THE ELEMENT OF NATURE IN WILLIAM WORDSWORTH’S SELECTED

POEMS: A SEMANTIC STUDY

A THESIS

Presented as a partial fulfillment of the requirements for Sarjana Degree in

English Education Program Faculty of Teacher Training and Education
University of Mataram

BY

ATIKA ROSE RAHAYU

(E1D111011)

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF MATARAM

2018
 The Element of Nature in William Wordsworth’s Selected Poems: A Semantic
Study

By :
Atika Rose Rahayu
E1D111011

atikarose3039@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The objectives of this study are 1) to identify the symbols of elements of nature
which are used in London, 1802, The World is Too Much with Us and I Wandered
Lonely as a Cloud, 2) to describe and analyze the meaning of symbols of elements of
nature in London, 1802, The World is Too Much with Us and I Wandered Lonely as a
Cloud. This study applied a descriptive-qualitative research. The object of this study
was the William Wordsworth’s selected poem. The transcripts and the data sheets
were also employed as supporting instruments. The results of the study showed that
The element of nature in London, 1802 consists of: fen, stagnant waters, star, sea and
heavens. While The World is Too Much with Us consists of: sea, moon, wind,
sleeping flowers and lea. The last poem I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud consists of:
cloud, vales and hills, golden daffodils, lake, tress, breeze, stars, Milky Way and the
waves. Finally, inferring the meanings of the symbols elements of nature in London,
1802, The World is Too Much with Us and I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud. In London,
1802, the symbols of elements of nature mostly refer to the country of England
specifically in Wordsworth’s era. The second poem, The World is Too Much with Us
mostly refers to the humanity and religion. Then the last selected poem is I Wandered
Lonely as a Cloud mostly refers to the beautiful, majestic, almost like an angel
flowers.

Keyword: Element of Nature, William Wordsworth, London, 1802, The World is Too
Much with Us and I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud.
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of Study

Literature is one of the human creation which represents the feeling and the

thought that can be affected by reality, cultural society, behavior and problems or

conflict faced by the writers. When we talk about literature, especially poems, it

cannot be separated from figurative language, because literature will be more colorful

with the figure of speech. The writers often use the elements of nature to express their

feeling, thus the meaning of element of nature can go beyond the literal meaning of

the symbols.

According to Abrams (1999: 311) state that poet like all of us, use such as

conventional symbols: many poets, however, also use “private” or personal symbols”.

Every symbol has a different meaning and some of them contains with nature. Nature

is the physical world and everything in it such as land, air, water, mountains, oceans,

animal, stars which are not made by human.

Since the relation between the poetry and symbols of element of nature cannot

be separated, the writer aims to analyze the symbols of element of nature use in

William Wordsworth’s poems. The poems that will be analyzed are London, 1802,

The World Is Too Much with Us and I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud. Thus, in a
general perspective, this study is designed to identify and interpret the symbols and

their meanings in the three selected poems.

1.2 Research Question

1. What are the symbols of elements of nature that are used in London, 1802,

The World is Too Much with Us and I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud?

2. What meanings can be inferred out of the symbols of elements of nature in

London, 1802, The World is Too Much with Usand I Wandered Lonely as a

Cloud?

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To identify the symbols of elements of nature which are used in London,

1802, The World is Too Much with Us and I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud.

2. To describe and analyze the meaning of symbols of elements of nature in

London, 1802, The World is Too Much with Us and I Wandered Lonely as a

Cloud.

1.4 Scope of the Study

This study is focused on the use of elements of nature in his poetry entitled

London, 1802, The World is Too Much with Us and I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud. A

descriptive qualitative analysis is used to analyze the ways elements of nature in

William Wordsworth poetry, in London, 1802, The World is Too Much with Us and I

Wandered Lonely as a Cloud are employed.

1.5 Significance of the Study

The results of this study are expected to contribute to the readers of literary

work, especially the two poems, that are London, 1802, The World is Too Much with

Us and I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud. It is also expected that the results of this study

can be useful to help the next generation in University of Mataram who wants to

make figurative language as the topics of their study.

1.6 Definition of Key Term

 Poetry

 Element of nature

 Symbolic
 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1 The Notion of Literature

The word ‘literature’ is from latin word that is ‘literatura’ meaning that it is

form or piece of writing. According to Wellek and Warren (1949) literature is

everything in print. Literature is an art that created by human in their life based on

experiences, mind or feeling. Literatures are grouped into three genres; they are

drama, prose and poetry.

2.2 Poetry

Poetry is a kind of creative writing. According to Nuriadi (2016: 112) the term

‘poetry’ refers to knowledge, quality, and feature shown by a poem, as a work of art.

Poetry has purposes to entertain the reader, but sometimes poetry is used to criticize

some issues in life society.

2.2.1 Elements of Poetry

1. Simile 4. Theme

2. Rhythm 5. Stanza

3. Line 6. Sounds Pattern

7. Rhyme

2.2.2 Types of Poem

1. Descriptive poem 3. Narrative poem 5. Sonnet

2. Reflective poem 4. Lyrics poem

2.3 Symbolism

According to Nuriadi (2016: 171) symbolism is the use of symbols to signify

ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their

literal sense. Generally, symbols are objects representing another to give it an entirely

different meaning that is much deeper and more significance. In literature, symbolism

often used to get readers’ attention because the literary work will be more beautiful

with symbols in it. The used of symbols make the readers think thoroughly to

understand the poem and also help the readers to arrange their imagination to be

powerful.

2.4 Elements of Nature

According to Safdarian (2015) nature are divided into Internal nature and

External nature. External nature refers to the universe that are not made by people and

it is controlled by divine power whereas Internal nature is refers to the usual way that

a human or animal behaves or it’s part of their character or basic qualities of a thing.

2.5 Meaning Inference

According to Israel (1994;1) said that “literal meaning is a commonsense

concept- a sort of first principle of meaning itself. It is sort of meaning direct,

original, and unadorned”. In a brief, literal meaning is the true meaning of word.

Figurative meaning is uses simile, metaphor, and personification, to describe

something often through comparison with something different.

 CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHODS

3.1 Research Design

Research method is a way to collect datas with a specific purpose and

usefulness. There are two ways of research method that usually researchers used,

such as Qualitative and Quantitative Research.

Thus, the research method that used in this study is descriptive qualitative

method. Descriptive qualitative method is qualitative description of the facts, data or

material objects. It is not a series of numbers, but merely the expression of language

or discourses through the proper interpretation and systematic.

3.2 Data and Source of the Data

The source data of this study are William Wordsworth’s poems: London,

1802, The World is Too Much with Us and I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud. Then the

data of this study are the words or language expressions indicating the element of

nature.

3.3 Techniques of Data Collection

1. The writer download the poems: London, 1802, The World is Too Much with

Us and I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

2. Read the poems and identify the data which will be taken

3. Take the data based on element of nature

4. Input the data into the table

3.4 Techniques of Data Analysis

1. Identify every word of the poems which related to the topic.

2. Identify the nature’s elements in poems London, 1802, The World is Too

Much with Us and I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud.

3. The writer agglomerated nature’s elements based on each stanza.

4. The writer gives explanation of the meaning of nature’s elements in the poems

London, 1802, The World is Too Much with Us and I Wandered Lonely as a

Cloud.

5. The result of analysis are concluded by the writer

3.5 The Use of Semantics Analysis

There are two types of semantic; (1) denotative semantic and (2) connotative

semantic. Denotative semantic means the word that is used has the explicit or

dictionary meaning while connotative semantic represents the figurative meaning.

Semantic analysis plays the important role of this research since the poet must be

affected by the environment and their life. In this research, the writer tries to analyze

the meaning of element of nature based on the William Wordsworth’s point of view

and also connect the words with the situation of him at that time.
 CHAPTER IV

FINDING AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Findings

This chapter contains the result of the research about elements of nature used

in William Wordsworth selected poems. All about findings and discussions are

related with the research questions above. The data will be discussed based on each of

the stanzas and lines. Finally, the writer found some element of nature in William

Wordsworth selected poems.

4.2 Discussion

4.2.1 The Elements of Nature and Its Mean.

In this section the researcher elaborate the meaning of nature elements which

were found. The first is William Wordsworth selected poems entitled London, 1802.

Table 1. The elements of nature and meaning in London, 1802.

No Elements of Nature Meaning

Literal meaning

- A type of wetland in a ground water.

1. Fen / of stagnant waters
Figurative meaning

- Thing that rotten in the state of England

Literal meaning
2. Star
- Stars are planet like Venus, and Mars
 - Stars are far from earth

- Consist of hard material and shining in the sky

Figurative meaning

- Stars are brilliant people, like smart,

intelligence people.

- Stars are famous people, as actor and actress.

Literal meaning

- Sea is large place of the world

- Sea consist of water containing salt

3. Sea
Figurative meaning

- Sea as something unpredictable

- Sea as mysterious of thing

Literal meaning

- Distant sky in which the sun, moon and star

appear

Figurative meaning
4. Heavens
- The afterlife

- The religion

- And the purity of something

 Based on words in line 2 and 3, in general, fen means land that is covered with

water, with occasionally soggy areas. In London, 1802, the word fen and of stagnant

waters symbolizes the country, England. It was described that England as a swampy

marshland of "stagnant waters" where everything that was once a natural gift (such as

religion, chivalry, and art, symbolized respectively by the altar, the sword, and the

pen) has been lost to the scourge of modernity

Based on words in line 9, 10 and 11, the element of nature that was found are

star, sea and heavens. The word star symbolized awesomeness. It showed that

Milton's "soul was like a Star," and was separate from all the rest of people in the

world. The second symbol, the sea represented the artistic voice of Milton.

Wordsworth expresses the power of Milton's "voice" in this simile, in which he

compares it to the sea. The last symbol is heavens that represented the purity of his

artistic abilities in all of his poems. So, this poem stated William Wordsworth’s need

for John Milton to return to England, because England has turned into rubbish

without literary talent and he need to bring the happiness back to that country.

Table 2.The elements of nature and meaning in The World is Too Much with Us

No Elements of Nature Meaning

Literal meaning

- Sea is large place of the world

1. Sea
- Sea consist of water containing salt

Figurative meaning
 - Sea as something unpredictable

- Sea as mysterious of thing

Literal meaning

- Moon is pure satellite of earth,

- Moon cannot be separated with earth.

Figurative meaning
2. Moon
- Moon as spirit of people

- Moon also use as place for someone feeling

lonely

Literal meaning

- One of the five basic element nature

Figurative meaning
3. Winds
- Symbolize a problem that could be a spirit to

face

Literal meaning

- A plant with lack of wood

Figurative meaning
4. Sleeping flowers
- A figurative speech, an ornament of style

- Something calm, peaceful, quiet

Literal meaning
5. Lea
- An open field, like a meadow
 Figurative meaning

- Represented a land

The words sea and moon (line 5 and 6) symbolized Mother of Nature. The

poet elaborates on man's alienation from nature, claiming that humanity is no longer

susceptible to the influence of the Sea the winds (line 7), and basically everything else

in nature. The word lea (line 11) represented a land. If the speaker were become a

pagan, then he could look at the land in front of him and see something that wouldn't

make him feel so lonely and sad.

Table 3.The elements of nature and meaning in I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

No Elements of Nature Meaning

Literal meaning

- A visible mass of water droplets suspended in

the air
1. Cloud
Figurative meaning

- Gloomy or sad or even lonely feeling

Literal meaning

- A remote place, often in countryside

2. Vales and hills
Figurative meaning

- Represent the journey

Literal meaning
3. Golden daffodils
 - A yellow beautiful flowers

Figurative meaning

- Majestic almost like an angel flower

- Something related to angel or fairies

Literal meaning

- A small steam of running water

Figurative meaning
4. Lake
- A sacred place which often association with

goddess, angel

Literal meaning

- A large plant with branches

5. Trees Figurative meaning

- A symbol of life itself

- Also can be interpreted as a protection

Literal meaning

- A light, gentle wind

Figurative meaning
6. Breeze
- Symbolize an exited feeling, a flurry of

excitement

Literal meaning
7. Stars
 - Stars are planet like Venus, and Mars

- Stars are far from earth

- Start consist of hard material and shining in

the sky

Figurative meaning

- Stars are brilliant people, like smart,

intelligence people.

- Stars are famous people, as actor and actress.

Literal meaning

- Milky way is the galaxy that contains our solar

system
8. Milky way
Figurative meaning

- A way linked to heaven

Literal meaning

- something related to the sea

- A moving disturbance in the level of a body of

9. The waves
a water

Figurative meaning

- Symbolize the pressurein life

 In the sixth beginning lines of the poem, the speaker, Wordsworth is

lonely and then he begin walked (wandering and lost on his own thought without

any specific place in mind) around valleys and the hills. Vales and hills represent

the journey itself. Suddenly, out of nowhere he sees a group of daffodil flowers.

Golden daffodils can be assumed as a host of angels. He sees the daffodils beside

a lake and underneath some trees. Lake and tress can be assumed as a wild part

of the countryside.

The word stars, shine, twinkle and milky way on the seventh and eighth

lines further emphasizes link to heavens. Milky way also reflected a river flowing

through heaven which mean that the angels are happy knowing they are close to

heaven. The waves in line 13 also dance in the breeze, but the daffodils seem

happier than the waves. The waves in line 14 are "sparkle," which creates yet

another association with the stars. Everything seems to be gleaming and

twinkling and shining and sparkling. Again, the speaker refers to himself in the

first person, by his vocation, "a poet". The repetition of "gaze" in line 17 tells us

that he kept looking at the flowers for a long time.

 CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION

1.1 Conclusion

The result of this study reveals the answer of the two research questions. First,

the element of nature in London, 1802 consists of: fen, stagnant waters, star, sea and

heavens. While The World is Too Much with Us consists of: sea, moon, wind,

sleeping flowers and lea. The last poem I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud consists of:

cloud, golden daffodils, lake, tress, breeze, stars, milky way and the waves.

Finally, the meanings that can be inferred out of the symbols of elements of

nature in London, 1802, the symbols of elements of nature mostly refer to the country

of England specifically in Wordsworth’s era. The second poem, The World is Too

Much with Us mostly refers to the humanity and religion. Then the last selected poem

is I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud mostly refers to the beautiful, majestic, almost like

an angel flowers.

1.2 Suggestion

The writer gives suggestion for the next literary researchers will analyze

the element of nature and symbol in literary works, especially in poetry they have

to study hard and learn more detail about the element of nature and those

correlations to symbolism I order to understand the speaker’s means. They have

to develop, improve and expand their ideas, their words and their knowledge.
 REFERENCES

Abrams, M.H. 1999. A Glossary of Literary Terms.Seventh Edition.Boston:

Heinle&Heinle

Israel, Michael 1994. ‘Commonsense and Literal Meaning”. University of Maryland,

Cologe Park

Nuriadi. 2016. Theory of Literature an Introduction. ArgaPuji Press.Mataram

Safdarian, Khadijeh. 2015. Element of Nature in Emma by Jane Austen. Malayer

University. From https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314878633

Elements_of_nature_in_Emma_by_Jane_Austen

Wellek, Rene and Austin Warren. 1949. Theory of Literature. United States of

America. Brace and World.Inc