There are many forms of religion, and many ways that people have found to give credit to a higher being. Some people have a religious belief that God, or a greater being, is in present in all which He created. They are able to find a religious quality in nature and the many wonders associated with it. Percy Shelley found in nature things that he could relate to in a religious sense. He also used his observations of nature to express his fear of the future mankind was headed towards. The following essay will examine three of Percy Shelley's poems and will show how he found his religious needs fulfilled by occurrences in nature.

In his poem "A Dirge," Shelley writes with a solemn tone. He begins by telling about the "Rough wind, that moanest loud/Grief too sad for song;" (1751). In these two lines he is expressing his view that the wind is full of sadness. The fact that he cannot even imagine the noise of the wind as being some sort of song shows that he truly finds it very mournful.

In the next three lines of the poem, Shelley writes not only of the wind but also of clouds and rain, and tells the reader of a "Sad storm, whose tears are vain;" (1751). The tears refer t

This poem is also similar to Revelations in the fourth line, where it refers to the colours of the leaves as being "black, and pale, and hectic red," (Shelley 1700). In the sixth chapter of revelations there is mention of horses coloured black, pale, and red. These horses represent judgement, death, and war respectively (Revelations 6: 4-8).

In his poem "To a Sky-Lark," Shelley gives a bird an almost religious quality. In the first line of the poem he refers to the bird as a "blithe Spirit!" (Shelley 1733). He speaks of the height from which the bird is singing, and refers to it as being "from Heaven" (1733). Shelley seems to be paying homage to the bird; praising it for the song it is singing. It is almost like his version of the Psalms. He uses numerous comparisons to bring praise to the Sky-Lark and its song. He likens it to a "high-born maiden" and says that it is "glow-worm golden" and "rose embowered" (1734).

The last line of the poem also has a warning to the reader when it admonishes that "The world should listen then-as I am listening now." (1735). Shelley is telling the reader to listen to what nature has to say, and thus try to acquire the joy in life that the Sky-Lark has. This poem is very similar to the Psalms of David in the Bible. It gives praise and asks to be taught more in the ways of religion.

o the rain that is part of the storm. They are vain because they are falling without having any lasting effect on mankind.

The final line of the poem gives a warning to the reader when it says "Wail, for the world's wrong!" (1751). This line is referring to all the occurrences in nature that were presented to the reader in the first seven lines o

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Approximate Word count = 1131
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)