lakeland-poets – Lazarus Carpenter

William Wordsworth (1770-1850) was a renowned English Romantic poet who, along with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped launch the Romantic Age in English literature with their joint publication “Lyrical Ballads” in 1798. Wordsworth is known for his lyrical poetry that often celebrates nature’s beauty, the individual’s emotions, and the human mind’s power.

Some of Wordsworth’s most famous works include poems like “Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey,” “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” (commonly known as “Daffodils”), and “The Prelude,” which is considered one of the greatest autobiographical poems in the English language. Wordsworth’s poetry often explores memory, childhood, imagination, and the relationship between humanity and nature. He believed that poetry should be accessible to the common people and spontaneously overflow with powerful feelings.

Throughout his life, Wordsworth was closely associated with the Lake District in England, where he drew much of his inspiration from the landscape’s natural beauty. His work significantly influenced subsequent poets and writers, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest poets in the English literary tradition.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) was an English poet, literary critic, philosopher, and theologian who was a key figure in the Romantic movement in England. He is best known for his poems “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” and “Kubla Khan.” Coleridge was a close friend of fellow poet William Wordsworth. Together, they published a collection of poems called “Lyrical Ballads” in 1798, which is considered a seminal work in the Romantic movement. Coleridge’s poetry often explores themes of nature, imagination, and the supernatural.

In addition to his poetry, Coleridge was a prolific prose writer, including literary criticism and philosophical works. He is known for his literary theory, especially his concept of the “willing suspension of disbelief,” which suggests that readers should temporarily suspend their critical faculties to fully engage with fiction. Coleridge’s influence on English literature and poetry has been profound, and his works continue to be studied and celebrated for their beauty, depth, and complexity.