Wordsworth and Coleridge :

 William Wordsworth & Samuel Tylor Coleridge :

Question: What are the characteristics of Romantic poetry? Illustrate with examples from Wordsworth and Coleridge.


Answer :

William Wordsworth was born on 7 April 1770, and died on 23 April 1850. He was an English Romatic poet, with the help of S.T. Coleridge both launch Romantuc age in English literature. S.T Coleridge was born on 21 October 1772, and passed away on 25 July 1834. He was also an English Romatic poet. They both also know as 'Lake poets.' He also shared volumes and collaborated with Charles Lamb, Robert Southey and Charles Liyod.


Characteristics of Romantic poetry :


1. Emphasis on Emotion : Romantic poets focus on expressing deep feelings and emotions rather than just depicting reality.

- In Wordsworth poem Tintern Abbey, Wordsworth reflects on the emotional and spiritual impact if nature.

- In Coleridge's poem Rime of Ancient Mariner, he uses imaginative and supernatural elements to explore deep themes of guilt and the power of nature.

2. Nature : Nature is often celebrated and viewed as a source of inspiration and spiritual renewal.

- In Wordsworth's poem Daffodils, he describes a beauty of the field of daffodils and the joy it brings to his mind and deep connections with nature.

- In Kubla Khan Coleridge create an exotic and imaginative vision of pleasure. It's highlighting the nature's power and beauty.

3. Individualism : There is a strong emphasis on individual experience and personal imagination.

- In The Prelude Wordsworth explore the personal development and relationship with nature.

- In Dejection : An Ode, reflects Coleridge's personal struggle with creative block and his sense of loss, emphasized the impact of internal states on his perception of the world.

4. Imagination and Creativity : Romantic poets value the power of imagination and creative expression over reason and logic.

- Wordsworth viewed imagination as a deeply personal and spiritual process. In his Preface to Lyrical Ballads, he emphasized that poetry arises from the poet's own experience and emotion.

- Coleridge viewed on imagination was more complex and philosophical. He distinguished with Primary and Secondary imagination. Primary imagination is an inherent, spontaneous faculty that shaped our perceptioin of the world, while the secondary imagination involves the conscious, creative manipulation of this perception to produce art.

5. Rebellion Against Tradition : They often challenge established norms and conventions, valuing originality and freedom.

- The theme of rebellion against tradition is a central aspect of Romantic literature, and it is particularly evident in the works of William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, two of the most prominent figures of the Romantic movement

6. Exoticism and the Supernatural : Romantic poetry sometimes explores mysterious or supernatural themes, adding a sense of wonder and awe.

- While both Wordsworth and Coleridge engage with themes of exoticism and the supernatural, their approaches reflect their different poetic philosophies:

• Wordsworth integrates the supernatural more subtly, focusing on nature’s mystical qualities and the sublime to evoke a sense of the extraordinary within the natural world.
• Coleridge, on the other hand, embraces the supernatural and exotic more overtly, creating vivid, otherworldly settings and exploring the uncanny as central elements of his imaginative world.

Both approaches reflect the Romantic era's fascination with exploring the limits of human experience and perception, though they do so in distinct ways that highlight their individual artistic visions. 

Visit of Victoria Park : 

On 31st August, we had an amazing day at Victoria Park. We started the day with the seeking in the nature. The day included several activities organized by Megha ma'am and Prakruti Ma'am. We started with painting for those who excel in art, while others participated in creative writing. We also explore the nature and beauty of nature like as we studied Romantic Poet, Wordsworth and Coleridge. Following these activities we had fun activities such as garba and antakshri. It was an amazing excursion for us. We enjoyed the nature and greenery as well. 

Here I upload the picture of my poetry, which I wrote at Victoria Park as a part of creative writing.