Coleridge

Coleridge (1772-1834)

Life

Born in Devonshire
Father died, attended Cambridge
Left Cambridge, enlisted in the military as a cavalryman
Rescued by his brothers, sent back to Cambridge but graduated without a degree
As a young man, political and social radical, supported French revolution
Marries a fellow poet’s sister as part of a plan to start a commune in America
Plans fail, ends up in miserable marriage
As he grows older becomes more conservative
Collaborates with Wordsworth, then studies in Germany
Influenced by German philosophy, especially Kant
Has an affair, becomes addicted to opium, estranged from Wordsworth, enters a period of decline
Taken under a doctor’s care, reconciled with his wife and Wordsworth

Poetry

Praises the virtues of the mind and creative (rather than empirical) perception
Values intuition as a means to understanding fundamental metaphysical and religious truth
Poems often mysterious, dealt with the struggle between good and evil
Influenced by Kant: beyond the real world lies an ideal world
Both Wordsworth and Coleridge believed that beneath all the individual aspects of nature lies one, indivisible spiritual reality – Wordsworth’s task was to demonstrate this by portraying everyday natural occurrences, while Coleridge portrayed extraordinary supernatural occurrences
For Coleridge “the willing suspension of disbelief” constitutes poetic faith

Major Poems

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Kubla Khan
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Christabel
Literary Criticism: Biographia Literaria

Reflection:
How important are perception, intuition and imagination in Coleridge’s poetry as a means to understanding the underlying spiritual reality of the universe?

Source: http://occonline.occ.cccd.edu/online/ldanzige/Coleridge.doc

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Coleridge

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