I am writing this blog on Romantic period as a task assigned by Megha Trivedi Ma'am.

Introduction

Romantic poetry was a literary movement that began in the late 18th century and reached its height in the early 19th century. It grew as a reaction against the rigid forms, rationalism, and strict rules of the Neoclassical Age (also called the Age of Reason). Romantic poets placed emphasis on imagination, nature, emotions, individual freedom, and spiritual depth. The publication of Lyrical Ballads by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1798 is usually considered the beginning of English Romanticism. This work changed English poetry forever and marked the birth of a new literary epoch.

Mind Map on Romantic Poets: Click Here

In this blog, we will discuss these four points:

The main characteristics of Romantic poetry, with examples from Wordsworth and Coleridge.
The salient features of Wordsworth as a Romantic poet.
The importance of the year 1798 in English literary history.
The salient features of Coleridge as a Romantic poet.

So now let's dive into these four points of Romantic age and Romantic Poetry.

1. Characteristics of Romantic Poetry

Romantic poetry has some common features that make it different from earlier forms of poetry. Below are the main characteristics with elaboration and examples.

(a) Love of Nature

Romantic poets saw nature not just as scenery, but as a living spirit. They found inspiration, comfort, and moral lessons in the natural world. For them, nature was a source of truth and beauty. The hills, rivers, flowers, and birds were not simply objects but friends and teachers.

Wordsworth’s Example: In Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey, Wordsworth describes how nature gives him "tranquil restoration" and spiritual nourishment. He tells us that the forms of mountains, rivers, and woods have shaped his mind and given him peace in moments of trouble. He sees nature as a spiritual guide, almost like a guardian angel.
Coleridge’s Example: In The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Coleridge presents nature’s power in the sea, storms, and supernatural elements. The mariner’s crime of killing the albatross shows disrespect for nature, and he is punished until he learns to love and bless even the smallest creatures like water snakes. Here, nature is a moral force that demands respect.

(b) Importance of Imagination

Romantic poets valued imagination more than reason. They believed poetry should come from deep feeling and creative vision. Imagination allowed them to see beyond ordinary reality and express truths in a new way.

Wordsworth: He defined poetry as the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" that comes from "emotion recollected in tranquillity." His imaginative descriptions of nature often turn common sights into profound experiences. For example, in Daffodils, the simple sight of flowers becomes a vision of joy and inspiration.
Coleridge: He went deeper into the theory of imagination, distinguishing between fancy (a lower form of imagination) and primary/secondary imagination (the creative power of the human mind). His poem Kubla Khan is a dream-like creation of pure imagination, blending strange landscapes with musical language. Coleridge showed how imagination could create worlds of mystery and wonder.

(c) Emphasis on Emotion and Subjectivity

Romantic poetry gives importance to personal feelings and experiences. Instead of celebrating reason or order, it values the inner world of the poet. The emotions of joy, sorrow, wonder, fear, and hope are central to Romantic poems.

Wordsworth: His poems like Ode: Intimations of Immortality show deep personal reflection and emotional intensity. He writes about his own sense of loss as he grows older and loses the fresh vision of childhood.
Coleridge: His poems often express mystery, melancholy, and supernatural emotions. In Christabel, for example, the reader feels an atmosphere of fear, pity, and strangeness that reflects inner states of mind.

(d) Interest in the Supernatural and the Mysterious

Many Romantic poets, especially Coleridge, used supernatural themes to expand the limits of human experience. They were fascinated by dreams, visions, and strange tales.

Coleridge: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is filled with supernatural figures—ghostly ships, curses, spirits of the sea, and mysterious voices. These elements are not just for decoration; they teach moral lessons and show the power of imagination.
Wordsworth: Though less interested in the supernatural, he sometimes described mysterious feelings in nature, as in the Lucy Poems, where themes of death and mystery are central. In Strange fits of passion have I known, he creates suspense and unease by combining love with the thought of death.

(e) Simplicity of Language

Romantic poets rejected the artificial language of earlier poetry. They wanted to write in a style close to ordinary speech, so that poetry could be understood by everyone. They also believed true emotions can be best expressed in simple, natural words.

Wordsworth: He insisted that poetry should use "the real language of men." His poems Michael and The Solitary Reaper are written in plain but powerful words. The shepherd Michael’s story is told in simple narrative style, but the effect is deeply moving.
Coleridge: While he often used richer and sometimes more complex language than Wordsworth, many of his ballads also adopt simplicity, making supernatural stories feel real.

(f) Celebration of the Individual and Common Life

Romantic poets celebrated ordinary people, rural life, and the dignity of human emotions. They believed that truth and beauty could be found in simple lives, not just in great events or noble families.

Wordsworth: He wrote about farmers, shepherds, and village folk. In The Solitary Reaper, the figure of a simple Highland girl becomes a symbol of universal human beauty and mystery. In Michael, the struggles of a shepherd represent timeless human dignity.
Coleridge: Though he preferred extraordinary tales, his characters also often reflect deep human struggles, such as guilt, suffering, and redemption in The Ancient Mariner.

(g) Interest in Childhood and Innocence

Childhood was seen as a time of purity, closeness to nature, and imaginative vision. Romantics believed children have an intuitive understanding of life and truth.

Wordsworth: In Ode: Intimations of Immortality, he describes how children are born with a divine vision that gradually fades as they grow older. Childhood is seen as a sacred stage of life.
Coleridge: In poems like Frost at Midnight, he reflects on his own childhood and expresses hopes for his child’s future. He wants his son to grow close to nature and live in peace with the natural world.

(h) Revolutionary Spirit and Freedom

Romanticism was influenced by the French Revolution and the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Many poets expressed sympathy with the oppressed and celebrated freedom.

Wordsworth: In his early years, he was deeply inspired by the French Revolution and saw it as a new dawn for humanity. Although later he became disillusioned, the spirit of freedom and equality remained in his poetry.
Coleridge: He too admired revolutionary ideals in his youth, and this spirit of challenging tradition and authority can be felt in his imaginative poetry.

2. Salient Features of Wordsworth as a Romantic Poets

William Wordsworth

William Wordsworth (1770–1850) is called the "High Priest of Nature" and the central figure of English Romanticism. His poetry shows the following features:

(a) Worship of Nature

Wordsworth saw nature as a teacher, guide, and source of moral strength. He believed that nature could heal the human soul and bring harmony between man and the universe.

Example: In Tintern Abbey, he calls nature "the anchor of my purest thoughts, the nurse, the guide, the guardian of my heart." Nature gives him peace when he is troubled.

(b) Poet of the Common Man

Wordsworth broke away from aristocratic subjects and chose simple rural people as his themes. He believed that humble people live closer to nature and therefore have purer feelings.

Example: In The Solitary Reaper, he praises the beauty of a simple Highland girl singing in the fields. Her song becomes immortal in his memory.

(c) Simplicity of Language

He wanted poetry to be understood by ordinary readers. He used simple, everyday English and avoided complicated words.

Example: In Michael, the story of an old shepherd is told in plain language, but the emotions are profound.

(d) Emphasis on Emotion and Memory

For Wordsworth, poetry arises from powerful emotions remembered in tranquility. Memory and reflection play an important role.

Example: In Daffodils, he recalls the sight of golden daffodils later and feels joy again: "And then my heart with pleasure fills, and dances with the daffodils."

(e) Love of Childhood

Wordsworth saw childhood as a holy state, full of innocence and imagination.

Example: In Ode: Intimations of Immortality, he says that children come "trailing clouds of glory" from heaven.

(f) Moral and Spiritual Vision

Wordsworth’s poetry often has a moral message: harmony with nature leads to spiritual peace. He believed that living in nature purifies the soul.

Example: In Lines Written in Early Spring, he laments how man has broken the harmony of nature by cruelty and war.

(g) Pantheistic Philosophy

He often expressed pantheistic ideas—seeing God in all of nature.

Example: In Tintern Abbey, he feels the presence of a divine spirit moving through all living things. He identifies nature with the divine.

(h) The Ordinary Made Extraordinary

Wordsworth had the gift of turning ordinary experiences into extraordinary visions.

Example: The sight of daffodils in a field becomes a lasting source of joy and inspiration.

3. Why 1798 Marks an Important Literary Epoch

The year 1798 is regarded as one of the most important turning points in English literary history. It marked the official beginning of Romantic poetry with the publication of Lyrical Ballads by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. This section expands on why 1798 is remembered as a great literary epoch.

(a) Historical Background

Before 1798, English poetry was dominated by Neoclassicism. Poets like Alexander Pope and John Dryden emphasized order, balance, logic, and reason. Their poetry followed strict rules and dealt with aristocratic life or philosophical themes. While brilliant in its own way, it often ignored the emotions of common people and the beauty of nature.
The French Revolution (1789) had also shaken Europe. Its ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity inspired young poets like Wordsworth and Coleridge. They wanted a new kind of poetry—free, emotional, imaginative, and democratic.

(b) Publication of Lyrical Ballads

In 1798, Wordsworth and Coleridge published Lyrical Ballads. This small volume was revolutionary:
It rejected classical styles and heroic couplets.
It used simple language, closer to everyday speech.
It focused on nature, ordinary people, and personal feelings.
It celebrated imagination and mystery.
The book surprised readers of the time. Some critics even ridiculed it for being too plain and unpoetic. But in truth, it marked a new direction for literature.

(c) Wordsworth’s Contribution

Wordsworth’s poems in Lyrical Ballads focused on nature, rural life, and ordinary people. He gave voice to shepherds, farmers, and solitary figures who had never before appeared in serious poetry.
Example: The Solitary Reaper glorifies a simple Highland girl singing at her work.
Example: Tintern Abbey reflects on nature as a source of peace and moral strength.
Example: Michael tells the tragic story of a shepherd with dignity and compassion.

(d) Coleridge’s Contribution

Coleridge’s contribution balanced Wordsworth’s realism with imagination and the supernatural.
Example: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is the most famous poem of the collection. It mixes realistic details of a sea voyage with supernatural events, creating mystery and wonder.
Example: Christabel (though unfinished) creates an atmosphere of suspense, fear, and the supernatural.
Together, the two poets represented the two sides of Romanticism: Wordsworth grounded in reality and nature, Coleridge soaring into dreams and imagination.

(e) Preface to Lyrical Ballads (1800 Edition)

Although the 1798 edition did not contain a Preface, the 1800 edition included Wordsworth’s Preface, which became the manifesto of Romantic poetry. In it, Wordsworth declared:
Poetry should use the language of ordinary men, not artificial diction.
Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.
Poetry originates in emotion recollected in tranquillity.
True poetry is rooted in common life and the natural world.
This Preface explained and defended the revolutionary style of Lyrical Ballads and laid the foundation of Romantic theory.

(f) Birth of English Romanticism

Thus, 1798 marks the birth of English Romanticism because:
It introduced a new subject matter (nature, childhood, common life).
It gave importance to emotion, imagination, and spirituality.
It created a new poetic style of simplicity and sincerity.
It combined Wordsworth’s realism with Coleridge’s imagination.
Critics often call 1798 a “watershed moment” in English literature because after this date, poetry could no longer remain the same. Romanticism had begun.

4. Salient Features of Coleridge as a Romantic Poet

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) was one of the most imaginative poets of the Romantic Age. While Wordsworth represented nature, simplicity, and moral vision, Coleridge represented imagination, mystery, and the supernatural. Below are his main features:

(a) Power of Imagination

Coleridge saw imagination as the essence of poetry. He divided it into:
Primary Imagination: The natural human power to perceive the world.
Secondary Imagination: The higher creative power of the poet, which transforms reality into art.
In his critical work Biographia Literaria, Coleridge explained this theory in detail. His poem Kubla Khan is a good example of secondary imagination—an exotic dream vision turned into art.

(b) Love of the Supernatural

Coleridge’s greatest gift to Romantic poetry was his handling of the supernatural. Unlike Gothic writers who simply piled horror upon horror, Coleridge made the supernatural believable. He called this the “willing suspension of disbelief”—the reader accepts the impossible because it is presented with such vivid detail.
Example: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner has ghost ships, curses, and spirits. Yet the voyage feels real because of the detailed descriptions of the sea.

(c) Creation of Mystery and Wonder

Coleridge could create an atmosphere of strangeness and wonder better than any other poet.
Example: In Christabel, the setting of midnight, owls, and mysterious characters immediately creates suspense.
Example: In Kubla Khan, he creates a vision of a mystical palace and sacred river, full of wonder.

(d) Musical Language

Coleridge’s poetry is known for its melody and rhythm. He had a natural gift for musical phrasing, making his verses flow like songs.
Example: The opening of Kubla Khan—“In Xanadu did Kubla Khan, a stately pleasure-dome decree”—shows how rhythm and sound create beauty.

(e) Psychological Depth

Coleridge explored the inner mind, fear, guilt, and dreams. His characters often suffer not only physically but also mentally.
Example: In The Ancient Mariner, the mariner’s guilt is psychological punishment. He must retell his story endlessly as a form of confession.

(f) Love of Nature

Though less direct than Wordsworth, Coleridge also loved nature, but his nature was often mysterious, symbolic, or connected with the supernatural.
Example: In Frost at Midnight, he connects nature with his personal reflections and his hopes for his child.

(g) Blend of Real and Unreal

Coleridge’s genius lay in blending realistic details with fantasy so that the unreal seemed real.
Example: In The Ancient Mariner, the realistic descriptions of thirst, storms, and hardship make the supernatural events believable.

(h) Coleridge as a Philosopher and Critic

Coleridge was not only a poet but also a thinker. His Biographia Literaria is a classic of English literary criticism. In it, he explained imagination, fancy, and the role of poetry. His ideas influenced many later poets and critics.

Conclusion

Romantic poetry brought a revolution in English literature. It broke away from classical rules and opened the door to imagination, nature, and emotion. Wordsworth and Coleridge, through their Lyrical Ballads in 1798, gave English poetry a new voice.
Wordsworth gave Romanticism its heart: love of nature, simple language, celebration of common life, and spiritual vision.
Coleridge gave it wings: imagination, mystery, supernatural beauty, and psychological depth.
Together, they created a balance—Wordsworth grounding poetry in reality, and Coleridge lifting it into the world of dreams. This balance defines Romanticism and explains why 1798 is such an important literary epoch.
The Romantic movement influenced not just poetry but also art, music, and philosophy across Europe. Its stress on freedom, creativity, and individuality still speaks to us today. Wordsworth and Coleridge remain timeless guides in showing how poetry can connect human beings to both the natural and the spiritual world.

Work Cited:
1. Barth, J. Robert. The symbolic imagination: Coleridge and the romantic tradition. Princeton University Press, 2015.
2. Onorato, Richard J. "The Character of the Poet: Wordsworth in The Prelude." (2015): 1-448.
3. Siegert, Bernhard. Relays: Literature as an epoch of the postal system. Stanford University Press, 1999.
4. Waldo, Mark L. "Romantic rhetoric for the modern student: The psycho‐rhetorical approach of Wordsworth and Coleridge." Rhetoric Review 4.1 (1985): 64-79.

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Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Romanticism in Wordsworth and Coleridge: A Study of the 1798 Literary Revolution