Robert Louis Stevenson is one of the best poets in America. He lived in the nineteenth century, a time when the industrial revolution took place. His poems challenged people with his type of writing. His poems are still read today after his death in 1894.
One of Stevenson’s jobs was a writer and a lawyer. “When he was 21 years old, Stevenson openly declared his intention of becoming a writer against the strong opposition of his father. Agreeing to study law as a compromise. Stevenson was admitted to the Scottish bar in 1875” (Robert Stevenson). Stevenson’s work is aimed at young mature adults and older because of his wording of the poems. “He was known for being the poet who plays a significant role in the revival of the novel of romance” (Robert Louis Stevenson).
Robert Louis Stevenson is best known for the poem “Requiem”, a poem that was revised many times over the years. As he aged, his poems were …show more content…
becoming more mature and the industrial revolution was taking place. The poem “Requiem” is about a positive take on death and disease. After reading “Requiem” he might be referring his disease to the poem and the disease is what made him die early in life. “ Thought robust and healthy at birth, Stevenson soon became a victim of constant respiratory ailments that later developed into tuberculosis and made him skeletally thin and frail most of his life” ( Robert Louis Stevenson).
Another poem Stevenson is known for is “Death to the dead forever more”. This poem is about Stevenson’s imagination of what his death will be like after the journey has ended. “He remembers the stars, wet dew and chirping of the birds around dawn” (Poetry Lovers Page). It disturbs his sleep every night, the only time to relax and not feel pain during the day. This poem might be about somebody else but it sure does sound like it about him because he was in pain from his disease and he has died.
Some of Robert Louis Stevenson’s poems relate to Gothic literature.
During the time that Stevenson was writing so was Mary Wollstonecraft Shelly and Emily Bronte. “Both Stevenson and Bronte incorporated traditions of Victorian morality tales, characters of good moral character are rewarded in the end, as bad behavior is justly rewarded- though they deviate from the Victorian theme of restraint” (Gothic Literature). Other poems incorporated facts about the industrial revolution. The industrial revolution was during the 18th century, right when Stevenson was writing. Some of the poems related to the revolution like “kidnapped”, and “economy by Stevenson. “In both poems Stevenson could not avoid psychological and moral problems without marked strain” (Robert Louis Stevenson). Just like the industrial revolution when they couldn’t avoid problems.
In conclusion, Robert Louis Stevenson had many influencing with history during his time writing poems and short stories. Some of his influences were other poets, gothic literature and the industrial
revolution.