Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Biography

Samuel Taylor Coleridge was born on October 21, 1772, in Ottery St. Mary, Devon, England. He was the youngest of 10 children in his family. His father, a clergyman, was a significant influence during his early years, providing him with an early grounding in education and intellectual curiosity.

Early Life and Education

Coleridge showed an early talent for literature and the arts. After the death of his father in 1781, he attended Christ's Hospital, a prestigious boarding school in London, where he began his formal education and developed his love of poetry. His time at Christ's Hospital exposed him to the works of classical poets, fueling his passion for literature.

Coleridge went on to study at Jesus College, Cambridge, in 1791, where he began to immerse himself in poetry and philosophy. Although his time at Cambridge was formative, he left without completing his degree, struggling with financial difficulties and personal challenges. Despite these struggles, his philosophical and literary interests remained strong.

Early Career

Literary Beginnings

Coleridge’s early career was shaped by his growing passion for Romantic ideals, philosophy, and poetic experimentation. He began publishing his own poems in the early 1790s, inspired by the Romantic movement and his personal influences, such as William Wordsworth.

His first poetic endeavor was a part of Lyrical Ballads (1798), which he co-published with his close friend William Wordsworth. This work was instrumental in establishing Romantic literature's themes of natural beauty, emotion, and philosophical inquiry.

Influence of Wordsworth

Coleridge’s relationship with Wordsworth shaped much of his early career. They shared an appreciation for nature and emotion but eventually diverged in their poetic philosophies. Nevertheless, their collaborations, especially Lyrical Ballads, solidified their roles as leading figures of the Romantic movement.

Career

Coleridge's career was marked by both his success as a celebrated poet and his philosophical inquiries into Romantic themes, morality, and metaphysics.

Key Works

Samuel Taylor Coleridge is celebrated for many important poems that highlight his philosophical depth, lyrical talent, and preoccupation with the supernatural. His most famous works include:

"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (1798)
This poem is one of Coleridge’s best-known works and a masterpiece of Romantic literature. It tells the tale of a cursed sailor who has committed a terrible crime at sea and must face endless suffering as a consequence. Full of symbolism, supernatural elements, and philosophical undercurrents, the poem explores themes of sin, redemption, and the natural world.

"Kubla Khan" (1816)
Kubla Khan is one of Coleridge's most iconic lyrical works. Written in 1797 but published in 1816, the poem depicts a mystical and dreamlike vision of Kubla Khan’s Mongolian empire and explores themes of imagination, creativity, and the power of the human mind.

"Christabel" (1816)
This unfinished narrative poem combines supernatural elements with themes of morality and mystery. It is an example of Coleridge's exploration of gothic and ethereal themes that would dominate his poetry.

Other Works and Essays
Coleridge was also a notable literary critic and philosopher, contributing essays such as Biographia Literaria (1817). His essays explored literary analysis, Romantic philosophy, and the nature of imagination.

Philosophy and Intellectual Pursuits

Beyond his poetry, Coleridge was a thinker deeply invested in philosophy and intellectual inquiry. He engaged with topics of metaphysics, philosophy, and political thought, drawing heavily on German idealist thinkers such as Immanuel Kant and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel.

He focused on understanding imagination, creativity, and the mind’s role in shaping experience. His philosophical writings are notable for their exploration of the relationship between reason, intuition, and artistic creativity.

One of his key contributions was his distinction between primary imagination and secondary imagination. According to Coleridge:

• Primary imagination is the innate ability to perceive the world in its raw state.
• Secondary imagination is the creative process by which the mind reconstructs these perceptions into meaningful artistic expression.

His philosophical writings cemented his role as an intellectual in Romantic circles.

Financial Troubles and Personal Struggles

Despite his literary genius, Coleridge struggled with financial instability and addiction throughout his life. He battled an addiction to opium, which worsened his health and led to periods of depression and personal isolation. His financial difficulties further compounded his struggles, as his work did not always yield substantial income.

His personal life was tumultuous, with difficulties maintaining long-term relationships and fulfilling his creative potential due to his constant financial and mental burdens.

Later Life

Coleridge spent much of his later life in self-imposed exile, moving between various places in England and Europe. His later years were marked by a series of personal challenges, health issues, and continued philosophical study. Despite his declining health, Coleridge remained prolific in his essays and literary analysis.

In 1816, he was living in the Lake District and engaged in numerous philosophical studies. His mind remained sharp, and he continued to lecture and write. His later years were productive in intellectual pursuits, even if his financial troubles continued.

He passed away on July 25, 1834, at the age of 61 in Highgate, London.