage outside this time 8 frame are 'Yarrow Visited' (1815) and 'Yarrow Revisited' (1835), which are included to complete the Yarrow sequence. Although most chapters in this project refer to works by both writers, there are fewer texts mentioned by Scott than there are by Wordsworth.