Blog #1: Coleridge vs. Wordsworth

Blog #1: Coleridge vs. Wordsworth’s Poetry

I will be honest, English Literature was not my favorite when I took the first course, survey one, but I am finding it so much more exciting, compelling and interesting in this second half. Maybe it was because it was mainly written in Middle English and I felt like I was constantly attempting to decode a secret message or maybe it is because now there is a whole new level of understanding in the era of Romanticism, but whatever the case may be, I am thoroughly enjoying this time in their literature much better! More specifically however, from all the literature that we have surveyed thus far in the semester I am most intrigued by the differences and the similarities (or lack there-of) between the writings of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth.

            After very in depth class discussions and looking at both these poets from different angles, it is amazes me to see that not only do they differ in many ways but that they also, very much reflected on the works of each other. It seems pretty clear that they both loved poetry, but their individual views of the uses, reasons and purposes of it greatly differ. Reading Coleridge’s poetry versus that of Wordsworth’s makes one scratch their head; that is until you read their biographies, when then, it all becomes very clear. In reading Wordsworth’s Lines Written A Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey it’s understandable, clear, enjoyable, relatable and pleasurable. I loved reading this poem, often finding myself rereading certain lines over and over because his use of language was so beautiful and song-like.  Then to turn around and read Coleridge’s Work Without Hope or Frost at Midnight you shake your head with confusion (or at least I did), rereading and rereading his poetry, to the point of no return and still feeling struck with the emotion of stupidity. As if whatever mechanism in your brain was supposed to click, giving insight into what he means, just completely misfired. However it is when you read their biographies that everything becomes clear…it makes the “click” go off in your mind, justly releasing the “Ah ha” moment that you were hoping for the first time you read Coleridge’s poems. No wonder I didn’t understand his poetry! He doesn’t really intend for clear understanding… haha. J

            It was interesting (as well as relieving) to find out that the way in which they both chose to write their poems reflects their thoughts and also their beliefs of what writing poetry means to them. For instance, Wordworth believes in writing in a way that people can comprehend and understand him, whereas Coleridge didn’t think that his readers needed to have an understanding at the end of his poems. I would’ve been completely thrown for a loop or baffled if Coleridge’s bio would have said that he believed poetry should be understandable to all, pleasurable and a use to let feelings out because that most definitely does NOT define his poetry. For two separate poets who both wrote poetry during the same time period, it is interesting the complete differences they have in their writing; validating that even today we still see such occurrences in different forms of writing all these years later. Just for the sake of comparison and staying with the theme of romanticism I can for instance say that in today’s literature I prefer romance author Kristen Hannah versus the writings of Nora Roberts. The same goes for literature from that many years ago. Without a doubt if I had been a literature consumer of their era I would most definitely have favored William Wordworth’s poetry over Coleridge’s. As Wordsworth shares, he thinks that poetry should provoke emotions, focus on nature and be understandable to the human race. I would agree with him one hundred percent! I feel that this is what it should be and continue to be as time continues to progress. Maybe it is appropriate to say that not only would I have favored his poetry over Coleridge’s but that I also share the “Wordsworthian” theory on what purposes should lie in poetry.