Nature as a Vehicle to Express Thoughts in the English Poetry of the Romantic Period (1757-1822)

This study has attempted to examine the use of nature as a vehicle to express thoughts in the English poetry of the romantic period (1757-1822). It has aimed to explain the role of nature as a dominant factor in inspiring the poets of the romantic period to express different thoughts. It has also aimed to show how the romantic poets appreciate nature, love and social life. Six poems were selected, randomly, to represent the English poetry of the romantic period (1757-1822). The poems were analyzed quantitatively. Results showed that various figures of nature were used by the poets in order to express their thoughts. According to the results, the study suggests that it will be useful, for future researchers, to study the socio-culture aspects in poetry. In addition, to study other periods of poetry rather than the romantic period.

because it is considered as a powerful tool in the interpretation of poetic texts.

Aims of the Study
This study aims to achieve the following objectives: 1. To explain the role of nature as a dominant factor in inspiring the poets of the romantic period to express different thoughts. 2. To show the role of romantic poetry in appreciating individual, love and social life

Research Significance
This research attempts, first, to contribute to more deep understanding of poetry because poetry is considered as the most difficult among the three literary genres. This understanding is achieved by shedding light on patterns which may be vague for learners and others who are interested in poetry. Therefore, it may help them to attain better understanding of poetry and discover and understand different themes of poems. Thus, they acquire logic and reasoning skills. Moreover, poetry is likely to motivate future researchers to undertake studies in other areas of literature. In addition, it presents lessons that readers learn about life.

Research Questions
The present study attempts to answer the following questions: 1 Is nature used as a vehicle to express thoughts by the English poets of the romantic period? 2.What figures of nature incorporated in the poetry of that period? 3. What thoughts that are highlighted in the romantic poetry?

Research Hypotheses
In order to find answers for these questions above, the following hypotheses have been made: 1. Nature is used as a vehicle through which romantic poets express their visions. 2. Different figures of nature are found in the romantic poetry. 3. The romantic poetry highlights love beauty, innocence, childhood and dreams. Watson (1992), summarizes the subject matter of the literary work of the romanticism in raising these questions that focus on what the romantic artists were engaged with: Who am I? How did I come to be as I am? What is my relationship to my fellow human beings? What are my feelings in relation to their joy and their suffering? What great moments do I wish to celebrate? What do I know of nature, or art? What is the best form of a political society? What is my understanding of the past, and my hope of the future? Watson (1992), regards that the writers of the romantic era (novelists and philosophers, as well as poets) attempted to find answers to these questions using their poetic style Thornley and Roberts (1984), describe romantic poets as poets of nature. They say that Wordsworth and Coleridge are known as Lake Poets because they like Lake district and lived in it; so the two poets are connected with nature. While Shelly saw goodness is in the whole of nature. Thornley and Roberts (1984), also assert that Keats, as one of the great romantic poets, loved beauty. Matters and Jones (2000), argue that the dominant romantic approach understands poetry as a medium for the exploration of personal emotional issues and feelings. Matters and Jones (2000), also point that romantic poetry often sees man in communion with the natural world, rather than with other men, it trusts instinct, the emotion, the heart, rather than reason. Chouduray (2011), discusses the language through which William Blake and Wordsworth depicted realistic lives of common people in their poetry. He analyzed some poems of the two poets. He found that both the poets paid equal devotion to common people in their poems. So, they gave importance to rural life, which is shaped by nature, rather than urban life. Almandovar (2014), examines how the concept of nature appears in the 19 th century English literature by comparing the different uses that romantic poets and Gothic novelists made of it. He showed how nature is depicted in the romantic poetry written by Blake, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron and Shelly. He found that nature was important in the literature of that period as one of the main elements that gives shape to a wide variety of poems and novels.

Theoretical Framework and Review of Related Literature
In the light of the above discussion, it is obvious that romantic poetry is, mainly, characterized by imagination, intuition, idealism, inspiration and individuality. So, poets of that era, according to Watson (1992), led a striking movement of changing man sensibility and his ideas about the society in which he lives; as well as the natural world which surrounds him.

Data Collection Materials
The materials of this study are six poems written by Blake, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Shelly and Keats. The poems are samples of the English poetry of the romantic period (1757-1822)

Procedures
To achieve the objective of this study the procedures adopted were as follows: Six poems of equal length, from the poetry of those six romantic poets were selected. The figures of nature in these poems were investigated.

Data Analysis, Discussion and Interpretation. Data Analysis
The data analysis of this study will be shown in tables and with the distribution of the frequency of the words that represent figures of nature as appearing in the poems under investigation. This analysis will highlight the significant similarities between the use of the figures of nature in the poems investigated.  The memory of what has been, And never more will be.

'The Wild Gazelle' by Lord Byron
Byron's poem 'The Wild Gazelle', portrays the beauty of nature with its green hills, animals and rivers. In addition, it draws the attention to the importance of animals freedom in humans life. It is considered as a message to people by advising them to protect the wild life. Coleridge describes the wild gazelle in Judah's hills where it drinks and eats from the natural sources; jumping and moving happily. This nice animal attracts beholders because there is nothing that disturbs or frightens it. So, the poet advices man not to be a destructive weapon of nature, so as to allow it to endow beauty to people. As in the poems above, this poem includes gazelle, hills, rills, cedar, palm, plains, earth and stone as figures of nature.

'A Thing of Beauty' by John Keats
In his Poem 'A Thing of Beauty', Keats aims at highlighting the influence of nature on life. He says that a beautiful thing is considered as eternal which resembles the power that makes people live in tranquility and enjoy a sleep full of sweet dreams and health. The poet depicts the beauty of nature saying that it keeps us bind to the nature. Enjoying the beauty of nature with its flowers, trees, the sun, the moon and rills, is man linkage with the earth. In addition, the tales of human ancestors about their heroes form another aspect of beauty which is regarded as a kernel of life and a source of joy. Keats embodies the beauty of nature by pointing to the following figures of nature: bower, flowery band, the sun, the moon, sheep, daffodils, rills, forest and rose.
A thing of beauty is a joy for ever: Its loveliness increases; it will never Pass into nothingness; but still will keep A bower quiet for us, and a sleep Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing. Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing