Samuel Taylor Coleridge: Biography

Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) was one of the most

important English poets, literary critics, and philosophers of the
Romantic era. His work had a profound influence on English
literature, particularly through his poetry, critical essays, and his
development of literary theory. Below is a brief biography of
Coleridge:
Early Life
 Born: October 21, 1772, in Ottery St Mary, Devon,
England.
 Family: Coleridge was the youngest of 10 children in a
religiously strict and intellectually inclined family. His
father, the Reverend John Coleridge, was a vicar and a
schoolmaster.
 Education: Coleridge attended Christ's Hospital School in
London, where he met the poet Charles Lamb, who would
become a lifelong friend. Afterward, he went on to study at
Jesus College, Cambridge, where he was known for his
intelligence but also for his struggles with discipline and
attendance.
Early Career and Personal Struggles
 Influence of Philosophy: Coleridge was deeply influenced
by German philosophy, especially the works of Immanuel
Kant and Johann Gottlieb Fichte. His early writings reflect
a blend of Romantic imagination and philosophical inquiry.
 Poetry and Early Works: Coleridge's first major poetic
works were heavily influenced by nature, imagination, and
 the supernatural. His first collection of poetry, Poems on
Various Subjects (1796), was published when he was just
24.
 Personal Struggles: During his early adulthood, Coleridge
struggled with financial difficulties, depression, and poor
health. He was also heavily reliant on opium as a form of
self-medication, a habit that plagued him for much of his
life.
Friendship with Wordsworth and the Lake Poets
 Partnership with William Wordsworth: One of the most
significant events in Coleridge's life was his friendship with
fellow poet William Wordsworth. The two poets met in
1795 and quickly became close friends and collaborators.
In 1798, they published Lyrical Ballads, a landmark work
in English Romanticism. The collection included some of
Coleridge's most famous works, including The Rime of the
Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan.
o "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner": This is one of

Coleridge's most famous poems, telling the story of a

mariner who experiences supernatural events after
killing an albatross, a symbol of nature and good luck.
It is a work that blends the gothic, the supernatural,
and the moral, which became hallmark traits of his
style.
o "Kubla Khan": This is another of Coleridge’s most

famous works, a lyrical and dreamlike poem that

conjures an image of an exotic and fantastical world. It
was written in an opium-induced haze and is often
 cited as a prime example of Coleridge’s unique use of
imagination and symbolism.
Later Life and Works
 Philosophy and Criticism: Coleridge turned increasingly
toward philosophy and literary criticism later in life. His
Biographia Literaria (1817) is an important work in
literary theory, where he discusses the nature of
imagination and the creative process, as well as a critical
examination of Wordsworth's poetry.
 Lectures and Influence: Coleridge also delivered lectures
on literature, philosophy, and religion, which contributed to
the development of English Romanticism. He became a
well-known figure in literary and intellectual circles,
influencing writers such as John Keats, Percy Bysshe
Shelley, and others.
 Opium Addiction: Coleridge's personal life continued to
be marked by struggles with opium addiction, which
significantly affected both his productivity and health. He
often lived in financial distress and suffered from bouts of
depression and anxiety.
 Later Years and Death: In his later years, Coleridge lived
in the town of Highgate, London, where he was cared for
by friends and admirers, including the physician James
Gillman. He continued writing and lecturing but never fully
regained his earlier creative vigor. Coleridge died on July
25, 1834, at the age of 61.
Legacy
  Influence: Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s contributions to
English literature are immense. He is regarded as one of the
key figures in the Romantic movement, alongside
Wordsworth, Byron, Shelley, and Keats. His works,
particularly his poetry, remain staples of English literary
studies.
 Philosophical and Literary Contributions: Coleridge's
ideas on imagination, his exploration of the unconscious
mind, and his emphasis on the role of nature in human
creativity influenced later thinkers, including the German
philosopher Friedrich Schiller, and modern critics such as
T.S. Eliot and Northrop Frye.
Key Works
 Poems on Various Subjects (1796)
 Lyrical Ballads (1798) — co-authored with William
Wordsworth
 The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1798)
 Kubla Khan (1797)
 Biographia Literaria (1817)
 Aids to Reflection (1825)
Conclusion
Coleridge's life was a mixture of brilliance and personal turmoil,
but his influence on the world of poetry and literary criticism
remains profound. His exploration of the supernatural, the
imagination, and the sublime continues to resonate, and his
works are still widely read and studied today.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s writing style is one of the defining
features of his poetic and philosophical contributions. It reflects
both his intellectual depth and his intense engagement with the
supernatural, the imaginative, and the spiritual. Below are some
key aspects of Coleridge’s writing style:
1. Imaginative and Supernatural Themes
Coleridge is known for his use of the supernatural and the
mysterious in his poetry. He believed that the imagination was a
powerful force in creating new worlds and transcending reality.
Many of his works, particularly in his earlier career, evoke
mysterious or fantastical elements. This is evident in poems like:
 "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner": Here, Coleridge
combines the themes of guilt, punishment, and redemption
with supernatural imagery—such as the ghostly ship and
the spectral presence of the albatross.
 "Kubla Khan": Written in a dreamlike trance, the poem
conjures an exotic, magical world that speaks to
Coleridge’s fascination with the fantastic and the
otherworldly.
2. Use of the Sublime
Coleridge’s writing often explores the sublime—a concept
borrowed from Romantic philosophy, which refers to awe-
inspiring, transcendent experiences that elevate the human spirit.
His poems are filled with vivid, almost overwhelming imagery
that aims to evoke feelings of awe or terror in the reader. This
use of the sublime can be seen in works like:
  "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner": The description of
the ocean, the storm, and the eerie punishment of the
mariner create a sense of the sublime, where natural forces
become almost godlike in their power.
3. Philosophical and Reflective Tone
Coleridge’s poetry often contains deep philosophical reflections,
particularly on the nature of human consciousness, imagination,
and the relationship between the natural world and the divine.
This is especially clear in his later works, such as:
 "Biographia Literaria": Though a prose work, this book
exemplifies Coleridge’s philosophical depth, where he
discusses the nature of imagination, the mind, and the role
of the poet in creating meaning.
Coleridge’s philosophy is deeply entwined with his poetic style.
His belief in the primacy of the imagination as a creative,
unifying force led him to develop what he called the “primary”
and “secondary” imagination. The primary imagination is a
universal, unconscious faculty of all humans, while the
secondary imagination is the more conscious, creative power
used by poets and artists.
4. Lyricism and Musicality
Coleridge’s poems are known for their musicality and lyrical
quality. His use of meter, rhyme, and rhythm often mirrors the
emotions or themes of the poem, helping to create a mood or
atmosphere that enhances the reader's experience. For example,
the rhythmic quality of "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"
mirrors the slow, haunting passage of time for the mariner.
  Use of Alliteration and Assonance: Coleridge frequently
uses techniques like alliteration (repetition of consonant
sounds) and assonance (repetition of vowel sounds) to give
his lines a musical, almost chant-like quality, which makes
them memorable. In "Kubla Khan", for example, the sound
quality of the verse contributes to its dreamlike atmosphere.
5. Exploration of Nature and the Human Soul
In many of his poems, nature is not just a backdrop but a central
character that reflects the emotional and spiritual states of the
poet. His work often reveals the interconnectedness of nature
and human consciousness. For example:
 "Frost at Midnight": This poem uses the stillness of
nature to reflect on the poet’s inner world and his
relationship to his son.
 "This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison": Coleridge
expresses feelings of confinement and the redemptive
power of nature. The poet's imagination allows him to
transcend physical limitations and connect with the beauty
of the world outside.
6. Symbolism
Coleridge's work is rich in symbolism, with recurring images
that carry deep, often spiritual meanings. For example:
 The albatross in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"
symbolizes nature, innocence, and the spiritual
consequences of disregarding the natural world.
  The river, the sea, and other natural elements are often
used as symbols of the passage of time, memory, and the
human soul’s journey.
7. Dialogic and Narrative Structure
Coleridge often used a dialogue or narrative form in his poetry.
Poems like "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and "Christabel"
are written in a storytelling style that captures the reader’s
attention with suspense, mystery, and dramatic moments. He
often employed the dramatic monologue—a form where a
single character speaks to the audience or another character,
revealing their inner thoughts and struggles.
In "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner", for example, the
mariner’s recounting of his tragic tale is framed as a direct
address to a wedding guest, creating a sense of immediacy and
engagement.
8. Opium Influence
During certain periods of Coleridge’s life, particularly in his
composition of Kubla Khan, he was influenced by opium, which
sometimes resulted in fragmented, dreamlike imagery and a
sense of hallucinatory detachment from reality. This influence
can be seen in his poetic fragments, such as:
 "Kubla Khan": The poem’s visionary quality is thought to
have been inspired by Coleridge’s opium-induced state. It’s
filled with vivid, sometimes disjointed imagery, giving it a
hallucinatory, dreamlike quality.
Conclusion
Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s writing style is complex and
multifaceted. It blends philosophical inquiry with rich, vivid
imagery, lyrical musicality, and an intense exploration of the
imagination and nature. His poetry invites readers into a world
where the supernatural and the sublime are intertwined with
human emotions and the mysteries of the universe. Whether
contemplating the depths of the human soul or imagining distant
lands and mystical creatures, Coleridge’s work remains a
cornerstone of Romantic literature.