Dwelling in the Pastoral Poems of William Wordsworth and Tao Yuanming

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the shared and distinct elements of dwelling in the pastoral poems of William Wordsworth and Tao Yuanming. Employing a qualitative research design and adopting an ecocritical approach, this study scrutinizes a corpus of 10 pastoral poems that represent the quintessence of these two poets’ works. Through a comparative analysis, it investigates how both poets evoke a sense of dwelling in the pastoral, examining the nuanced ways in which they depict the natural environment and reflect on the relationship between humanity and nature. By exploring the pastoral landscapes of Wordsworth, an English Romantic poet, and Tao Yuanming, a poet from the Chinese Jin Dynasty, it is concluded that both William Wordsworth and Tao Yuanming underscore the significance of engaging with natural surroundings as a means of introspection, connection, and rejuvenation. Although they interpret this idea through distinct cultural and literary lenses, their combined poetic works express a shared pursuit of solace, self-discovery, and unity by immersing oneself in the beauty of the natural world.