Exploring the Meanings and Dimensions of Nature in Poetry, Painting, and Literary Tourism of the Romanticism

Abstract

This study investigates the essence and manifestations of nature in the works of Romantic poets such as Lord Byron and Emerson, as well as painters like Thomas Cole. It then explores the components of literary tourism in Romanticism to answer the question: What positive aspects does Romanticism’s perspective on nature have for tourism. This study aims to examine the common characteristics of the Romanticism school’s approach to nature. The data and images were collected and analyzed through a descriptive-analytical method, utilizing library studies and document analysis. The dimensions and meanings of nature in selected Romantic poems and paintings encompass untouched nature, wild and untamed nature, grand and awe-inspiring nature, the supernatural, the inner and human soul, nature as a human construct, emotional and exquisite landscapes, sublime and heavenly landscapes, accompanied by explorations of caves, forests, roaring waters, waterfalls, and mountainous landscapes. The positive results of Romanticism’s perspective on nature for tourism can be observed at both the general and individual levels. At the general level, governments and stakeholders plan and prepare national assets based on remarkable natural places, regions, and landscapes depicted in literary and artistic works. At the individual level, there exists a beautiful cognitive path where tourism is seen as an accepted social form based on notable regions and landscapes depicted in works, serving as a search for emotional, intellectual, and reflective experiences. Consequently, the attention, perception, and Romanticists’ approach to nature contribute to enriching and diversifying the perspective on nature in the tourism industry.

Keywords

• nature
• poetry
• painting
• tourism
• romanticism