Assignment Paper No. 103 : Literature of the Romantics.
Wordsworth and Coleridge: A Comparative Study of Their Works
Name : Shruti Sonani
Batch : M.A ,Sem - 1 (2024-2026)
Enrollment number: 5108240033
E - mail address : shrutisonani2@gmail.com
Abstract
William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge are two of the most prominent figures in the Romantic movement, which emerged in the late 18th and early 19th centuries as a reaction against the rationalism of the Enlightenment. Wordsworth, the poet of nature, and Coleridge, the philosopher-poet, contributed significantly to the development of Romanticism in English literature. This assignment explores their poetic contributions, comparing and contrasting their philosophies, themes, and styles. It also highlights the major works of each poet, including Wordsworth's Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey and I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud, and Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan. By examining the key differences and similarities in their approaches to nature, imagination, and emotion, this paper offers a comprehensive understanding of how these two poets shaped the course of English literature.
Introduction
The late 18th century witnessed the emergence of Romanticism, a literary movement that emphasized emotion, individualism, nature, and the rejection of industrialization and rationalism. Two of the most influential poets associated with this movement are William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Both were instrumental in defining Romantic poetry, although their approaches differed in significant ways. Wordsworth, with his deep love for nature, often sought to express universal truths through simple, clear language, celebrating the beauty of the natural world. Coleridge, on the other hand, blended philosophy, mysticism, and the supernatural into his work, emphasizing the power of imagination and the metaphysical.
This paper will explore the themes, styles, and literary techniques of Wordsworth and Coleridge, focusing on their most notable works. It will also compare and contrast their ideas on nature, imagination, and the role of the poet. By analyzing their contributions to Romanticism, this study will highlight how these two poets, despite their differences, together helped define the ideals of the Romantic era.
Wordsworth: The Poet of Nature
Early Life and Influence
William Wordsworth (1770-1850) is often regarded as the quintessential poet of nature in English literature. His upbringing in the picturesque Lake District of England deeply influenced his writing, instilling in him a lifelong love for the natural world. Wordsworth’s early exposure to nature, along with his education at Cambridge, set the foundation for his poetic philosophy. His personal life, including the tragic loss of both his parents at an early age, is reflected in his poetry, which often deals with themes of memory, solitude, and the relationship between human beings and the natural world.
Wordsworth’s poetic philosophy is encapsulated in his idea of "the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" which he elaborates in his Preface to the Lyrical Ballads (1800). He advocates for poetry written in a simple, accessible language that captures the emotional response of the poet to nature. For Wordsworth, poetry should serve as a vehicle for personal reflection, conveying deep emotions that connect the individual to universal truths.
Major Works
Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey (1798)
One of Wordsworth’s most celebrated poems, Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey, reflects his deep reverence for nature. The poem is a meditation on the power of memory and nature’s ability to heal and inspire the human spirit. Wordsworth revisits the Wye Valley after five years, and the poem explores the ways in which his relationship with nature has evolved. As a young man, he was immersed in the physical beauty of the landscape, but as he ages, he begins to recognize the more profound, spiritual connection to nature that transcends the mere physical. The poem emphasizes the idea that nature offers a moral and spiritual solace, suggesting that true wisdom comes from within, and the poet’s task is to articulate this knowledge.
I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud (1804)
Another of Wordsworth’s most famous works, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud, portrays the healing and uplifting power of nature. The poem’s narrator describes wandering alone in a valley and coming upon a field of daffodils that seem to dance in the wind. This vision of nature fills the poet with a sense of joy and peace. The daffodils, as a symbol of nature's beauty, continue to inspire the poet long after the encounter, providing a source of comfort and spiritual renewal. This work is emblematic of Wordsworth’s Romantic belief in the restorative power of nature, as well as his focus on the personal, individual response to the natural world.
Coleridge: The Philosopher-Poet
I am remarkably fond of beans & bacon; and this fondness I attribute to my father having given me a penny for having eat a large quantity of beans on Saturday. ( #Letter of Coleridge )
Early Life and Influence
Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) was born in the years following Wordsworth and was his close friend and collaborator. While Wordsworth’s poetry was grounded in the natural world and emotion, Coleridge was more inclined towards philosophical inquiry, mysticism, and the supernatural. Coleridge’s early life, shaped by his studies at Cambridge, his brief time as a Unitarian minister, and his interest in German philosophy, led him to explore the inner workings of the human mind and the nature of imagination.
Coleridge’s theory of the imagination was deeply influenced by German idealism, especially the works of Kant and Schelling. In his famous essay, Biographia Literaria (1817), Coleridge distinguishes between the "primary" and "secondary" imagination. The primary imagination is a universal, spontaneous power that allows humans to perceive the world in its purest form. The secondary imagination, however, is the creative force that enables the poet to transcend ordinary perception and create art.
Major Works
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1798)
Perhaps Coleridge’s most famous work, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner tells the story of a sailor who has committed a grave sin by killing an albatross, an omen of good luck. The poem explores themes of sin, guilt, and redemption, and is infused with elements of the supernatural. The eerie atmosphere of the poem, combined with its moral message about the sanctity of life and the importance of human responsibility towards nature, exemplifies Coleridge’s fascination with the metaphysical and the unknown. The narrative structure of the poem—told through the eyes of an old mariner recounting his tale to a wedding guest—adds a sense of mystery and timelessness to the work.
Kubla Khan (1797)
Kubla Khan is a fragmentary, mystical poem that showcases Coleridge’s unique approach to imagination and the sublime. The poem is inspired by the legendary Mongol emperor Kubla Khan and describes his palace in a dreamlike, fantastical manner. The imagery in Kubla Khan is vivid and surreal, and the poem’s unfinished nature—Coleridge claimed to have lost the rest of the poem during an opium-induced reverie—only enhances its sense of mystery. The poem explores the power of the imagination to create alternative worlds, blending the real and the unreal in a way that challenges conventional perceptions of reality.
Key Differences Between Wordsworth and Coleridge
While Wordsworth and Coleridge were both central to the Romantic movement, their approaches to poetry and their philosophical outlooks diverged in several key areas:
1. Philosophy and Themes
Wordsworth’s poetry is grounded in a deep appreciation for nature as a source of moral and spiritual insight. For him, nature was a teacher, a sanctuary that provided solace in times of distress. His poetry often reflects an idealized view of the natural world, where humans can find wisdom and peace. His works express a strong belief in the capacity of nature to elevate the human soul, and he often emphasizes the importance of childhood memory as a key to understanding the self.
In contrast, Coleridge’s poetry is more introspective and metaphysical. He was interested in the workings of the imagination, the mind, and the supernatural. Coleridge’s works often delve into the realm of the mysterious and the uncanny, exploring the tension between reason and imagination. His belief in the transformative power of the imagination contrasts with Wordsworth’s more grounded and pastoral approach to nature.
2. Style and Language
Wordsworth's style is characterized by simplicity and clarity. He famously sought to write in the language of common people, believing that poetry should be accessible to all. His poems often have a reflective, meditative tone, and he frequently uses blank verse to convey his thoughts and emotions in a flowing, natural manner.
Coleridge, on the other hand, employed a more complex and ornate style. His poems often feature irregular rhythms and meter, and his use of language is rich with symbolism and metaphor. Coleridge’s work tends to be more experimental, as he frequently plays with the structure of his poems, creating a sense of musicality and mystery.
3. Imagination and Nature
For Wordsworth, nature is an eternal source of wisdom, a reflection of the divine order that can provide emotional and spiritual sustenance. His poetry often depicts nature as a mirror of the human soul, with the poet's role being to uncover the truths hidden within it.
Coleridge, while also valuing nature, saw it more as a vehicle for the imagination. For him, nature was not simply a source of external beauty but also a catalyst for internal, creative vision. His works, such as The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan, demonstrate his belief in the power of the imagination to transcend the physical world and create new realms of experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge were pivotal figures in the English Romantic movement, each contributing to the reshaping of poetry in profound ways. Wordsworth, with his emphasis on nature, the power of the human imagination, and the expression of deep personal emotion, sought to democratize poetry by making it accessible and relevant to all people. His focus on the simplicity and beauty of everyday life resonated deeply with readers, making his works timeless. Coleridge, on the other hand, brought a unique blend of philosophical depth, Gothic imagination, and a sense of the supernatural into his poetry, with works like The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan showcasing his visionary style. Both poets, though differing in their approach, shared a deep reverence for the transformative power of nature and the inner workings of the human mind. Together, their collaboration in Lyrical Ballads helped lay the foundation for a new era in English poetry, one that prioritized emotion, individualism, and the exploration of the sublime. Their legacies continue to influence poets and readers today, cementing their places as central figures in the Romantic tradition.
References :
- Minto, William; Chisholm, Hugh (1911). "Wordsworth, William" . In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 826–831.
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