Analysis of the sense of place exhibited by Wordsworth and Clare, assessing the significance of place in their ecological views.

William Wordsworth, through his many great poetic works, has come to be known, amongst many other things, as the forerunner of 'nature poetry'. He feels an intimate connection with the natural world, and is not merely an observer of it, but an active participant in it, as much of his poetry focuses on the interconnectedness of man and nature, and the intricate relationship they share. Wordsworth's sense of place primarily extends to large-scale natural settings; …

…Clare is focused on portraying the place as it is (or in the splendour in which he sees it). Clare's ability to impart intimate knowledge of the particulars of the countryside sets him apart from Wordsworth, who, in the tradition of Romantic poetry, had a broader, more metaphysical message underlying his poetry. "We might say that Wordsworth was in the countryside but not of it" (Keith, 1980), whereas Clare seems to be an extension of it.