Link to Cameron’s blog: https://cameroncole.home.blog/2020/04/07/in-words-either-poetry-or-prose-vividly-describe-one-of-the-paintings-that-you-saw-on-our-virtual-tour-of-the-gallery-last-week/

Hi Cameron, I chose to peer review your blog this week as I was given this artwork in my quiz and was curious to read someone else’s thoughts on it. I really love the detail you give in your description of the painting. The highly descriptive language shows that you have thoroughly considered Westall’s intention behind every aspect of his painting. I especially liked how you said that “some trees find themselves still green, the hint of browning that tinges their leaves alludes to the inevitability of their deterioration” as this was an idea I had not considered. My only suggestion for a way to make this blog even better is to incorporate some Romantic themes into your description. For example, extending on this idea of gloom and the painting’s eerie atmosphere by saying that it creates a sense of authority in nature, humbling us as humans to realise our place in the world: an idea that was deeply embedded in Romanticism. Overall I think you did a really great job 🙂

Link to Teneille’s Blog https://thebestofliterature.art.blog/2020/03/16/wise-passiveness/

Hello Teneille, I really enjoyed your blog on ‘Expostulation and Reply’ as you clearly have a well-developed understanding of how one must be engaged in their surroundings to evoke a deeper understanding of the world – a theme that is addressed in many of Wordsworth’s writings. I liked how you immediately acknowledged the oxymoron of “wise passiveness” and used this to drive the rest of your blog, as well as adding in your own insight and experiences. When I read this poem, I was intrigued by Wordsworth’s argument that nature is the main source of intellect and that only by engaging with nature can one truly understand themselves and the world, and access knowledge. You touch on this when you mention that “Wordsworth writes that this form of understanding is not something that can be taught from books or logical thought” and when you say that “you might find [this knowledge] on a walk in spring, where the flowers bloom and glow beneath golden hours” but I would have loved to see even more on the significance of nature as this was a strong belief of Wordsworth’s.

Link to Georgia’s blog: https://georgiahoulihan.wordpress.com/2020/03/15/19th-century-literature-blog-post-2-letter-to-my-child-self-creative/#respond

Hi Georgia, I really enjoyed reading your blog this week. I think that the way you managed to analyse a poem in a creative and entertaining format is really smart. You do a great job at painting the scene as I was able to vividly picture the “glowing stars in the night sky” and the “snails climbing over dewy leaves” through your elaborate use of visceral imagery and descriptive language. Also, I felt myself being able to relate to this a lot and it gave me a sense of nostalgia as I cannot remember the last time I went outside and appreciated these little things, which I think is exactly the point that Wordsworth is trying to make. Therefore, you have encapsulated this idea brilliantly. My only suggestion for improvement is to not get carried away with listing the things you see as it can become a bit repetitive. Overall, I think you did a great job and I look forward to reading more of your work 🙂