1. Romantic Poets

2. William Wordsworth Born in the Lake District (near Scottish border)
Natural beauty of this area inspired his poetry

3. Childhood / Youth Mother died when he was 8 – sent away to school
Father died when he was 13
Spent his time wandering the countryside

4. University Went to Cambridge
In the summer of his third year, he went on a walking tour of France – admired the French revolution

5. After Graduation
Returned to France – fell in love with Annette Vallon – had to return to England when England declared war on France – was separated from Annette – caused despair

6. Returns to England
Moved in with sister Dorothy – could live off his writing
Became friends with Coleridge

7. The Poet Coleridge helped Wordsworth escape his depression
Collaborated on The Lyrical Ballads

8. The Good and the Bad Given his inheritance
Moved with Dorothy to Lake District
Married Mary Hutchinson
Friendship with Coleridge disintegrated
Brother died at sea
Two of his children died

9. Poet Laureate
Became the poet laureate of England at 73

10. Two main poetic ideals
1) Growth: the growth of the poet’s mind and moral character from earliest childhood to adult maturity
2) Memory: our memories give life and beauty to our artistic endeavors
Some aspect of the poet’s present experience triggers his recollection of a deeply meaningful experience in the past

11. My Heart Leaps Up

12. The Natural World
Response to the natural world is a source of human happiness and fulfillment
How nature affects, guides, and nourishes the human mind

13. Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Born in Devonshire Son of clergyman Youngest of 14 children

14. School Life Sent to London when his father died (boarding school)
Brilliant student
Went to Cambridge

15. Follies of Youth Quit Cambridge (fell into debt)
Joined the army (Silas Tomkyn Comberbacke)
Miserable soldier
Returned to Cambridge – never achieved a degree

16. Pantisocracy
“equal rule by all” • Planned a utopian society in America with Robert Southey • plan never comes to fruition • marries Sara Fricker

18. Collaboration Meets Wordsworth – work together on the Lyrical Ballads
“Ancient Mariner” is the opening poem
Moves to the Lake District with his wife – they are slowly becoming estranged

19. His Downfall
Falls in love with Sara Hutchinson (Mary’s sister) – she does not return his love
Falls into depression – starts taking Opium
Becomes addicted – almost to the point of total collapse
Quarrels with Wordsworth

20. Later life Becomes a public lecturer in London
Writes for newspapers and magazines
Gets treatment for his addiction
He and Wordsworth find peace – travel together
Dies at 52

21. Lord George Gordon Byron
Descended from 2 aristocratic, but violent, undisciplined families
Born in London
Father was a sea captain – died when Byron was 3
Mother was Scottish

23. Physical handicap Born with a club foot Wore corrective shoes
Was very proud of his athletic ability – he was an excellent swimmer

24. Title Became Lord Byron when he was 10
Sent to Harrow (private school) then to Cambridge
Spent money extravagantly (bought horses, a pet bear)

25. His writing First book of poetry was not well-received
Wrote a travel narrative (travelled to Spain, Portuagal, Albania, Greece, Asia Minor) called Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage – this was very successful
Wrote “Don Juan” – the story of a young man, who through no fault of his own, ends up on a harrowing journey

27. The Byronic Hero
A passionate, moody, restless character who has exhausted the world’s excitements, and who lives under the weight of some mysterious sin committed in the past
He is an “outsider” whose daring life makes him isolated and attractive
(many thought this described Byron himself)

29. Social Outcast Married Annabella Milbanke – marriage only last a year
Was ostracized so he left England and went to Italy
Friends with Shelley (they shared a love of poetry, women, and boats)
Moved to Pisa

31. National Hero of Greece
He went to Greece when Shelley died
Helped to finance the Greek Revolution
Caught a fever, and died at the age of 36

32. John Keats

33. Early Life Father died when he was eight (owned a stable in London)
Mother died when he was 14 of tuberculosis

34. Education Attended a private school
When his mother died, his guardian made him the apprentice to an a surgeon and apothecary
Studied medicine at Guy’s Hospital in London

35. Career Decided to devote his life to poetry
His first poems were not well received

36. Struggles His younger brother needed financial help
One of his brothers contracted TB – he nursed him until his death

37. Love Life

38. His illness and death Contracted TB
Went to Italy – good weather / climate was thought to be helpful to lung disorders
Died in Rome at 25