Samuel Taylor Coleridge Biography

 
The Life and Works of S.T. Coleridge: A Pioneer of English Romanticism

Outline

I. Introduction 

    A brief overview of Coleridge's life and works

II. Early Life and Education

    Childhood and family background

    Education and early literary influences

    Friendship with Charles Lamb

III. The Lake District and Lyrical Ballads

    Move to the Lake District and friendship with Wordsworth

    Collaboration on Lyrical Ballads

    Poems in Lyrical Ballads, including "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"

IV. Romantic Poetry and Prose

    Coleridge's style and themes in his poetry

    Major poems, including "Kubla Khan" and "Christabel"

    Other works, including his critical works, plays, and essays

V. Philosophy and Literary Criticism

    Coleridge's philosophical ideas and influences

    Literary criticism, including his thoughts on Shakespeare and his Biographia Literaria

    Relationship between his philosophy and his literary works

VI. Later Years and Legacy

    Struggle with addiction and declining health

    Legacy and influence on later writers and thinkers

    Significance of Coleridge's works today

VII. Conclusion

    Recap of Coleridge's life and contributions to literature and philosophy

Introduction 

Samuel Taylor Coleridge, commonly known as S.T. Coleridge, was a renowned English poet, literary critic, and philosopher. He was born on October 21, 1772, in Ottery St Mary, Devon, England. Coleridge was one of the leading figures of the Romantic Movement in literature, alongside his close friend William Wordsworth. His poetry was characterized by vivid imagery, complex metaphors, and a focus on the supernatural and the mystical.

 

Early Life

Coleridge was the youngest of ten children born to John Coleridge, a vicar, and Anne Bowden Coleridge. His father died when he was only nine years old, leaving his family in financial difficulties. Despite this, Coleridge was a bright student and received a scholarship to attend Christ's Hospital School in London. Here, he began to develop a love for literature, particularly the works of Shakespeare and Milton.

 

After completing his studies at Christ's Hospital, Coleridge attended Jesus College, Cambridge, where he studied theology. However, he was not satisfied with his studies and eventually dropped out of college. He decided to pursue a career in the arts instead, and in 1794, he published his first collection of poems, "Poems on Various Subjects."

 

Literary Career

 

In 1795, Coleridge met Wordsworth, and the two became close friends and collaborators. Together, they published the landmark work of Romantic poetry, "Lyrical Ballads," in 1798. The collection included some of Coleridge's most famous poems, including "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and "Kubla Khan."

 

Coleridge's poetry was marked by a fascination with the supernatural and the mysterious. His use of complex metaphors and vivid imagery set him apart from his contemporaries and helped to establish him as one of the leading poets of his time. However, Coleridge was also plagued by personal demons, including addiction to opium, which affected his writing and his personal life.

 

In addition to his poetry, Coleridge was also a prolific literary critic and philosopher. He wrote extensively on Shakespeare, and his critical works helped to establish the Bard's place in the literary canon. Coleridge was also interested in philosophy and developed his own system of metaphysics, which he called "the science of ideas." His philosophical ideas influenced many of his contemporaries and continue to be studied and debated to this day.

Works

S.T. Coleridge was a prolific writer, producing a wide range of poetry, prose, and critical works throughout his life. Some of his most famous works include:

 

"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (1798): A long narrative poem about a sailor who is cursed after killing an albatross. This poem is known for its vivid imagery, supernatural elements, and moral themes.

 

"Kubla Khan" (1816): A shorter poem about a vision of a magnificent palace that Coleridge claims came to him in a dream. This poem is notable for its lush descriptions and mystical elements.

 

"Christabel" (1816): An unfinished Gothic tale about a young woman who is bewitched by a supernatural creature. This poem is known for its eerie atmosphere and use of Gothic conventions.

 

"Biographia Literaria" (1817): An autobiographical work that also contains Coleridge's critical ideas about literature and philosophy. This work is considered one of the most important works of literary criticism from the Romantic era.

 

"Lyrical Ballads" (1798): A collaborative work with William Wordsworth that is considered a landmark in the development of Romantic poetry. This collection includes several of Coleridge's most famous poems, including "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and "The Nightingale."

 

"Osorio" (1797): A tragedy in five acts that explores themes of guilt and redemption. This play was not well-received by audiences at the time but has since been reevaluated by scholars.

 

"Aids to Reflection" (1825): A collection of aphorisms and philosophical reflections on various topics, including religion, politics, and aesthetics.

 

"On Poesy or Art" (1833): A collection of essays and lectures on various aspects of literature and poetry.

 

These works, along with many others, demonstrate Coleridge's mastery of language, his interest in the supernatural and the mystical, and his ability to explore complex philosophical and moral themes in his writing.

 

 

Later Life and Legacy

 

In the latter part of his life, Coleridge struggled with poor health and financial difficulties. He continued to write, however, and published several volumes of poetry and prose, including "Christabel" and "Biographia Literaria." Despite his contributions to literature and philosophy, Coleridge never achieved the financial success he had hoped for and was forced to rely on the support of friends and family.

S.T. Coleridge's legacy is multifaceted and far-reaching. As a poet, his works continue to be widely read and admired for their vivid imagery, complex metaphors, and focus on the supernatural and the mysterious. Many of his poems, such as "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and "Kubla Khan," have become literary classics and are studied in schools and universities around the world.

As a literary critic, Coleridge helped to establish the importance of Shakespeare in the literary canon. His critical works on Shakespeare, including his lectures on the subject, helped to shape the way we read and interpret Shakespeare's plays today.

Coleridge's philosophical ideas, particularly his system of metaphysics, have also had a lasting impact on the field of philosophy. His ideas about the nature of reality, the relationship between the mind and the world, and the role of imagination and creativity continue to be studied and debated by philosophers and scholars today.

 

Coleridge's influence can be seen in the works of many other writers and thinkers. His close friend and collaborator, William Wordsworth, was greatly influenced by Coleridge's ideas and techniques, as were other Romantic poets such as Percy Bysshe Shelley and John Keats. His ideas about the nature of imagination and creativity also had a profound impact on the works of later writers, such as the American poet and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson.

 

Overall, S.T. Coleridge's legacy is one of creativity, imagination, and intellectual curiosity. His contributions to literature, philosophy, and literary criticism continue to be studied and admired by scholars and readers around the world, and his ideas have had a lasting impact on the way we think about the world and our place in it.

Death

S.T. Coleridge passed away on July 25, 1834, at the age of 61. His health had been declining for several years, and he had been suffering from various physical and mental ailments. In his later years, he struggled with addiction to opium, which he had been using to manage his chronic pain and insomnia.

 

Coleridge's death was the result of heart failure, brought on by his years of poor health and addiction. He was buried in the churchyard of St. Michael's Church in Highgate, London, where his grave can still be visited today.

 

 The churchyard of St. Michael's Church in Highgate, London

Despite the difficult circumstances surrounding his death, Coleridge's legacy as a writer, poet, and thinker continued to grow after his passing. His works have been widely read and studied in the years since his death, and his ideas and techniques have continued to influence generations of writers and thinkers.

 

Today, Coleridge is remembered as one of the great figures of English literature and Romanticism, whose works and ideas continue to inspire and captivate readers and scholars around the world.

Conclusion

In conclusion, S.T. Coleridge was a writer, poet, and philosopher whose ideas and works continue to be admired and studied to this day. His contributions to literature, philosophy, and literary criticism were groundbreaking and influential, helping to shape the way we think about these fields today.

As a poet, Coleridge's works are known for their vivid imagery, supernatural elements, and complex metaphors. Many of his poems have become literary classics and continue to be studied and analyzed by scholars and readers around the world.

As a literary critic, Coleridge helped to establish the importance of Shakespeare in the literary canon and his critical ideas continue to be studied and debated by scholars today.

Although Coleridge struggled with addiction and poor health in his later years, his legacy as a writer, thinker, and philosopher continues to grow. His works and ideas have inspired generations of writers and thinkers, and his contributions to literature and philosophy will undoubtedly continue to be studied and admired for generations to come.