Question

Given below are two statements: Statement (I): In Lamb and Wordsworth, we have two widely different views of romantic movement. Statement (II): Wordsworth shows the influence of nature and solitude, Lamb that of society. Choose the most appropriate answer.

• A. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
• B. Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect
• C. Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
• D. Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

Hint:

Wordsworth represents nature-centred Romanticism, while Lamb represents personal, social, and urban Romantic prose.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1 : Understanding the Question:
This question requires us to evaluate two literary statements comparing the distinct aesthetic perspectives of William Wordsworth and Charles Lamb, both of whom are key figures of the English Romantic movement.

Step 2 : Key Formulas and Approach:
The analytical approach involves contrasting the thematic and structural focuses of each writer. We evaluate Wordsworth's poetic focus on nature and individual solitude against Lamb's prose essays that center on urban London life and social relationships to verify the validity of both assertions.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
$\bullet$ William Wordsworth and Charles Lamb were contemporary figures of the British Romantic period, yet they represented two distinctly different facets of the movement's artistic philosophy.
$\bullet$ Statement I suggests that these two authors offer widely different views of the Romantic movement, which is accurate because Romanticism was a broad movement containing both solitary, nature-focused aesthetics and urban, personal essay formats.
$\bullet$ Statement II specifies that Wordsworth shows the influence of nature and solitude, which is verified by his major poems like The Prelude and Tintern Abbey which celebrate spiritual rejuvenation in the wilderness.
$\bullet$ Statement II also states that Lamb shows the influence of society, which is correct as seen in his Essays of Elia, where he writes with deep affection about London streets, social institutions, friends, and the bustling human activity of the city.
$\bullet$ Since both statements are historically and critically accurate reflections of their respective literary styles and philosophies, they are both correct.

Step 4 : Final Answer:
Consequently, both Statement I and Statement II are correct, making option (A) the correct choice.
The correct option is (A) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct.