Discuss the childhood imagery in the poetry of William Blake and William Wordsworth within a well developed

essay

William Wordsworth and William Blake are two of the most influential poets of the Romantic Age. They each
have a unique style and a unique way of using imagery to convey their ideas. In particular, both poets make
extensive use of childhood imagery to explore the themes of innocence and imagination. By examining the
childhood imagery in their poetry, one can gain a better understanding of the themes they explore and how
they use imagery to communicate their ideas.

In William Wordsworth’s poetry, childhood imagery is used to explore the theme of innocence. Wordsworth
often uses imagery of children playing in the countryside, or of nature as a source of innocence and hope. In
“My Heart Leaps Up”, Wordsworth uses the imagery of a rainbow to represent the hope and joy of childhood.
He writes “My heart leaps up when I behold/A rainbow in the sky:/So was it when my life began;/So is it now I
am a man;/So be it when I shall grow old,/Or let me die!” The rainbow is a symbol of innocence, and
Wordsworth’s use of it here is evocative and powerful. By using this image of a rainbow, Wordsworth conveys
the idea that innocence is something that can stay with us throughout our lives.

William Blake also uses childhood imagery to explore the theme of innocence. In his poem “The Lamb”, Blake
uses the image of a lamb to represent innocence and the potential for imagination. He writes “Little Lamb, who
made thee/Dost thou know who made thee”. Here, the image of the lamb is used to show the potential of the
imagination, and how it can lead to exploration and discovery. Blake also uses the image of a child in “The Little
Black Boy” to explore the theme of innocence. In this poem, the image of a young black boy is used to
represent innocence and the potential of the human spirit. Blake writes “My mother bore me in the southern
wild,/And I am black, but oh my soul is white”. Here, the image of the black boy is used to show the potential of
the human spirit, and how it can be used to overcome adversity.

Overall, William Wordsworth and William Blake both use childhood imagery to explore the themes of
innocence and imagination. Wordsworth uses imagery of children playing in the countryside to represent the
hope and joy of innocence, while Blake uses the image of a lamb and a black boy to convey the potential of the
imagination and the human spirit. By examining the childhood imagery in their poetry, one can gain a better
understanding of the themes they explore and how they use imagery to communicate their ideas.

Discuss Coleridge's use of supernatural in the "Ancient Mariner" and "Kubla Khan" within a well developed
essay

Samuel Taylor Coleridge was an English poet known for his works such as “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”
and “Kubla Khan”. Both works are known for their use of the supernatural, and although the two works are
very different in style and content, both feature the supernatural as a main element. In “The Rime of the
Ancient Mariner”, Coleridge makes use of supernatural elements as a way to illustrate the consequences of sin
and redemption, while in “Kubla Khan”, Coleridge uses the supernatural more as a tool to explore the power of
the imagination. This essay will explore how Coleridge uses the supernatural in both works, and the effects it
has on the overall themes and messages of the poems.

In “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”, Coleridge uses the supernatural to illustrate the consequences of sin
through the Mariner’s experiences. The Mariner is cursed by an albatross which is sent by a supernatural
“Divine Power”, which causes his shipmates to die of thirst and hunger. This supernatural element serves to
illustrate the idea that sin has consequences, and that the Mariner must atone for his actions. This is further
emphasized by the supernatural elements which appear later in the poem, such as the “ghostly” figures of the
dead sailors, the “water snakes”, and the “dead men” which appear in the ship’s wake. These supernatural
elements illustrate the consequences of the Mariner’s sin, as well as his eventual redemption, as he is
eventually able to repent and pray for mercy.

In “Kubla Khan”, Coleridge uses the supernatural in a different way. Here, the supernatural is used not to
illustrate the consequences of sin, but rather to explore the power of the imagination. In this poem, Coleridge
describes a dream he had, in which he was transported to a mysterious and fantastical kingdom filled with
supernatural creatures and sights. The supernatural elements of the poem serve to emphasize the power of
the imagination, as well as the idea that reality and fantasy are intertwined. Coleridge also uses the
supernatural as a way to explore the idea of creation and destruction, as the kingdom is destroyed by a
“woman wailing for her demon lover”, who is then reborn in the form of a “haunted stream”.

In conclusion, Coleridge makes use of the supernatural in both “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” and “Kubla
Khan” in order to explore different themes and messages. In “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”, the
supernatural serves to illustrate the consequences of sin, while in “Kubla Khan”, the supernatural serves to
explore the power of the imagination and the idea of creation and destruction. Both works feature the
supernatural as a main element, and this serves to emphasize the important themes and messages of the
poems.

Discuss the relationship between the individual and nature in Samuel Coleridge's poems within a well
developed essay

In the poems of Samuel Coleridge, there is a deep connection between the individual and nature that is often
explored. Coleridge's poems are often concerned with the individual's relationship to the natural world, and
how it can impact their life. His use of imagery, symbolism, and metaphor all contribute to this theme, and
show the reader how nature can affect the individual in various ways.

To begin, in Coleridge's poem “Frost at Midnight”, he uses the image of the frost to illustrate a connection
between the individual and nature. Through the imagery of the “silent frost” and the “sleepy hill”, Coleridge
gives the reader a vivid picture of the beauty of nature. This image of the silent frost conveys a sense of peace
and calm, and suggests a close relationship between the individual and nature. The poem also explores the
relationship between a parent and child, as Coleridge reflects on his own experience as a father. He uses this
relationship to further illustrate the connection between the individual and nature, as he realizes how nature
has impacted his life in many ways.

Coleridge also explores the relationship between the individual and nature in his poem “The Rime of the
Ancient Mariner”. In this poem, the ancient mariner is haunted by the experience of killing an albatross, which
he sees as a symbol of nature. He realizes how his actions have disrupted the balance of nature, and feels a
sense of guilt and regret for his actions. The poem serves as a warning to the reader about the consequences of
disrupting nature, and how it can affect the individual’s life.
Finally, in Coleridge’s poem “Kubla Khan”, he uses imagery and metaphor to explore the relationship between
the individual and nature. Through the image of the “pleasure dome” and the “caverns measureless to man”,
Coleridge conveys a sense of awe and wonder. This imagery suggests that nature can be a source of beauty and
inspiration, and can help the individual to appreciate the beauty of the world around them.

In conclusion, Samuel Coleridge’s poems all explore the relationship between the individual and nature.
Through his use of imagery, symbolism, and metaphor, Coleridge conveys how nature can affect the individual
in various ways. He also highlights the importance of respecting and protecting the natural world, and how
disrupting the balance of nature can have consequences for the individual. Overall, Coleridge’s poems provide
readers with an insight into the relationship between the individual and nature, and how it can affect their life.

Discuss the theme of death in Keat's poetry within a well developed essay

John Keats, one of the most renowned English Romantic poets of the 19th century, is well known for his
exploration of the theme of death. He was deeply affected by the premature death of his parents, and his own
struggles with tuberculosis, and this is reflected in his poetry. Throughout his work, Keats consistently
highlights the fact that death is inevitable, and that it is both a source of sorrow and something to be accepted
and embraced.

A prime example of Keats' exploration of the theme of death can be found in his poem “Ode to a Nightingale.”
In this poem, Keats uses a nightingale’s song as a metaphor for death and its bittersweetness. He writes
“Forlorn! the very word is like a bell / To toll me back from thee to my sole self!” Here, Keats is using the
nightingale's melancholic song to signify the inevitability of death and its ultimate parting with the living. He
further expresses his grief in the lines “Adieu! the fancy cannot cheat so well / As she is fam'd to do, deceiving
elf”, where he expresses his sorrow at having to accept the truth of death.

Another poem in which Keats explores the theme of death is “When I Have Fears That I May Cease To Be”. In
this poem, Keats reflects on his own mortality, and his fear of death. He writes “When I behold, upon the
night's starr'd face, / Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance, / And think that I may never live to trace”,
expressing his fear that he may not live to experience the beauty of life. He further states “And when I feel, fair
creature of an hour! / That I shall never look upon thee more”, expressing his sorrow at having to accept the
fact that death will inevitably separate him from the wonders of life.

Throughout his work, Keats consistently expresses his grief at the inevitability of death, and his dismay at
having to accept it. At the same time, however, he also explores the idea of embracing death as a part of life,
and accepting it as a part of the cycle of life. This is seen in his poem “Ode on Melancholy”, where he writes
“She dwells with Beauty—Beauty that must die; / And Joy, whose hand is ever at his lips / Bidding adieu”. Here,
Keats is expressing the idea that death is a part of life and beauty, and that we must accept it and embrace it as
a part of our journey.

In conclusion, John Keats’ poetry is a powerful exploration of the theme of death. Through his work, he
expresses his sorrow and grief at having to confront the inevitability of death, as well as his acceptance of it as
a part of life. His poems serve as a reminder of the importance of embracing death as a part of the cycle of life,
and of finding solace in its bittersweetness.