Guide to Romantic PoetryGuide to Romantic Poetry

Where we’re coming from: Where we’re coming from: Neoclassical PeriodNeoclassical Period• Neoclassical PeriodNeoclassical Period

– ““New Classical”New Classical”– Imitated the Greeks and RomansImitated the Greeks and Romans

•ArchitectureArchitecture•LiteratureLiterature•EducationEducation

– Thought man was superior to nature (so Thought man was superior to nature (so should control it)should control it)

Features of Neoclassical Features of Neoclassical PeriodPeriod• Formal, public verseFormal, public verse• Emphasis on Emphasis on REASONREASON and intellect and intellect• Built on standards/traditionsBuilt on standards/traditions• Belief in class system and reliance on Belief in class system and reliance on

aristocracyaristocracy• Believed in moderation and self-restraintBelieved in moderation and self-restraint• Focused on technology/industryFocused on technology/industry

Romantic Poetry is not about Romantic Poetry is not about Romantic Love!Romantic Love!•Love of Love of NATURENATURE in all of its aspects in all of its aspects•Concern and sympathy for the Concern and sympathy for the

common peoplecommon people• Interest in the world of imagination Interest in the world of imagination

(especially dreams and the (especially dreams and the supernatural)supernatural)

• Interest in childhoodInterest in childhood

Romantic Poetry is not about Romantic Poetry is not about Romantic Love!Romantic Love!• Involvement with the lonely and Involvement with the lonely and

melancholicmelancholic– Especially in contemplation of eventual Especially in contemplation of eventual

deathdeath• Interest in past legends (esp. local)Interest in past legends (esp. local)• Rebellion against tyrannical controlRebellion against tyrannical control• Rebels against industry (esp. factories)Rebels against industry (esp. factories)• Focus on Focus on FEELINGSFEELINGS, not INTELLECT., not INTELLECT.

Neoclassical or Romantic?Neoclassical or Romantic?

• Man controlling natureMan controlling nature• Emphasis on order, designEmphasis on order, design• Probably belongs to a member of the upper classProbably belongs to a member of the upper class• Influence from Greek/Roman architecture/designInfluence from Greek/Roman architecture/design

Neoclassical or Romantic?Neoclassical or Romantic?• Wild/OvergrownWild/Overgrown• Nature is its own Nature is its own

force force (not controlled by man)(not controlled by man)• SpontaneousSpontaneous• Looks more Looks more

Medieval Medieval (b/c it’s (b/c it’s untamed)untamed)

• Dark/EmotionalDark/Emotional

Which do you prefer?Which do you prefer?

Romantic PoetryRomantic Poetry• Centers on natureCenters on nature

• Uses nature as a vessel through which Uses nature as a vessel through which to express emotionsto express emotions

• Explores common peopleExplores common people

• Fights industry or civilizationFights industry or civilization

Romantic Poetry SettingsRomantic Poetry Settings• Usually in Nature (or observing nature)Usually in Nature (or observing nature)

• Sometimes in “ruins”– where nature has Sometimes in “ruins”– where nature has reclaimed something that used to be reclaimed something that used to be part of civilizationpart of civilization– Tintern AbbeyTintern Abbey

• Sometimes in cities, but longing to get Sometimes in cities, but longing to get away (many of Blake’s poems)away (many of Blake’s poems)

Samuel Taylor ColeridgeSamuel Taylor Coleridge• Born October 21, 1772 – Born October 21, 1772 –

– Ottery St. Mary, Southwestern EnglandOttery St. Mary, Southwestern England• Died July 25, 1834 – LondonDied July 25, 1834 – London• One of the founders of Romanticism One of the founders of Romanticism

(with William Wordsworth)(with William Wordsworth)• Major influence on American Major influence on American

TranscendentalismTranscendentalism

Samuel Taylor ColeridgeSamuel Taylor Coleridge• Famous for his poems “Kubla Khan”, Famous for his poems “Kubla Khan”,

“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”, and “Christabel”and “Christabel”

• Took laudanum (pure opium + alcohol Took laudanum (pure opium + alcohol + sugar) in order to cure childhood + sugar) in order to cure childhood sicknessessicknesses

• Eventually became an opium addict, Eventually became an opium addict, which influenced his workwhich influenced his work

““The Rime of the Ancient The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”Mariner”

• First published in 1798 in “Lyrical Ballads” First published in 1798 in “Lyrical Ballads” (collection by both Coleridge and Wordsworth)(collection by both Coleridge and Wordsworth)

• Early example of modernism – goes against Early example of modernism – goes against literary normsliterary norms

• Rhyme scheme borrowed from old English Rhyme scheme borrowed from old English ballads like “Sir Patrick Spens” – ABCB, ballads like “Sir Patrick Spens” – ABCB, alternating between iambic tetrameter (4 feet alternating between iambic tetrameter (4 feet per line) and iambic trimeter (3 feet per line)per line) and iambic trimeter (3 feet per line)

““The Rime of the Ancient The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”Mariner”

• Sin and redemption/forgivenessSin and redemption/forgiveness– Do the crime, do the time?Do the crime, do the time?

• Allegory of JesusAllegory of Jesus– Does it represent Jesus saving mankind?Does it represent Jesus saving mankind?

• Conservation/Respect for NatureConservation/Respect for Nature• Self-Portrait of ColeridgeSelf-Portrait of Coleridge

– Coleridge was a lonely man – mariner’s Coleridge was a lonely man – mariner’s isolation could be a symbol for poet’s feelingsisolation could be a symbol for poet’s feelings

• SymbolsSymbols– Sun/Moon – GodSun/Moon – God– Ancient Mariner – Adam/SinnerAncient Mariner – Adam/Sinner

• Literary DevicesLiterary Devices– Internal RhymeInternal Rhyme– InversionInversion– EnjambmentEnjambment– AnaphoraAnaphora– ironyirony

““The Rime of the Ancient The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”Mariner”