Question

Which early 19th-century poet, known for his Romantic sensibilities, also penned novels that sometimes incorporated Gothic elements and themes of the supernatural?

• A. William Wordsworth
• B. Samuel Taylor Coleridge
• C. John Keats
• D. Lord Byron

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Samuel Taylor Coleridge: A Multifaceted Literary Figure of the Romantic Era

• Poetic Prowess: Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) was a pivotal figure in English Romanticism, renowned for his deeply imaginative and often mystical poetry.
• Key Poetic Works: His most celebrated poems include The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Kubla Khan, and Christabel. These works are characterized by their lyrical beauty, exploration of the supernatural, and profound psychological depth.
• Literary Partnership: Coleridge, along with his close friend William Wordsworth, co-authored Lyrical Ballads (1798), a collection that is widely considered a manifesto of the Romantic movement in English poetry.
• Prose and Novels: Beyond his poetry, Coleridge also engaged in prose writing, literary criticism, and philosophical discourse. While not primarily known as a novelist, his literary output did include narrative works that sometimes delved into darker themes.
• Gothic and Supernatural Elements: His narrative poems and certain prose writings frequently incorporated elements characteristic of the Gothic genre, such as eerie settings, psychological horror, and encounters with the supernatural or otherworldly. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a prime example, featuring themes of sin, punishment, and spectral beings.
• Influence and Legacy: Coleridge's work profoundly influenced subsequent generations of writers and thinkers. His theories on imagination and his exploration of the subconscious were groundbreaking for his time and remain significant in literary studies.
• Exam Relevance: For competitive exams, remember Coleridge's association with the core tenets of Romanticism, his contributions to the development of literary criticism (especially his lectures and writings on Shakespeare), and his unique blend of lyrical poetry with elements of the supernatural and Gothic. His biography and major works are frequent topics in English Literature examinations.