The International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Invention Volume 2 issue 09 2015 page no.1572-1591 ISSN: 2349-2031 Available Online At: http://valleyinternational.net/index.php/our-jou/theijsshi The Romantic Philosophy In The Poetry Of William Wordsworth And Samuel Taylor Coleridge Dr. Vitthal V. Parab Head, Department Of English, K.M. Agrawal College Of Arts, Commerce & Science, Kalyan (West)- 421301. Recognized Ph.D Guide In English (University Of Mumbai & JJT University, Rajasthan) V.C. Nominee Subject Expert at Interview Panel for Recruitment of Assistant Professors in University of Mumbai Subject Expert at Maharashtra Public Service Commission, MPSC Head Office, Kuparej, Mumbai- 400021. Visiting Professor, Post-Graduation & Research Center, R.J. College, Mumbai-400 086. ABSTRACT This research work focuses on “The Romantic Philosophy in the poetry of William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge’’. The Romantics focus on landscape because of its natural essence and its spiritual composition. The Romantics aim at fighting for the masses and educating the public on how nature can be better treated and appreciated. They present the beauty and enjoyment of life in which they find themselves as imaginary and visionary. This work examined the theory of romanticism in romantic poetry using William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poems as our reference texts. Wordsworth and Coleridge own most of their poetic resources and characters to nature as they both strongly believe in the power of nature that brings all that is good to life. Key words: Romantic philosophy, S.T. Coleridge, William Wordsworth, power of nature 1.0 INTRODUCTION the core of Romanticism, which quite consciously set out to transform not only the theory and The early Romantic period coincides with what is practice of poetry (and all art) but the very way often called the “Age of Revolutions” including of we perceive the world. Some of its major precepts course, the American (1778) and the French have survival into the twenteth century and still (1789) revolutions an age of upheavals in affect our contemporary period. political, economic and social traditions. The age which witnessed the initial transformations of the Romantic writers generally see themselves as industrial revolution. The take off of Romantic reacting against the thought and literary practices Movement in English Language is set in the year of the preceding century. The Romantist’s major 1798 when William Wordsworth and Samuel subject matter is the beauty and satisfactions Taylor Coleridge, publish of their poem called derive from nature. Romantists believe in “Lyrical Ballads”. Though, these two lake-side naturalism and realism in the place of morality. poets wrote the poetic book, they have different They believe that man should not be conformed or view of the way poetry is seen, unlike William stereotyped to one norm of code rather derive Wordsworth, Samuel Coleridge had an pleasure from what he derive from nature. Be that inspiration towards the supernatural, the mystic as it may, more emphasis is not laid on the and the occult. A revolutionary energy was also at thematic study of Romantic poetry rather that the 1572 DOI: 10.18535/ijsshi/v2i9.07 Cite as: The Romantic Philosophy In The Poetry Of WilliamWordsworth And Samuel 2015 Taylor Coleridge;Vol.2|Issue 09|Pg:1572-1591 beauty is derived in its form following the theory This research work will be limited to the major of arts for art’s sake. “Nature” meant many things ideas of the Romantists based on nature, the to the Romantics, it was often presented as itself a nature of poetry of William Wordsworth and work of art, constructed by a divine imagination, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, selected poems of in emblematic language, for example, throughout William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor “song of myself”, Whitman makes a practice of Coleridge will be analysed. presenting common place items in nature... “ants”, “heap’d stones”, and “poke-weed” as containing 1.4 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY divine elements and he refers to the “grass” as a natural “hieroglyphic”, “the handkerchief of the This research work is embarked upon to show the lord”. While particular perspectives with regards natural essence of the Romantic writers. Romantic to nature varied considerably; nature is perceived writers as it can be seen in the poetry of William as a healing power, a source of subject and image, Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge finds a refuge from the artificial constructs of happiness in isolating themselves from this world civilization, including artificial language, the to the other world of nature full of peace, joy, prevailing views accorded nature the status of an happiness, health, love and sympathy. To them, organically unified whole. It was viewed as the only source of comfort is a nature. There have “organic”, rather than as in the scientific or been researchers on issues and topics relating to rationalist view, as a system of “mechanical” nature but this study is showcasing the element of laws, for romanticism displaced the rationalist nature in the poetry of William Wordsworth and view of the universe as a machine (e.g., the deistic Samuel Taylor Coleridge as they are both lover of image of a clock) with the analogue of an nature. “organic” image, a living tree or mankind itself. At the same time, Romantics gave greater 1.5 METHODOLOGY attention both describing natural phenomena The researcher will source for materials from accurately and to capturing “sensuous nuance” libraries and internet. The major study is taking a and this is as true of Romantic landscape painting. critical look at selected poetry of William Accuracy of observation, however, was not sought Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge based for its own sake. Romantic nature poetry is on the writing of the Romantics and their essentially poetry of meditation. ideology. The theory to be used for this research work is “The Romantic Theory” as both poets are 1.2 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Romantic writers. Romanticism emphasized The purpose of this research work is to introduce intuition, imagination and feeling, to a point that to the reader what Romantic poetry is all about. has led to some Romantic thinkers being accused The researcher aims at portraying critically the of irrationalism. Romanticism focuses on nature: a works of William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor place from society’s judgement and restrictions. Coleridge as they are both Romantic and Romanticism blossomed after the age of emotional writers. The product of imagination and rationalism, a time that focused on handwork and emotion will be showed in their poetry. These two scientific reasoning. The Romantic Movement poets championed the values of human being developed the idea of the absolute originality and politically and value-wise. The writers store for artistic inspiration by the individual genius which freedom of thought without any act of selfishness. performs a “creation from nothingness” this is the The Study also focuses on the age of Romanticism so- called Romantic ideology of literary and its impact in the society. It showcases the authorship which created the notion of plagiarism power of nature on man with reference to William and the guilt of derivativeness. This idea is often Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge called “Romantic Originality”. The Romantic selected poems. Poets’ turned their beliefs on originality into "The 1.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY institution of originality”. The English poet John 1573 DOI: 10.18535/ijsshi/v2i9.07 Cite as: The Romantic Philosophy In The Poetry Of WilliamWordsworth And Samuel 2015 Taylor Coleridge;Vol.2|Issue 09|Pg:1572-1591 Milton, which lived in the 17th Century, was part Samuel Taylor Coleridge was born on 21 October of the origin of the concept. 1772 in the country town of Ottery St. Mary, Devon, England. Samuel’s father, the 1.6 AUTHORIAL BACKGROUND OF Reverend John Coleridge (1718-1781) was a WILLIAM WORDSWORTH (1770-1850) respected vicar of the parish and headmaster of Henry VIII’s Free Grammar School at Ottery. William Wordsworth was born in 1770 at After the death of Samuel’s father, he was sent to Cockermouth in Cumberland. He grew up in the Christ’s Hospital, a charity School founded in the Lake District, the beautiful area of mountains, 16th century in Greyfriars, London where he lakes and streams near the Scottish borders in remained throughout his childhood, studying and North West England. The natural beauty and writing poetry. Throughout life, Coleridge grandeur of this area was a major source of idealized his father as pious and innocent, inspiration for Wordsworth throughout his life. while his relationship with his mother was more His mother died when he was eight and his father problematic. His childhood was characterized by died when he was thirteen. Like his friend Samuel attention seeking, which has been linked to his Coleridge, Wordsworth was denied the blessing dependent personality as an adult. He was rarely and comfort of a happy home. The considerable allowed to return home during the school term, sum of money left to the children was withheld for and this distance from his family at such a some years for legal reasons, but William turbulent time proved emotionally damaging. He Wordsworth was nevertheless able to attend later wrote of his loneliness at school in the poem Cambridge University in 1787, where he found “Frost at Midnight”. He attended Jesus College, the curriculum boring. In 1790, he made a tour Cambridge from 1791-1794. In 1792, he won the through France to the Alps with a fellow student Browne Gold Medal for an Ode that he wrote on travelling on foot like a peddler. He witnessed the the slave trade. Great Revolution of 1787-1890 in France. In 1802, Wordsworth finally inherited the money let In 1798, Coleridge and Wordsworth published to him by his father and married a childhood a joint volume of poetry, “Lyrical Ballads” friend from the Lake District, Mary Hutchinson.