Full nameSamuel Taylor Coleridge Born1772 Influential AreasPoet, Philosopher, Literary Critic Known ForPoetry, Literary Criticism, Philosophy

Vision

Biography

Awards and Recognition

References

Samuel Taylor Coleridge was an eminent English poet, literary critic, philosopher, and theologian. Renowned for his lyrical ballads, he significantly contributed to the Romantic Movement in the UK.

Vision

Samuel Taylor Coleridge, an English poet, literary critic, and philosopher who, with his friend William Wordsworth, was a founder of the Romantic Movement in England and a member of the Lake Poets. He is probably best known for his poems The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan, as well as for his major prose work Biographia Literaria. His critical work, especially on William Shakespeare, was highly influential, and he helped introduce German idealist philosophy to English-speaking culture.

Coleridge coined many familiar words and phrases, including suspension of disbelief. He was a major influence on Emerson and American transcendentalism. Throughout his adult life, Coleridge had crippling bouts of anxiety and depression; it has been speculated that he had bipolar disorder, which had not been defined during his lifetime. He was physically unhealthy, which may have stemmed from a bout of rheumatic fever and other childhood illnesses. He was treated for these conditions with laudanum, which fostered a lifelong opium addiction.

In Coleridges vision, the imagination was not a synonym for the mind or consciousness, but a power or faculty dependent on the mind, especially the conscious mind. The primary imagination, for Coleridge, was the faculty that mediates between the world of things and the conscious mind, allowing the latter to perceive not just the raw data of the senses, but things as they are in their own right. The secondary imagination is the faculty that reshapes and modifies perceptions of the world of things in order to create new things: works of art. Finally, the fancy is a faculty that simply rearranges and juxtaposes the material provided by perception; it does not create anything new.

Coleridge saw the imagination as the primary means through which human beings encounter the world; the imagination is the first principle of all human perception. The imagination is also the means by which human beings bridge the gap between self and world: it is the faculty that allows the individual to perceive the world as both a collection of objects and a unity of things. In this way, the imagination is not only a faculty of perception, but also a faculty of knowledge: it is the means by which human beings know the world. The imagination is also the means by which human beings participate in the world: it is the faculty that allows the individual to perceive the world as a place of action, and to perceive oneself as an agent within that world.

Coleridge saw the imagination as a divine faculty. He believed that the imagination was a reflection, in the human mind, of the divine creative power. He saw the imagination as the human equivalent of the divine Logos: the creative principle through which God creates the world. In this sense, the imagination is not only a faculty of perception and knowledge, but also a faculty of creation: it is the means by which human beings create the world in their own image.

Coleridge saw the imagination as a moral faculty. He believed that the imagination was the means by which human beings perceive the moral order of the world: it is the faculty that allows the individual to perceive the world as a place of moral action, and to perceive oneself as a moral agent within that world. In this sense, the imagination is not only a faculty of perception, knowledge, and creation, but also a faculty of moral perception and moral action: it is the means by which human beings perceive and act upon the moral order of the world.

Coleridge saw the imagination as a spiritual faculty. He believed that the imagination was the means by which human beings perceive the spiritual dimension of the world: it is the faculty that allows the individual to perceive the world as a place of spiritual action, and to perceive oneself as a spiritual agent within that world. In this sense, the imagination is not only a faculty of perception, knowledge, creation, and moral action, but also a faculty of spiritual perception and spiritual action: it is the means by which human beings perceive and act upon the spiritual dimension of the world.

Coleridge saw the imagination as a transformative faculty. He believed that the imagination was the means by which human beings transform the world: it is the faculty that allows the individual to perceive the world as a place of potential, and to perceive oneself as an agent of transformation within that world. In this sense, the imagination is not only a faculty of perception, knowledge, creation, moral action, and spiritual action, but also a faculty of transformation: it is the means by which human beings transform the world in their own image.

In conclusion, Coleridges vision of the imagination is a profoundly rich and complex one. It is a vision that is at once philosophical, theological, ethical, aesthetic, and political. It is a vision that sees the imagination as the primary means through which human beings encounter, know, create, morally act upon, spiritually perceive, and transform the world. It is a vision that sees the imagination as the faculty that defines us as human beings, and that defines our place within the world.

Biography

Samuel Taylor Coleridge was an English poet, literary critic, and philosopher who, with his friend William Wordsworth, was a founder of the Romantic Movement in England and a member of the Lake Poets. He is best known for his poems The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan, and for his major prose work Biographia Literaria. His critical work, especially on William Shakespeare, was highly influential, and he helped introduce German idealist philosophy to English-speaking culture.

Coleridge was born on 21st October 1772 in the rural town of Ottery St Mary, Devonshire. He was the youngest of ten children, and his father, a vicar and schoolmaster, died when Coleridge was just nine years old. After his fathers death, Coleridge was sent to Christ's Hospital, a boarding school in London where he was befriended by Charles Lamb, another famous Romantic poet. He later attended Jesus College, Cambridge, but left without completing his degree.

While at Cambridge, Coleridge developed a strong interest in poetry and philosophy, and in 1794, he met Robert Southey. Together they planned to establish a utopian community in Pennsylvania, but their plans failed, and they both returned to England. In 1795, Coleridge married Sara Fricker, and they had three children together. However, their marriage was unhappy, and they eventually separated.

His relationship with William Wordsworth, which began in 1795, was crucial for the development of his poetic talent. The two poets collaborated on Lyrical Ballads (1798), a collection of poetry that is often considered the launching point of English Romanticism. The book included Coleridges famous poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

Despite his literary success, Coleridge suffered from poor health and personal troubles. He became addicted to opium, which he initially used as a remedy for his health problems, and this addiction affected his personal and professional life. His dependency on the drug, coupled with his dissatisfaction with his marriage, led to periods of intense depression.

In 1804, Coleridge travelled to Malta and then to Sicily and Italy in an attempt to improve his health and rebuild his life. During this period, he wrote very little poetry, but his interest in philosophy and his developing religious ideas were reflected in his later works. He returned to England in 1806 and began a series of lectures on Shakespeare and Milton. His analysis of Shakespeares work in his lectures and writings have had a lasting impact on Shakespearean criticism.

In 1810, his relationship with Wordsworth became strained due to Coleridges opium addiction and his intense and possibly romantic feelings for Wordsworth's sister-in-law, Sara Hutchinson. The friendship was further damaged when Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy moved away from the Lake District, where they had been living in close proximity to Coleridge.

Despite his personal struggles, Coleridge continued to write and publish his works. In 1817, he published Biographia Literaria, a work of literary criticism which included his own theories of literature and criticism, and a detailed analysis of Wordsworth's poetry.

In his later years, Coleridge lived under the care of Dr James Gillman in Highgate, London. During this time, he revised and republished many of his earlier works and continued to write about philosophy, religion, and literary criticism. He became a revered figure among younger poets like Alfred Lord Tennyson, who were deeply influenced by his works.

Coleridge died in Highgate on 25 July 1834 at the age of 61. His works continue to be studied and celebrated, and he is recognised as one of the most significant poets and thinkers of the Romantic period. His exploration of the human mind and spirit, his lyrical beauty, and his philosophical ideas have left a lasting impact on literature and thought.

Awards and Recognition

Samuel Taylor Coleridge, one of the most significant poets and critics in the English literature, did not receive any formal awards or honors during his lifetime. However, his work has been recognized and acclaimed throughout the centuries. Born on October 21, 1772, in Ottery St. Mary, Devon, England, Coleridge showed a propensity for reading and learning at a young age. His father, a vicar and schoolmaster, nurtured his intellectual abilities, and he eventually went on to study at Jesus College, Cambridge.

Coleridge's early work was often overshadowed by his personal struggles with debt and opium addiction. Nevertheless, he managed to produce some of the most important works of the Romantic era, including 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner', 'Kubla Khan', and 'Christabel'. His contributions to literary criticism are also significant, particularly his work, 'Biographia Literaria'. Here, he established important concepts such as the 'willing suspension of disbelief' and distinguished between 'fancy' and 'imagination' - ideas that continue to influence literary theory today.

While Coleridge did not receive any awards during his lifetime, many posthumous recognitions have acknowledged his literary contributions. In 2006, over 150 years after his death, a statue of Coleridge was unveiled in his hometown of Ottery St. Mary. Additionally, the Samuel Taylor Coleridge Memorial Project was launched to raise funds for a memorial sculpture to be erected in Highgate Cemetery, London, where he is buried. This project, led by the Friends of Coleridge, a society dedicated to promoting Coleridge's life and works, underscores the enduring impact of his legacy.

Coleridge's influence on the Romantic Movement and his lasting impact on literature and criticism cannot be overstated. His works have been studied and appreciated by generations of scholars, writers, and readers. Institutions such as the British Library, the University of Cambridge, and the Yale Center for British Art hold extensive collections of his manuscripts, letters, and personal effects, underscoring his importance in the literary canon.

Modern scholars continue to recognize Coleridge's contributions to literature and criticism. Numerous academic conferences, publications, and courses are dedicated to his works and ideas. The Friends of Coleridge, an academic society established in 1986, publishes a bi-annual journal, 'The Coleridge Bulletin', which explores various aspects of Coleridge's life and works. Furthermore, many literary awards, such as the 'Coleridge in Wales' award, have been established in his honor, acknowledging his enduring influence on literature and critical thinking.

The legacy of Samuel Taylor Coleridge extends beyond the realm of literature. His ideas have influenced philosophy, psychology, and religious thought. His work, 'Aids to Reflection', was a major influence on Transcendentalism, a philosophical movement that developed in the United States in the early 19th century. His explorations of the human psyche in poems like 'Kubla Khan' and 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' continue to inspire psychoanalytic interpretations.

Despite the lack of formal recognition during his lifetime, Samuel Taylor Coleridge's influence on literature, criticism, and thought is indisputable. His works continue to be celebrated and studied, and his ideas continue to shape our understanding of literature and the human condition. His legacy is not marked by awards and honors, but by the enduring relevance of his works and ideas, and the recognition he receives from scholars, writers, and readers around the world.

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Vision

Biography

Awards and Recognition

References

Samuel Taylor Coleridge was an eminent English poet, literary critic, philosopher, and theologian. Renowned for his lyrical ballads, he significantly contributed to the Romantic Movement in the UK.

City of Residence

London, England

Known For

Poetry, Literary Criticism, Philosophy

Born

1772

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Poet, Philosopher, Literary Critic

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Education

Highgate School, London, Jesus College, Cambridge

Personal Details

Samuel Taylor Coleridge was an English poet, literary critic, philosopher and theologian who, with his friend William Wordsworth, was a founder of the Romantic Movement in England and a member of the Lake Poets. He wrote the poems The Rime of the Ancient

Recognition

Widely recognised as one of the most important English poets and a key figure in the Romantic movement of the early 19th century