The Reflections On Industrial Civilization In British Romantic Poetry

British Romantic poetry flourished in the wake of the British Industrial Revolution and exerted a significant influence on the Romantic literary trends and social thoughts.As spokespeople for the middle and lower middle class,the works of the Romantic poets represent both the approbation of the social progress brought about by the industrial civilization and the criticisim of its byproduct:utilitarianism,social evils and environmental pollution.By applying the theory of ecology and analyzing the works of the representative Romantic poets,this thesis examines the reflections on industrial civilization in British Romantic poetry primarily in three aspects:the condemnation of social injustice and evils caused by industrialization,the disapproval of urban life’s corruption of human nature,and the resistance against human excessive exploitation of natural resources.This thesis further explores the influence of Romanticism on ecological theories and the environmental movement in the 20th century.As the ideological source of the 20th century environmental movelnent and sustainable development,Romantic poetry has played a critical role in the development of ecological society.The Romantic attitude towards natural and ecological state is consistent with the 20th century life-centrism,which advocates the preciousness of both human life and animals and plants.The life-centrism challenges human-centrism.calls for higher moral requirement on mankind,and promotes a more healthy social development.Romantic poetry’s advocacy of respect of nature and harmony between man and nature is in line with the generally accepted idea of sustainable development nowadays.Along with the scientific and technological development.human beings should take the positive thoughts from the British Romantic poetry in order to realize the harmonious coexistence between man and nature and the sustainable and coordinated development of social environment and ecological environment.