Samuel+Taylor+Coleridge



Samuel Taylor Coleridge was a poet during very troubling times in England, and therefore dealt with a very troubling lifestyle. Despite all of this him and a friend of his, William Wordsworth were founders of the Romantic Movement in England. This was a very drastic change to literary, artistic, and intellectual ideas in England at the time. He also coined the term suspension of disbelief, which is still an idea that authors and creators strive towards in their work. His audience included a large amount of people that was almost unprecedented for the history of that country (Hogg 136). His main audience was to these people who were going through a major overhaul on their culture and ideas, and he led them through this change and showed them how things should be. His effects on culture also include his critiques on William Shakespeare. Coleridge was one of the poets who were able to look at Shakespeare in such a critical manner, if it were not for this critical outlook it is highly unlikely that Shakespeare would be looked at the same way. This also is one of his major effects on history, as he gave critiques and praise to some of the greatest authors in history, and with his opinion held in such high esteem at the time, his opinions were listened to.

//Hogg, Emily. “Readers and Writers: The role of the audience in the work of William Hazlitt and Samuel Taylor Coleridge”.// Innervate//. The University of

Nottingham. Page 136. Web. 12 May 2013

=A Christmas Carol=

I. The shepherds went their hasty way, And found the lowly stable-shed Where the Virgin-Mother lay: And now they checked their eager tread, For to the Babe, that at her bosom clung, A Mother's song the Virgin-Mother sung.

II. They told her how a glorious light, Streaming from a heavenly throng. While sweeter than a mother's song, Blest Angels heralded the Savior's birth, Glory to God on high! and Peace on Earth.
 * Around them shone, suspending night! **
 * //(Hyperbole: An over-exaggeration, saying that the night had literally turned into day)// **

III. She listened to the tale divine, And closer still the Babe she pressed: And while she cried, the Babe is mine! The milk rushed faster to her breast: Peace, Peace on Earth! the Prince of Peace is born.
 * Joy rose within her, like a summer's morn; **
 * //(Simile: Comparing two unlike things using like or as, comparing her joy to a summer's morning)// **

IV. Thou Mother of the Prince of Peace, Poor, simple, and of low estate! That strife should vanish, battle cease, O why should this thy soul elate? Sweet Music's loudest note, the Poet's story, Didst thou ne'er love to hear of fame and glory?

V. And is not War a youthful king, A stately Hero clad in mail? Beneath his footsteps laurels spring; Him Earth's majestic monarchs hail Their friends, their playmate! and his bold bright eye Compels the maiden's love-confessing sigh.

VI. Tell this in some more courtly scene, To maids and youths in robes of state! I am a woman poor and mean, And wherefore is my soul elate. That from the aged father's tears his child!
 * War is a ruffian, all with guilt defiled, **
 * //(Metaphor: Comparing two things without using like or as, saying that war is a violent person)// **

VII. A murderous fiend, by fiends adored, He kills the sire and starves the son; The husband kills, and from her board Steals all his widow's toil had won; Plunders God's world of beauty; rends away All safety from the night, all comfort from the day.

=Song #1: Silent Night=

 ** Silent night! Holy night! ** All is calm all is bright Round yon virgin mother and child Holy infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace! Sleep in heavenly peace!
 * //(Hyperbole: An over-exaggeration, saying that the night was completely and utterly quiet)// **

Silent night! Holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight Glories stream from heaven afar    Heavenly hosts sing Hallelujah Christ the Saviour is born! Christ the Saviour is born!

Silent night! Holy night! Radiant beams from thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord at thy birth, Jesus, Lord at thy birth. **//Both are dealing with religious themes, specifically revolving around the birth of Christ.//** = Answer To A Child's Question =
 * Son of God love's pure light ** 
 *  //(Metaphor: Comparing two things without using like or as, comparing God's love to pure to light)// **

Do you ask what the birds say? The sparrow, the dove The linnet, and thrush say, 'I love and I love!' What it says, I don't know, but it sings a loud song. And singing, and loving, all come back together. The green fields below him, the blue sky above, That he sings, and he sings, and forever sings he-- 'I love my Love, and my Love loves me!'
 * In the winter they're silent, the wind is so strong; **
 * //(Personification: Giving inhuman things human characteristics, saying the wind has strength)// **
 * But green leaves and blossoms, and sunny warm weather, **
 * //(Imagery: Using the 5 senses to paint a picture in someone's mind, giving an example of all these creates a setting)// **
 * Then the lark is so brimful of gladness and love, **
 * //(Personification: Giving inhuman things human characteristics, saying the bird can be full of love and joy)// **

=Song #2: Hound Dog=



You ain't nothin but a hound dog You ain't nothin but a hound dog Well, you aint never caught a rabbit And you ain't no friend of mine.
 * Cryin all the time.**
 * //(Personification: Giving inhuman things human characteristics, dogs can't cry)//**
 * Cryin all the time.**
 * //(Personification: Giving inhuman things human characteristics, same as above)//**

When they said you was high classed, Well, that was just a lie. When they said you was high classed, Well, that was just a lie. You ain't never caught a rabbit And you ain't no friend of mine.

//**Both deal with live, and the contrast between the two is highly ironic**//

= Addressed To A Young Man Of Fortune Who Abandoned Himself To An Indolent And Causeless Melancholy =

Hence that fantastic wantonness and woe, O Youth to partial Fortune vainly dear! To plunder'd Want's half-shelter'd hovel go, Go, and some hunger-bitten infant hear Moan haply in a dying mother's ear: Pace round some widow's grave, whose dearer part Was slaughtr'd, where o'er his uncoffin'd limbs Groans, and thine eye a fiercer sorrow dims, What Nature makes thee mourn, she bids thee heal! O abject! if, to sickly dreams resign'd, All effortless thou leave Life's common-weal A prey to Tyrants, Murderers of Mankind.
 * Or when the cold and dismal fog-damps brood **
 * O'er the rank church-yard with sear elm-leaves strew'd, **
 * //(Imagery: Using the 5 senses to paint a picture in someone's mind, the last two lines are used to create scenery for the poem)// **
 * The flocking flesh-birds scream'd! Then, while thy heart**
 * //(Personification: Giving inhuman things human characteristics, saying the bird screams)//**
 * Know (and the truth shall kindle thy young mind)**
 * //(Hyperbole: An over-exaggeration, saying that the truth will literally set a mind on fire)//**

=Song #3: I Dreamed a Dream=



There was a time when men were kind When their voices were soft And their words inviting There was a time when love was blind And the world was a song And the song was exciting There was a time
 * Then it all went wrong**
 * //(Hyperbole: An over-exaggeration, saying that men can no longer be viewed as kind in your life because of this one occurrence)//**

I dreamed a dream in times gone by When hope was high And life worth living I dreamed that God would be forgiving Then I was young and unafraid And dreams were made and used and wasted There was no ransom to be paid No song unsung No wine untasted But the tigers come at night As they tear your hope apart And they turn your dream to shame He slept a summer by my side He filled my days with endless wonder He took my childhood in his stride But he was gone when autumn came And still I dream he'll come to me That we'll live the years together But there are dreams that cannot be And there are storms we cannot weather I had a dream my life would be So much different from this hell I'm living So different now from what it seemed Now life has killed The dream I dreamed.
 * I dreamed that love would never die**
 * //(Personification: Giving inhuman things human characteristics, love is an emotion and technically is not alive and therefore can't stop living)//**
 * With their voices soft as thunder**
 * //(Imagery: Using the 5 senses to paint a picture in someone's mind, describing the lion's roar in detail)//**

//**Both of these songs deal with a person who had once had a good life, but then eventually fell into depression and general sadness.**//