Final answer:
John Muir's essay 'The Calypso Borealis' and William Wordsworth's poem 'I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud' both express a deep and equalizing relationship with nature, employing anthopomorphism and emphasizing nature's intrinsic value. The capitalization of words like 'Nature' in the poem highlights their divine significance. Both works support themes of conservation and environmentalism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The essay The Calypso Borealis by John Muir and the poem I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth both explore the authors' deep relationships with nature. In Wordsworth's poem, nature is given human characteristics, a literary device known as anthropomorphism, such as when the daffodils are described as dancing. This not only creates a sense of kinship between the poet and the natural world but also elevates nature to a status of importance comparable to that of humans. The capitalization of 'Nature' and 'Sea' in the poem underlines their significance and divine-like presence.
Similarly, John Muir’s essay shows his awe and intimate connection with nature, in this case personifying a flower, the Calypso, during his moment of connection and resonance with the natural world. Both works express a non-anthropocentric view, placing humans and nature on equal footing. This perspective aligns with modern environmentalism, emphasizing the value and agency of the natural world for its own sake and advocating for conservation and preservation.
Examining the relationship between humans and nature in these literary works offers insights into cultural, social, and political values, revealing an inherent respect and celebration of the natural environment. This fosters an understanding of a symbiotic relationship, as opposed to an adversarial one, and allows for reflections on environmental justice.