In the following essay the presentation of the rural life in William Wordsworth's 'Michael: A Pastoral Poem' and in Robert Burns' 'To a mouse' shall be analyzed and compared. During the close examination of the poems at hand it will be considered whether Burns actually wrote a Pastoral since Burns monologue towards a mouse is sensible and melancholic but does not explicitly meet the definition of a pastoral. The pastoral poem in general concerns with a shepherd’s lifestyle with special focus to the natural surroundings and their ascendancy for the individual's attitude towards life. The poet engages in ideas about innocence and 'the incidentals of pastoral become the guardians of his soul' in a most interesting way. While ultimately many poets have written poetry of pastoral nature it was treated rather as a mode than as a genre and allowed for considerable playfulness and ingenuity. (Fairer, p. 79) Thanks to said malleability the pastoral, although its ideals have to a certain extend been deflated by the use of extensive irony and satire, could persist and be formed anew. Wordsworth's poem serves as a remarkable example of such irony and due to the greater length of ‘Michael: A Pastoral Poem' the focus will naturally be put there yet both shall be dealt with in sufficient length. Wordsworth role as a narrator and perceivable character corresponds with Fairer's assessment of the poet’s role in pastoral poems. According to Fairer 'the poet is self-consciously listening to his own bland rhetoric before the final rueful comment emerges – conclusive, yet almost in parenthesis, as if he is turning away from the scene.'
Although it may be argued that 'self-consciously' can easily be misunderstood in that the poet overestimates his own importance, it also highlights the poet’s role as the presenter of critical thought and initiator of discourse. Moreover, pastoral writing has defined the scope of living in town and living in the countryside. However, the descriptions of poetry and the actual living conditions in rural ambiance must not be confused. According to Goodridge great caution needs to 'be exercised in extrapolating social history from literature, especially from the most mystifying of literary forms, poetry.' Subsequently, the notion of the pastoral, thus the presentation of rural life differs vastly amongst poets which raises the need for close examination of the topic.

Excerpt

Introduction
Analysis and comparison

Objectives and Key Themes

This essay analyzes and compares the portrayal of rural life in William Wordsworth's "Michael: A Pastoral Poem" and Robert Burns' "To a Mouse." It examines whether Burns' poem qualifies as a pastoral and explores the poets' use of solitude and togetherness within the context of the pastoral tradition. The essay also considers the impact of nature and civilization on the characters and their circumstances.

The definition and characteristics of pastoral poetry
The portrayal of solitude and its connection to nature in both poems
The depiction of togetherness and its contrast with the impact of civilization
A comparison of the ways in which both poems engage with the pastoral mode
The role of the poet as narrator and presenter of critical thought

Chapter Summaries

Introduction: This introduction lays out the essay's objective: to analyze and compare the presentation of rural life in Wordsworth's "Michael: A Pastoral Poem" and Burns' "To a Mouse." It questions whether Burns' poem fits the definition of a pastoral, defining pastoral poetry as focusing on a shepherd's life, natural surroundings, and their influence on the individual's outlook. The introduction notes the malleability of the pastoral as a mode, allowing for irony and satire, and highlights Wordsworth's use of irony in his poem. The role of the poet as a presenter of critical thought and the distinction between poetic descriptions and actual rural living conditions are also discussed, emphasizing the need for close textual analysis.

Analysis and comparison: This section compares and contrasts the treatment of rural life in both poems. It begins by discussing Burns' "To a Mouse," noting the poem's use of Scots and its focus on the suffering of a mouse due to hunger and cold. The narrator's empathy for the mouse and the lack of human interaction emphasize solitude. This theme of solitude is then compared to Wordsworth's poem, where solitude is linked to beautiful landscapes and presented as a natural aspect of a shepherd's life. The section then contrasts the different sources of harm in the two poems: nature in Burns' poem and civilization in Wordsworth's. In Burns, the narrator's empathy leads to a sense of togetherness with the mouse, while in Wordsworth, the family's response to economic hardship necessitates separation. The chapter concludes by highlighting how both poems utilize solitude and nature to offer a Romantic approach to the pastoral, making them appealing to readers by fulfilling a human desire for an idealized, simple world.

Keywords

Pastoral poetry, William Wordsworth, Robert Burns, rural life, solitude, togetherness, nature, civilization, Romantic poetry, "Michael: A Pastoral Poem," "To a Mouse," empathy, social commentary.

Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Wordsworth's "Michael" and Burns' "To a Mouse"

What is the main focus of this essay?

This essay analyzes and compares how William Wordsworth's "Michael: A Pastoral Poem" and Robert Burns' "To a Mouse" portray rural life. It examines the poems' use of solitude and togetherness within the pastoral tradition, considering the influence of nature and civilization on the characters. The essay also explores whether Burns' poem fits the definition of pastoral poetry.

What are the key themes explored in the essay?

Key themes include the definition and characteristics of pastoral poetry; the portrayal of solitude and its connection to nature; the depiction of togetherness contrasted with the impact of civilization; a comparison of how both poems engage with the pastoral mode; and the role of the poet as narrator and presenter of critical thought.

What is the essay's approach to comparing the two poems?

The essay compares and contrasts the treatment of rural life in both poems. It analyzes Burns' use of Scots and the poem's focus on the mouse's suffering, highlighting the empathy and solitude. This is compared to Wordsworth's poem where solitude is linked to beautiful landscapes and presented as a natural aspect of a shepherd's life. The analysis contrasts the sources of harm (nature in Burns, civilization in Wordsworth) and the differing portrayals of togetherness (empathy in Burns, separation in Wordsworth due to hardship). The conclusion highlights how both poems utilize solitude and nature to offer a Romantic approach to the pastoral.

How does the essay define pastoral poetry?

The essay defines pastoral poetry as focusing on a shepherd's life, natural surroundings, and their influence on the individual's outlook. It acknowledges the flexibility of the pastoral mode, allowing for irony and satire.

What is the role of the poet according to the essay?

The essay discusses the role of the poet as a presenter of critical thought, emphasizing the need to distinguish between poetic descriptions and actual rural living conditions and advocating for close textual analysis.

What are the key differences in the portrayal of solitude in the two poems?

In Burns' "To a Mouse," solitude is emphasized through the mouse's suffering and the lack of human interaction. In Wordsworth's "Michael," solitude is linked to the beautiful landscapes and presented as a natural aspect of the shepherd's life.

What are the key differences in the sources of hardship in the two poems?

In Burns' poem, nature is the source of hardship (hunger and cold). In Wordsworth's poem, civilization and economic hardship cause the family's separation and suffering.

What is the overall conclusion of the essay regarding the two poems?

The essay concludes that both poems utilize solitude and nature to offer a Romantic approach to the pastoral, appealing to readers' desire for an idealized, simple world.

What are the keywords associated with this essay?