Samuel Taylor Coleridge

 Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Introduction

Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) was one of the greatest English Romantic poets and critics. He is remembered as a poet of imagination and mystery. Along with William Wordsworth, he helped to launch the Romantic Movement in English literature with the publication of Lyrical Ballads in 1798. Coleridge is also known for his literary criticism, his lectures on Shakespeare, and his role as a philosopher of poetry.

Early Life

Coleridge was born in Ottery St Mary, Devon, in 1772. His father was a clergyman and schoolmaster. After his father’s death, Coleridge studied at Christ’s Hospital School in London and later at Cambridge University. From an early age, he showed great talent for reading, writing, and speaking. He was deeply interested in philosophy, religion, and politics, but his health problems and financial difficulties often troubled his life.

Poetic Career

Coleridge’s name is closely linked with Wordsworth. Together, they published Lyrical Ballads, which began the Romantic Age. Coleridge’s contributions to the book, especially The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, became famous for their supernatural and imaginative power. While Wordsworth focused on nature and simple rural life, Coleridge explored dreams, mystery, and the strange workings of the human mind.

Major Works

Coleridge’s most famous poem is The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, a long narrative about a sailor cursed for killing an albatross. The poem is filled with mystery, supernatural events, and deep moral meaning. Another important poem is Kubla Khan, a dream-like vision inspired by an opium-influenced dream, celebrated for its rich imagery and musical rhythm. Christabel, though unfinished, shows his gift for creating an atmosphere of mystery and suspense.

Coleridge was also a great critic and thinker. His book Biographia Literaria (1817) combines autobiography, literary criticism, and philosophy. His lectures on Shakespeare made him one of the most influential critics of the age.

Themes and Style

The main quality of Coleridge’s poetry is imagination. He believed imagination was a creative power that shaped reality and gave meaning to life. His poems often deal with the supernatural, dreams, and the mysterious side of nature. He used rich imagery, musical language, and symbolism, which made his works unique among the Romantics.

Later Life and Struggles

Coleridge’s later life was marked by poor health, depression, and addiction to opium, which he had first taken for medical reasons. These struggles prevented him from completing many of his projects. Yet, despite his personal difficulties, he remained respected as a thinker and poet. He spent his last years under the care of friends and died in 1834.

Conclusion

S. T. Coleridge was a poet of imagination, mystery, and philosophy. His works, though fewer in number, had a deep influence on English poetry and criticism. With Wordsworth, he helped shape the Romantic Movement, but his unique focus on the supernatural and the imaginative set him apart. Coleridge’s poems like The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan continue to fascinate readers with their beauty, mystery, and depth.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SONNET

  Sonnet – As a literary form   1. Introduction The sonnet is a short lyric poem of 14 lines , written in iambic pentameter . It is one of the most important poetic forms in English and European literature. The word “sonnet” comes from the Italian word sonetto , meaning “a little song.” This form allows the poet to express deep emotion, especially about love, beauty, nature, and time. Though it began in Italy, the sonnet became extremely popular in England, especially during the Elizabethan Age .   2. Origin and History The sonnet form began in 13th-century Italy . Its earliest and most famous practitioner was Francesco Petrarch . He wrote a sequence of love sonnets to his muse, Laura . His form, now called the Petrarchan sonnet , influenced all of Europe. In the 16th century, Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey brought the form to England. They translated and adapted Petrarch’s sonnets into English. Later, William Shakespeare and Edmund Spen...
Read more

THE PURITAN AGE

  CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PURITAN AGE (1620–1660)   Introduction The Puritan Age in English literature refers to the period between 1620 and 1660. It was a time of deep political, religious, and social unrest in England. The age is named after the Puritans, a group of religious reformers who wanted to purify the Church of England. This period includes the rule of King Charles I, the English Civil War, the execution of the king, and the rise of Oliver Cromwell. It ends with the Restoration of Charles II. Literature during this time reflected the seriousness and struggles of the period. Writers focused on religious faith, moral values, and the duty of man toward God. The joyful spirit of the Elizabethan Age disappeared. In its place came a tone of seriousness, discipline, and introspection.   Religious Influence and Moral Purpose One of the most striking features of the Puritan Age is its religious character . Almost all the writing of this time was shaped by the B...
Read more

THE ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF THE NOVEL

    THE ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF THE NOVEL   Introduction The novel is a powerful and popular form of literature. It tells stories in prose and focuses on people, emotions, and events. But the novel did not exist from the beginning. It is a modern form compared to older forms like epic poetry and drama. William Henry Hudson, in his book An Introduction to the Study of Literature , gives a clear explanation of how the novel began and how it grew. His views help us understand why the novel became so important in modern literature. This essay discusses the origin and growth of the novel as presented by Hudson.  Early Roots and Literary Background The novel is one of the latest literary forms to develop. It came after poetry, ballads, epics, and drama. Long ago, people shared stories through oral traditions. These included tales of heroes, gods, and great battles. Slowly, these became written poems and plays. While the drama appeared earlier, the novel came later...
Read more