The Picture or the Lover's Resolution

Name: The Picture or the Lover's Resolution
Author: Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The poem explores themes of love, longing, and the interplay between nature and human emotion. The speaker embarks on a journey through a wild, untamed landscape, symbolizing a quest for freedom from the constraints of love. As he navigates through thorns and underbrush, he experiences a sense of liberation, feeling detached from the "master-passion" of romantic desire. The natural setting serves as a backdrop for introspection, where the speaker contemplates the beauty of the world around him, contrasting it with the pain of unrequited love. He acknowledges the presence of love's torment, warning that such feelings are not welcome in this serene environment. The imagery of the forest, streams, and wildlife evokes a sense of tranquility, yet the speaker remains haunted by memories of a beloved figure. As he observes a reflection in a stream, he becomes entranced by the vision of a maiden, representing his unattainable desire. The fleeting nature of this vision underscores the ephemeral quality of love and beauty. The speaker's yearning intensifies as he realizes the maiden has vanished, leaving him to grapple with his emotions in solitude. The poem shifts to a more personal moment when the speaker discovers a sketch left behind by the maiden, which reignites his longing. He reflects on her beauty and the connection they share, despite her apparent indifference to him. The act of pursuing her through the woods symbolizes both hope and despair, as he grapples with the desire to return the sketch while battling his own feelings of inadequacy. Ultimately, the work encapsulates the tension between the joy of nature and the sorrow of unfulfilled love, illustrating the complexities of human emotion against the backdrop of a vivid, natural world. The speaker's journey becomes a metaphor for the universal experience of love, loss, and the search for meaning in the face of longing.

By Samuel Taylor Coleridge · First published 1798 · Genre: Romantic Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry · 2,306 words

First lines

Through weeds and thorns, and matted underwood I force my way; now climb, and now descend O'er rocks, or bare or mossy, with wild foot Crushing the purple whorts; [1] while oft unseen, Hurrying along the drifted forest-leaves, The scared snake rustles. Onward still I toil, I know not, ask not whither! A new joy, Lovely as light, sudden as summer gust, And gladsome as the first-born of the spring, Beckons me on, or follows from behind, Playmate, or guide! The master-passion quelled, I feel that I am free. With dun-red bark The fir-trees, and the unfrequent slender oak, Forth from this tangle wild of bush and brake Soar up, and form a melancholy vault High o'er me, murmuring like a distant sea. Here Wisdom might resort, and here Remorse; Here too the love-lorn man, who, sick in soul, And of this busy human heart aweary, Worships the spirit of unconscious life In tree or wild-flower. -- Gentle lunatic! If so he might not wholly cease to be, He would far rather not be that he is; But would be something that he knows not of, In winds or waters, or among the rocks!

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The Picture or the Lover's Resolution is listed on Textopian as a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, dated 1798 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Date: 1798 CE
Language: English
Genres: Romantic Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Narrative Poetry, Symbolism
Length: 2,306 words
Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Romantic Poetry — The poem embodies themes of love, nature, and emotional introspection characteristic of Romantic literature.
Lyric Poetry — The personal and emotional expression throughout the poem aligns with the conventions of lyric poetry.
Nature Poetry — The vivid descriptions of the natural landscape and its emotional impact reflect a strong connection to nature.
Narrative Poetry — The poem tells a story of longing and pursuit, fitting the narrative structure.