1. Samuel Taylor Coleridge

2. Poet, Critic, Philosopher Best known for:
Coleridge’s Life…
Poet, Critic, Philosopher
Best known for:
“Rime of the Ancient Mariner”
“Kubla Kahn”
“Biographia Literaria”
Considered a genius

3. Was sent away to school where he was well- educated, but very lonely
Loneliness caused him to look for attention throughout life
Tried to form a utopian society called “Pantisocracy” in the U.S., but the group never completed the plan, leaving Coleridge in an arranged marriage
Also attended Cambridge, but never graduated

4. Met Wordsworth and Dorothy in 1795 and they became good friends
Began taking laudanum, a highly addictive drug for pain made from opium
Laudanum addiction soon controlled his life, destroying many relationships
In 1814 he put himself under the full-time care of a doctor
He was the inspiration for Wordsworth’s poetry – encouraged W. to write.

5. Fortunately, he was able to reconcile with his wife and renew his friendship with Wordsworth
Lectured for several years – a benefit especially for women who were still barred from universities
During these years he wrote his best poetry and was able to live in peace with himself

6. Coleridge struggled with addiction for the rest of his life, continually depending on the doctor to regulate his medication in order to function
He died of a combination of heart failure and lung disease that had been compounded by the years of drug use

7. Coleridge’s Work…
His best-known poem, “Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” was published in “Lyrical Ballads” in 1798
“Kubla Kahn,” a dream poem, is also well-known

8. Many consider him to be as good a poet as Wordsworth
His work was sporadic because of depression brought about by his drug addiction
Many consider him to be as good a poet as Wordsworth
However, he never fulfilled his potential because he struggled to maintain a stable lifestyle
Coleridge also wrote critiques of contemporary work
He considered himself to be the lesser of the two poets
Wrote “Biographia Literaria,” considered to be the foundation of modern literary theory