William Wordsworth's Themes of Travel

William Wordsworth did not end up writing about his experiences traveling through the Simplon Pass until about 15 years after his journey. Like many writers, the time between occurrence and unbias perspective is crucial to the creative process. His perspective added for crucial themes throughout The Prelude. Conversations of old and young, school and travel, and the growth of the poetic mind dominate Wordsworth observation and descriptions.
Wordsworth plays on the ideas of young verse old and naive verse wisdom. The whole idea of thinking about the young and the old is interesting because throughout The Prelude Wordsworth seems to be arguing against a traditional schooling with books and lecture and finds he can learn more from traveling. While it may seem like it is immature to go away from books Wordsworth seems to think the opposite. “Twould be a waste of labour to detail the rambling studies of a truant youth” (line 110). In other literature wisdom and maturing seems to be associated with a traditional way of studying. However, Wordsworth seems to defend the spirit of a youthful student yet the perspective of the older man he is writing from. Either way he found that, “In living nature, (he) had there a guide” (line 119).
Throughout The Prelude, Wordsworth seems to defend the benefits of breaking away from books and going off on your own. The passion of the poet comes partly from this solitary relationship with oneself and one’s setting. Wordsworth wrote, “On wandering of my own, and now to these/ my poem leads me with an easier mind” (line 333-334). Wordsworth obviously found a healing power and teacher within nature. He seems to be describing a spiritual and poetic freedom that can be compared to Clara’s physical rebirth in Heidi. The mountains are interesting because of the vast impressions they have made on different writers. Some view them as an evil and natural force, and others seem them as teachers.