We learned in the university to consider Wordsworth and Keats as

"We learned in the university to consider Wordsworth and Keats as Romantics. They were only a generation apart, but Wordsworth didn't even read Keats's book when he gave him a copy." – Thom Gunn. These words reflect a deeper truth about the evolution of literature and the conflict between generations of thinkers, artists, and poets. Gunn points to the gap between William Wordsworth and John Keats, two of the most renowned figures of the Romantic movement, to explore how even within a generation, there can exist differences of vision, approach, and artistic engagement. Despite their shared title as Romantics, Wordsworth, who epitomized the earlier phase of Romanticism, was reluctant to engage fully with the works of Keats, who was part of the later, more visceral strain of the movement.

In the ancient world, literary tradition often held that the power of writing lay not just in content, but in the relationship between the writer and the times in which they lived. Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey provided a framework for subsequent generations of Greek poets, but each new generation brought a fresh understanding of the past. Similarly, Socrates’s philosophy was often contrasted with that of earlier philosophers like Heraclitus, who believed in the flux of all things, while Socrates focused on the importance of reasoning and dialogue. The tension between these differing views represents the same kind of generational shift that Gunn highlights: the evolution of thought, art, and expression, and the sometimes difficult task of embracing new perspectives, even when they seem to diverge from established tradition.

In the case of Wordsworth and Keats, the divide between them reflects two distinct phases in the evolution of Romanticism. Wordsworth, with his deep attachment to nature, simplicity, and introspection, embodied the earlier Romantic ideal. He saw nature as a spiritual guide, a source of solitude and inspiration. His famous line from Lines Written a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey—"For I have learned / To look on nature, not as in the hour / Of thoughtless youth; but hearing oftentimes / The still, sad music of humanity"—captures this deeply reflective, almost philosophical engagement with the world around him. Yet, Keats, in contrast, was more sensual, his work filled with the rich textures of beauty, and the fleeting nature of life and love. His focus was not so much on nature’s tranquility but on the momentary beauty found in the most visceral of human experiences. Keats’s Ode on a Grecian Urn encapsulates this fleeting beauty: "Beauty is truth, truth beauty."

The story of Wordsworth’s refusal to engage fully with Keats’s work speaks to the challenge of transitional periods in art. It highlights how even artists within the same movement can experience resistance to new ideas that challenge their own understanding of the world. Keats, despite his relative youth and early death, captured the essence of Romanticism in a way that was more immediate and sensual, while Wordsworth, though revered, could not quite reconcile the changes in poetry that Keats represented. Their works, though both Romantic, speak to different aspects of the human experience, and this disparity was felt within their own time as much as it is felt today when we study their works side by side.

History often reflects such generational shifts—where new ideas are met with resistance by the established guard. Take the example of Galileo, whose scientific revelations were initially rejected by the Church, despite the fact that his findings challenged and eventually changed the understanding of the universe. His tension with established authority mirrors the literary conflict between Wordsworth and Keats: the old guard resisting the new wave, even as the new wave of thought eventually takes root in the collective consciousness. This struggle is not just one of style but of how each generation sees the world, expresses it, and ultimately redefines it.

The lesson that Gunn’s reflection imparts is the importance of embracing change and recognizing the value in new ideas, even when they challenge the conventions of the past. In every field—whether literature, science, philosophy, or art—each new generation brings with it fresh perspectives, often born of discontent or disagreement with the established norms. Progress requires the courage to acknowledge that the truths we hold dear may not be the only truths. It asks us to move beyond comfort and familiarity, to engage with the world in new and innovative ways, just as Keats did in his writing.

In our own lives, we should be open to the evolution of ideas, not just within the world of art, but in all areas of thought and life. Wordsworth teaches us to find peace and insight in nature and simplicity, while Keats urges us to embrace the beauty of life’s transient moments, with all their passion and intensity. Both offer wisdom, but we must allow ourselves the freedom to explore and embrace the next generation of ideas that will ultimately shape the world. Just as Keats was able to capture the pulse of his age, we too must be willing to be vulnerable, to step beyond the comfort of tradition, and find our own voice in the ongoing dialogue of human creativity and understanding.