12.2 Coleridge's life and literary contributions

Samuel Taylor Coleridge, a key figure in English Romanticism, left an indelible mark on literature. His life, marked by brilliance and struggles, shaped his unique poetic vision and philosophical insights.

Coleridge's partnership with William Wordsworth revolutionized poetry. Their collaboration on "Lyrical Ballads" and shared ideas about nature and imagination defined the Romantic movement, influencing generations of writers to come.

Coleridge's Life and Literary Career

Early Education and Personal Tragedies

Top images from around the web for Early Education and Personal Tragedies

• 

  Christ Church, Cambridge © Tiger :: Geograph Britain and Ireland View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Samuel Taylor Coleridge - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Category:John Shaw jr - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Christ Church, Cambridge © Tiger :: Geograph Britain and Ireland View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Samuel Taylor Coleridge - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Early Education and Personal Tragedies

• 

  Christ Church, Cambridge © Tiger :: Geograph Britain and Ireland View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Samuel Taylor Coleridge - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Category:John Shaw jr - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Christ Church, Cambridge © Tiger :: Geograph Britain and Ireland View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Samuel Taylor Coleridge - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Christ's Hospital school in London exposed Coleridge to classical literature and contemporary poetry laid the foundation for his literary pursuits
• Death of Coleridge's father in 1781 profoundly affected his emotional development led to themes of loss and abandonment in his poetry
• Jesus College, Cambridge introduced Coleridge to radical political ideas and Unitarian theology shaped his early philosophical and religious views

Influences and Collaborations

• Experimentation with opium, initially for medical reasons, significantly impacted Coleridge's creative process and personal life influenced works (Kubla Khan, Dejection: An Ode)
• Friendship and collaboration with William Wordsworth, beginning in 1795, marked a pivotal moment in Coleridge's career led to joint publication of "Lyrical Ballads" in 1798
• Journey to Germany in 1798-1799 exposed Coleridge to German Romantic philosophy and literature influenced his later critical works and philosophical writings

Later Life and Career Shift

• Struggles with addiction, depression, and marital problems in later years led to a shift from poetry to prose and literary criticism
• Focused more on literary criticism and philosophical writings
• Delivered lectures on Shakespeare and other literary figures helped shape the canon of English literature

Coleridge's Contributions to Romanticism

Theories and Concepts

• Theory of imagination, distinguishing between primary and secondary imagination, revolutionized understanding of poetic creativity in Romantic literature
  • Primary imagination: unconscious perception of the world
  • Secondary imagination: conscious, creative faculty used in art and poetry
• Concept of "willing suspension of disbelief" introduced new approach to reader engagement with supernatural and fantastic elements in literature
  • Allowed readers to temporarily accept unrealistic or impossible events for the sake of enjoyment
• Exploration of the sublime and the supernatural in poems expanded thematic scope of Romantic poetry
  • Sublime: awe-inspiring, often terrifying aspects of nature or experience
  • Supernatural: ghosts, spirits, and otherworldly phenomena

Poetic Style and Language

• Use of conversational language and focus on nature in poems contributed to development of distinctly Romantic poetic style
  • Example: "This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison" employs everyday language to describe natural surroundings
• Incorporation of psychological insights into poetry and criticism anticipated later developments in psychoanalytic literary theory
  • Explored the workings of the unconscious mind and dreams in works (Kubla Khan)

Literary Criticism

• "Biographia Literaria" established new criteria for evaluating poetry emphasized organic unity and reconciliation of opposites
• Lectures on Shakespeare and other literary figures influenced subsequent critical approaches
  • Introduced concept of Shakespeare's "myriad-mindedness"
  • Emphasized psychological depth of characters

Themes and Style in Coleridge's Works

Imagery and Symbolism

• Vivid imagery and symbolism, particularly in "Kubla Khan" and "Christabel," creates dreamlike atmosphere blends real and imaginary
  • "Kubla Khan" features exotic and fantastical images (pleasure dome, sacred river Alph)
  • "Christabel" uses Gothic imagery to create atmosphere of mystery and danger
• Theme of guilt and redemption central to "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" explored through supernatural elements and moral allegory
  • Killing of the albatross symbolizes man's crime against nature
  • Mariner's penance and eventual redemption reflect spiritual journey

Poetic Form and Style

• Conversational tone and use of blank verse in poems exemplify Coleridge's contribution to development of "conversation poem" genre
  • "Frost at Midnight" uses informal, meditative style to explore personal thoughts and feelings
• Use of archaic language and ballad form in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" demonstrates ability to blend traditional and innovative poetic techniques
  • Archaic words (eftsoons, swound) create sense of ancient tale
  • Four-line ballad stanzas with alternating rhyme scheme (ABCB) evoke oral storytelling tradition

Philosophical and Natural Themes

• Exploration of relationship between nature and human mind recurring theme in Coleridge's poetry reflects Romantic ideals of interconnectedness
  • "This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison" shows how nature can inspire and console even when physically confined
• Concept of fragmentation and incompleteness evident in works reflects both artistic choice and personal circumstances
  • "Kubla Khan" famously incomplete due to interruption during composition
  • "Christabel" left unfinished, adding to its mysterious quality

Prose Style

• Discursive style in prose works, particularly "Biographia Literaria," blends personal anecdotes with philosophical and literary analysis
  • Combines autobiography, literary criticism, and philosophical discussions
  • Uses digressive structure to explore wide range of topics and ideas

Coleridge and Wordsworth: A Literary Partnership

Collaborative Works and Principles

• Collaboration resulted in publication of "Lyrical Ballads" (1798) landmark work helped define Romantic movement in English literature
• Joint preface to second edition of "Lyrical Ballads" (1800) articulated key principles of Romantic poetry
  • Advocated use of common language in poetry
  • Emphasized focus on ordinary subjects and rural life
• Division of labor in "Lyrical Ballads" showcased complementary strengths as poets
  • Wordsworth focused on nature and rural life
  • Coleridge concentrated on supernatural and exotic themes

Mutual Influence and Creative Exchange

• Thematic and stylistic similarities evident between Coleridge's "conversation poems" and Wordsworth's blank verse narratives
  • Both explored personal experiences and reflections on nature
• Intellectual exchange shaped respective theories of imagination and poetic diction
  • Reflected in Coleridge's "Biographia Literaria" which discusses and critiques Wordsworth's ideas
• Collaboration fostered period of intense creativity for both poets resulted in celebrated works
  • Coleridge: "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"
  • Wordsworth: "Tintern Abbey"

Evolution of Partnership

• Initial period of close collaboration and mutual admiration
  • Lived near each other in Somerset, allowing for frequent meetings and discussions
• Eventual cooling of friendship in later years influenced direction of individual works
  • Led to diverging poetic styles and philosophical perspectives
• Critical perspectives on each other's poetry evolved over time
  • Coleridge's later criticism of Wordsworth's theory of poetic diction in "Biographia Literaria"
  • Wordsworth's mixed feelings about "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" in later editions of "Lyrical Ballads"