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Romantic poets emphasize the enjoyment and inspiration of natural surroundings, the inner self and individual creativity within their poetry. Although similar themes remain consistent within the poetry of this time, variations exist regarding the portrayal of these themes within different poems. An emphasis on nature, creativity, joy and God exist in Coleridge’s poems, “Eolian Harp” and “Dejection: An Ode,” yet the themes propounded by Coleridge in the former poem reveal inconsistencies in relation to the latter.
An emphasis on natural surroundings is prevalent in both poems. In “Eolian Harp,” the portrayal of nature includes the mystical and mysterious. The poet states that “As twilight Elfins make, when they at eve voyage on gentle gales from Fairy-land. The inclusion of the mystical within the poem reveals the heavenly, dreamy state that people experiencing nature enjoy. In addition, nature is portrayed as benevolent and beautiful throughout the poem. Coleridge writes “the sunbeams dance, like diamonds” in nature. This view associates both beauty and gentleness with nature and reveals that the natural surroundings are nothing to be feared.
In opposition to the benevolent view of nature, Coleridge’s “Dejection: An Ode” implies that nature fails to be benevolent or gentle. The poet speaks of “the coming on of rain and squally blast…and the slant night-shower driving loud and fast.” These images depict a nature that is harsh and dreary and directly opposes the nature described in Coleridge’s initial poem.
An additional theme common to both poems addresses individual creativity. In “Eolian Harp,” nature is the source of creativity. The speaker of the poem is content to sit in nature while “full many a thought uncalled and undetained and many idle flitting phantasies traverse [his] indolent and passive brain.” By casually observing the natural surroundings, people receive inspiration and creative energy in order to enact creation. By surrounding oneself with nature, creative power will ensue because creativity stems from nature.
Opposing Coleridge’s initial ideas regarding creativity, his latter poem states that creativity stems not from nature, but from within the individual. The poetic voice states, “I may not hope from outward forms to win the passion and the life whose fountains are within.” The soul must be tuned correctly to allow for creativity. Thus, nothing can be gained from a communication with nature with regard to creative energy unless the inner soul allows for the beginnings of creativity to occur.
Joy is an additional theme addressed in both “Eolian Harp” and “Dejection: An Ode.” In “Eolian Harp,” the natural surroundings are enough to create joy because joy is present in nature. The poetry speaks of the “joyance everywhere” in nature and reveals that the natural surroundings themselves create happiness.
Countering the view that nature equals joy, “Dejection: An Ode” states that joy is not in nature, but solely in imaginative faculties. The combination of nature and joy equals creative power, but the joy in imagination is necessary for the commencement of creation. The speaker states, “Joy…is the spirit and the power” in creation. Thus, the sight of nature fails to bring joy because creative power only occurs with the combination of imagination and nature and one cannot exist without the other while creating happiness.
An additional Romantic idea discussed throughout both Coleridge poems focuses on the presence of God. In “Eolian Harp,” the speaker feels God’s presence in the natural surroundings and says that “never guiltless may I speak of him…save when with awe.” God is present in nature and is the force behind the creative energy found in the natural surroundings.
In contrast, “Dejection: An Ode” shows that although God is also present in nature and has the ability to aid in the creative process, he is not the sole force behind creation. The force of God in nature, in combination with imagination, will enable creativity to occur.
The writings of Coleridge emphasize nature, creativity, sources of joy and the presence of God in the natural surroundings, yet drastic alterations exist within the poems with regard to the similar themes found in both works. The earlier poem, “Eolian Harp,” focuses on the enjoyment of nature as a source of creativity and joy, whereas the latter poem, “Dejection: An Ode,” reflects the frustrations and discouragement occurring from a lack of creative power. The latter poem rejects nature as the sole source of creativity because the natural surroundings have failed to insure the fulfillment of the creative process and have left the poet disheartened.
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