Romantic Poets & Poetry

By Natalie Hoesli & Morgan Hildebrandt

Best Known Romantic Poets

• William Blake• Lord Byron• William Wordsworth• Samuel Coleridge• Percy B. Shelley• John Keats

• Their poetry was dependent on events during their time period. The reaction against previous literary styles arguments with the 18th century and earlier philosophers. Decline in Anglican worship and industrialization of Britain and changes in its countries. Above all however was the impact of the French Revolution.

William Blake

•Blake first wrote poems at the age of twelve.•The messages in his writing were understood by few and misunderstood by many.•His poems were symbolic & also a delightful childlike innocence. •The meanings of his poems are easily appreciated because of the beautiful language and lyrical quality

Lord Byron• An English poet who was a

leading figure in the Romantic movement.

• He has classic poetry collections called Child’s Harold’s Pilgrimage and Don Juan.

• Don Juan considered to be an epic but was also considered to be somewhat shocking.

• His characters were usually rebellious.

• He took interest in social issues in Parliament.

William Wordsworth

• He lost his mother when he was 8 and his dad when he was 13.

• He was friends with Coleridge which made him want to go into poetry.

• He was a noble inspiration to many.

Samuel Coleridge• Youngest of 10 children• His father was a minister• He went to college and

worked himself into debt with alcohol and women.

• He joined the army, where he changed his name.

• After publishing his first poem it looked as if he was on the fast track to fame

• He coined the word ‘selfless’ and introduced the word ‘aesthetic’.

Percy B. Shelley

• His first important poem, Queen Mab, was about curing social ills.

• His life continued to be dominated by his desire for social and political reform, and he was constantly publishing pamphlets.

• He drowned while sailing in the bay of Spezia

John Keats

• His first book, Poems, contained little promise of what was to come, and had few readers.

• He received harsh criticisms from magazines which caused health problems.

• He published three books within 18 months, and by this time his health had completely given away.