Coleridge, Wordsworth and Shelley - Comparisons

Coleridge Wordsworth Shelley

Nature is the main theme of his poetry and it Nature has a deeper meaning which goes

Nature is the way the One life (that is a

Nature has different meanings: beyond the physical appearance.

divine power) expresses itself, so all

• Nature as countryside opposed to town
• Nature as a source of feelings - joy and
• Nature as an active force, a sort of

creatures must be respected, being the

goddess that is worshipped.

personification of God.

happiness

The natural elements and the landscape are

There is a universal invisible spiritual force,

endowed with a deeper symbolic meaning.

the Spirit of the Universe, which

Nature is pervaded by a cosmic power,

continually creates new life and govern

a Mighty Power, that is identified with

natural elements, that are endowed with a

God (pantheistic view).

soul.

All creatures aspire to return to the Whole,

One.

The cosmic power can't be identified with God,

Who doesn't exist.

Nature and men

Men must respect nature and all its

Wordsworth's poetry emphasises this

Nature sympathises with men and men are

manifestations.

relationship.

a part of the Spirit of the Universe.

Children are closer to God so they're pure

Nature is a source of joy and a refuge from

and can perceive nature and respond to it.

the disappointment and injustice of life.

While growing up, they lose this ability and

the "celestial light" they could see before

fades away.

Only the poet keeps this deep bound with

the natural world intact.

Religious beliefs

God exists.

God exists.

God doesn't exist: He can't be Love and

Almightiness at the same time.

Shelley condemns all dogmas and religious

practices as religion is an instrument in the

hands of the priests for the enslavement of

creatures.

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Political and philosophical influences and beliefs

• German philosophy.
• Rousseau's theories about the status of
• Radical party
• childhood
• The anarchist Jacobin philosopher
• Neo - Platonism
• William Godwin
• Pantheistic view of the world
• Neo - Platonism
• First sympathetic with the French
• Rationalism
• revolution, then conservative.
• Sympathetic with the French
• Revolution and the revolutionary
• Ideals.

Social involvement

No one.

No one.

Great attention towards society: Shelley is

a rebel from his early youth.

He conceives the world as divided between

oppressors and oppressed.

Shelley refuses any kind of tyranny and

institution, as they lead to superstitions and

selfishness and limit freedom.

He claims for a revolution to come and

replace the world of tyranny with that of

freedom.