Romanticism in We Are Seven by Wordsworth and The Oxbow by Cole

Romanticism in Poetry and Painting
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Romanticism in Poetry and Painting
Romanticism, which refers to a movement that emerged in Europe towards the peak of the 18th century, influenced many forms of literature, especially poetry and painting. Subsequently, William Wordsworth’s poem, We Are Seven, and Thomas Cole’s painting, The Oxbow, depict some elements of romanticism which help the artists to present the underlying themes to the audience effectively. In both works, romanticism is described as the ultimate bond that defines the relationship between people and their intercommunication with nature.
In We Are Seven, the poet presents a conversation between two people, old and young, who have a different view of where family bonds end. The young girl insists that she still has seven siblings, although two of them are already dead. On the other hand, the narrator attempts to disapprove that notion. Amid the whole argument, it is apparent that the glorification of the past, which is an element of romanticism, is the one propelling the cottage girl to emphasize her stance. Despite the narrator’s attempt to sway the girl’s mind, she still insists that they are seven in their family, alluding to how her two siblings (Jane and John) died. In the same regard, Thomas Cole’s The Oxbow also underlines that although nature changes with time, the past strongly influences the present and the future. Through the image of two halves of land, the artist shows that while the right side is more attractive and suitable for human settl...