# Nature and the Sublime in Memoirs of a Midget

> Theme guide for Memoirs of a Midget by Walter de la Mare.

Vivid descriptions of the Kentish landscape, storms, moonlight, and stars (like Orion and Sirius) serve as a source of rapture and comfort, contrasting with the artificiality of high society and reflecting the narrator's inner life.

## Where it surfaces

- [Epigraph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_midget_se/chapters/epigraph): The epigraph references the orix beast and the dog star, linking natural phenomena to a sense of awe and ritual.
- [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_midget_se/chapters/i): The narrator's deep connection to the Kentish landscape, the barrow on Chizzel Hill, and the telescope given by her grandfather highlight a reverent engagement with nature.
- [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_midget_se/chapters/ii): The narrator's detailed descriptions of the garden, stream, and creatures evoke a profound, almost mystical connection with the natural world.
- [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_midget_se/chapters/iii): The narrator finds wonder in small natural objects (a nut, a shell, a drop of rainwater) and confronts mortality through the dead mole.
- [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_midget_se/chapters/vi): The storm, the moonrise, and the vision of pear-shaped raindrops evoke a powerful, awe-inspiring natural scene that comforts the narrator.
- [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_midget_se/chapters/xiii): The moonlit woods, stars (especially Sirius and the Pleiades), and the nightbird's cry create a sublime, almost mystical atmosphere.
- [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_midget_se/chapters/xxi): The narrator's walk through the woods and her time in the garden at Wanderslore evoke a sense of wonder and connection to the natural world.
- [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_midget_se/chapters/xxvi): The garden setting, the changing weather, and Mr. Anon's vision of a hidden paradise evoke the sublime in nature.
- [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_midget_se/chapters/xxviii): The narrator finds peace in nature, describing the woods, rain, and hailstorm with awe, contrasting with her unease in human company.
- [Lyme Regis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_midget_se/chapters/lyme-regis): The chapter emphasizes the awe-inspiring natural landscape of Lyme Regis, highlighting the sublime beauty of the sea and cliffs.
- [XXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_midget_se/chapters/xxxvi): The overgrown garden, the nightjar's call, and the glowworm create a sublime, almost mystical atmosphere that mirrors the characters' emotional states.
- [LIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_midget_se/chapters/liv): The natural world is both a source of beauty and terror, from the serene pool and moonlit garden to the poisonous nightshade and frenzied nightjars, reflecting the narrator's inner turmoil.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_midget_se/themes/nature_and_the_sublime
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_midget_se/themes