Coleridge by S.L. Bensusan (1910)

Name: Coleridge
Author: S.L. Bensusan

The work provides a comprehensive examination of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's life, tracing his journey from a precocious child in Devonshire to a prominent figure in English literature. It details his upbringing in a large family, his early education, and the challenges he faced, including a troubled childhood marked by isolation and precociousness. Coleridge's early literary influences and his initial forays into poetry are discussed, highlighting his struggles with self-discipline and the impact of his family dynamics. As he transitioned to Cambridge, the narrative explores his academic achievements and the subsequent decline in his focus and productivity, exacerbated by financial difficulties and personal relationships. His friendships with contemporaries like William Wordsworth and Robert Southey are examined, particularly their collaborative efforts and the idealistic yet impractical vision of Pantisocracy. The text delves into Coleridge's most significant works, including "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and "Kubla Khan," emphasizing his unique poetic style and philosophical depth. It also addresses his later years, marked by health issues, addiction to opium, and a tumultuous marriage, which hindered his creative output and led to a shift from poetry to philosophical writing. Coleridge's philosophical explorations, particularly in the context of metaphysics and criticism, are presented as a significant aspect of his legacy, despite his struggles with consistency and self-discipline. The work concludes with reflections on his enduring influence on literature and philosophy, acknowledging both his genius and the personal challenges that shaped his life and work.

By S.L. Bensusan · First published 1910 · Genre: Biography, Literary Criticism, Romanticism · 6 chapters · 23,926 words

First lines

Samuel Taylor Coleridge was the youngest of the nine sons of the Rev. John Coleridge, Vicar of Ottery St. Mary in Devonshire and Chaplain-Priest as well as Master of King's School, a Free Grammar School founded by King Henry VIII, who suppressed and replaced a long-standing monastic institution in the town. The Rev. John Coleridge, who was twice married, was the father of three daughters by his first wife and ten children by the second. He was the son of a trader in woollen goods who suffered serious financial losses when John was a boy, and the lad owed his Cambridge education to the generosity of a friend of the family. He married young, and kept a school at Southampton until his first wife died and he had married again. Then he obtained the living and mastership at Ottery St. Mary. Of his nine sons the youngest was destined to be the most distinguished, but James, who was born twelve years before Samuel Taylor, became the father of one Judge of the High Court, the grandfather of Lord Chief Justice Coleridge, and great-grandfather of the present Judge. The Vicar was a man of letters, who published several long-forgotten books by subscription, and was noted, to quote his youngest son's description, for "learning, good-heartedness, absentness of mind, and excessive ignorance of the world."

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Coleridge is listed on Textopian as an essay by S.L. Bensusan, dated 1910 CE.

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Work type: Essay
Author: S.L. Bensusan
Date: 1910 CE
Language: English
Genres: Biography, Literary Criticism, Romanticism, Poetry, Philosophy
Length: 23,926 words
Structure: 6 chapters, 146 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)

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Genres

Biography — The book focuses on the life and works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, detailing his experiences and contributions to literature.
Literary Criticism — It analyzes Coleridge's poetry and philosophy, providing insights into his literary significance.
Romanticism — Coleridge is a key figure in the Romantic movement, and the book explores themes central to this genre.
Poetry — The book discusses Coleridge's poetic works, examining their style and thematic elements.