The Knight's Tomb by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The poem explores themes of loss, memory, and the passage of time through the lens of a knight's grave. It begins with a speaker inquiring about the resting place of Sir Arthur O'Kellyn, a noble figure whose valor and goodness are remembered. The speaker describes the grave as being located by a spring on Helvellyn, beneath a young birch tree, contrasting the current tranquility with the past vibrancy of an oak tree that once stood there. As the poem progresses, it reflects on the inevitability of death and decay. The knight's physical remains have turned to dust, and his sword lies rusted, symbolizing the end of his earthly existence. Despite this, there is a sense of hope and faith that his soul has ascended to a higher realm, joining the saints. The imagery evokes a serene yet melancholic atmosphere, emphasizing the natural cycle of life and death. The speaker's contemplation of the knight's fate serves as a meditation on the legacy left behind by those who have passed. The juxtaposition of the knight's noble qualities with the stark reality of mortality invites readers to reflect on their own lives and the impact they wish to leave. The poem ultimately conveys a sense of reverence for the past while acknowledging the transient nature of existence.

By Samuel Taylor Coleridge · First published 1797 · Genre: Romanticism, Elegy, Lyric Poetry · 141 words

First lines

Where is the grave of Sir Arthur O'Kellyn? / Where may the grave of that good man be? -- / By the side of a spring, on the breast of Helvellyn, / Under the twigs of a young birch tree! / The oak that in summer was sweet to hear, / And rustled its leaves in the fall of the year, / And whistled and roar'd in the winter alone, / Is gone, -- and the birch in its stead is grown. -- / The Knight's bones are dust, / And his good sword rust; -- / His soul is with the saints, I trust.

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The Knight's Tomb is listed on Textopian as a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, dated 1797 CE.

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• Work type: Poem
• Author: Samuel Taylor Coleridge
• Date: 1797 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Romanticism, Elegy, Lyric Poetry, Ballad, Nature Poetry
• Length: 141 words
• Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs

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Genres

• Romanticism — The poem reflects themes of nature, emotion, and the sublime, characteristic of Romantic literature.
• Elegy — The work mourns the death of Sir Arthur O'Kellyn, fitting the elegiac tradition of lamenting the deceased.
• Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal feelings and reflections, typical of lyric poetry.
• Ballad — The narrative style and focus on a historical figure align with the ballad form.

Tags

Coleridge · poetry · romanticism · nature · grave · knighthood · death · memory · loss · spirituality · landscape · Helvellyn

More by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

• Expostulation and Reply (1817)
• The Tables Turned (1798)
• Animal Tranquillity and Decay (1816)
• Goody Blake and Harry Gill (1798)
• The Last of the Flock (1815)
• Lines Left Upon a Seat in a Yew-Tree, which Stands Near the Lake of Estwaithe, on a Desolate Part of the Shore, Yet Commanding a Beautiful Prospect (1818)
• The Foster-Mother's Tale (1815)
• The Thorn (1798)
• All works by Samuel Taylor Coleridge