Discuss with reference to the four poems.
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Coleridge, as a first generation Romantic, defined many of the movement’s characteristics by detailing the Romantic paradigms of Individual experience, nature & idealism with the imagination function as a mediator with reason to achieve unity. Four of Coleridge’s Poems; ‘Frost at Midnight’, ‘This Lime Tree Bower My Prison’, ‘Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ & ‘Kubla Khan’ focus on a specific area of Romanticism, too which served as paradigms for the movement. His poetry was heavily influenced by his context which included the Industrial Revolution, French Revolution & spread of Napoleons Tyranny throughout Europe. In actual fact, his poetic form and meters mirror the revolutionary surge, as he does not subscribe to any conventions of poetry.
The poem ‘Frost at midnight’ is a conversational poem that outlines many beliefs of the Romantic Movement. His poem is centred on Rousseau philosophy, in that “'everything is good when it leaves the creator; everything degenerates in the hands of men.” To convey ideas relating to the central themes, ‘Frost at Midnight’ relies on a highly personal form of expression whereby the reader follows the progression of the thoughts of the speaker.
The objects surrounding the speaker become metaphors for the work of the mind and the imagination, so that the fluttering film on the fire grate turns him towards recollection of his childhood. Coleridge says that sympathises with the 'film’ and further goes on to say 'with me who live'. Film (In this case it is ash) is something that is burnt and, was most likely, wood before it was burnt. This symbolises the Industrial Revolution and the people (including Coleridge) who were affected by it.
His memory of feeling trapped in school naturally brings him back into