Carolyn and I have appreciated the work of English poet, philosopher, theologian, and literary critic Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who was a co-founder of the Romantic Movement. He is considered one of the most renowned English poets and is best known for his epic poems Kubla Khan and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, both of which showcase his imaginative and lyrical style.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge was born in Devon, England in 1772. His father was a well-respected parish priest and the headmaster at a local grammar school, who had thirteen children. Coleridge was the youngest of ten children by his second wife, who was the daughter of the mayor.

Coleridge’s father provided him with early exposure to literature, and Coleridge “took no pleasure in boyish sports.” Instead, he read “incessantly” and spent time by himself. In 1778, when Coleridge was just five years old, his father passed away, and this marked the beginning of a challenging period for him. Coleridge was sent to Christ’s Hospital School in London, which was known for its rigorous academic environment. This provided Coleridge with a strong classical education, focusing on Latin, Greek, and literature, as well as providing a foundation for his philosophical pursuits.

However, Christ’s Hospital School was also emotionally challenging for Coleridge. He often felt isolated and homesick there, and this contributed to his lifelong struggles with anxiety and depression. Despite his academic success, Coleridge struggled with feelings of loneliness, which were compounded by the strict and often harsh environment of the school.

In 1791, Coleridge left Christ’s Hospital School to attend Jesus College in Cambridge, where he excelled academically. However, he struggled with financial difficulties and dissatisfaction with his studies, leading him to leave Cambridge in 1793 without a degree. During this period, Coleridge also became increasingly interested in radical political ideas, particularly those influenced by the French Revolution and the broader Enlightenment ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity.

After a brief enlistment in the British Army— where he struggled with the physical demands and the discipline required— in 1795, Coleridge began his career as a poet and writer. He was inspired to write poetry by his love of nature and literature, as well as his powerful emotions and imagination. In 1796, he published his first major work, Poems on Various Subjects, and he formed a close friendship with poet William Wordsworth, which led to collaborations that would define the Romantic Movement.

The Romantic Movement was literary and artistic in the late 18th and early 19th centuries that emphasized emotion, individualism, nature, and the glorification of the past and the imagination, as a reaction against the industrialization and rationalism of the Age of Enlightenment.

In 1797, Coleridge moved to Somerset, where he lived near Wordsworth, and the two poets started working together. In 1798, Coleridge and Wordsworth published Lyrical Ballads, a landmark collection that marked the beginning of the Romantic era. Between 1797 and 1798, Coleridge wrote his epic poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner — which is 620 lines long, divided into seven parts — and is about an old sailor who recounts his harrowing journey, where he faces supernatural forces after killing an albatross, ultimately learning a profound lesson about the sanctity of all living things. It was first published in 1798 as part of Lyrical Ballads.

Around this time, Coleridge’s health began to decline, and his emotional difficulties intensified, so he began relying on opium more and more for relief, which led to an addiction. Although Coleridge is believed to have started using opium in the early 1790s, primarily for medical reasons to relieve pain, his use gradually increased over the years.

Around this time, Coleridge wrote his most famous poem, Kubla Khan, although it wasn’t published until 1816. The poem describes the construction of a majestic palace by the Mongol emperor Kubla Khan in the city of Xanadu, and it masterfully blends vivid imagery of nature with supernatural elements. The poem is known for its dreamlike quality, which Coleridge attributed to an opium-induced vision. Coleridge claimed that he composed the poem in its entirety during an opium-fueled sleep, but when he awoke and began to write it down, he was interrupted, and much of the poem was forgotten, leaving it incomplete, at 54 lines long. Opium played a crucial role in inspiring the surreal and imaginative content of the poem, contributing to its mystical and otherworldly atmosphere.

In the years that followed, Coleridge’s life was marked by increasing struggles with his health and his opium addiction, which affected his personal and professional life. Nonetheless, Coleridge traveled extensively during this period, where he sometimes lectured, and he continued to write, although his productivity waned compared to earlier years. In 1804, Coleridge journeyed to Malta, where he sought to improve his health and served as Acting Public Secretary for the British government.

In 1809, Coleridge launched The Friend, a periodical that he wrote almost entirely by himself, focusing on philosophy, politics, and literature, although it was short-lived. During this time, Coleridge also delivered a series of influential lectures on Shakespeare and Milton, which helped establish his reputation as a leading literary critic. Despite these achievements, his personal life remained troubled, with his addiction worsening.

In 1815, Coleridge began living with the Gillman family in Highgate, London, where he sought treatment for his opium addiction and began working on his later philosophical works. James Gilman was a compassionate physician, who took a special interest in Coleridge’s well-being and provided him with medical supervision, as well as a stable living environment and friendship for the rest of his life.

After moving in with the Gillman family, Coleridge experienced a period of relative stability, and this was marked by a deepening of his philosophical and theological ideas. In 1816, in addition to Kubla Khan being published, he also published some of his most famous poems, including Christabel and Pains of Sleep. In 1817, he published Biographia Literaria, a major work of literary criticism and autobiography that articulated his philosophical views and literary theories. In 1825, Aids to Reflection, was published, which explored Christian philosophy and theology, and this had a lasting impact on religious thought in England. Coleridge also continued to give influential lectures on literature, religion, and philosophy.

After this, Coleridge’s health continued to decline, largely due to his opium addiction, as well as other ailments. Despite his worsening condition, he remained intellectually active, continuing to write and engage in philosophical and theological discussions. Coleridge’s influence as a literary critic and philosopher grew during this time, as his earlier works gained greater recognition. He spent these final years at the Gillman Residence in Highgate.

In 1834, Coleridge died in Middlesex, England at the age of 61. He is buried in the aisle of St. Michael’s Church in Highgate, London.

Coleridge’s work holds significant spiritual and philosophical importance due to his deep engagement with ideas about the human soul, imagination, and the nature of reality. His poetry explores themes of sin, redemption, and the interconnectedness of all living things, reflecting his spiritual concerns. Coleridge’s philosophical writings emphasize the role of the imagination as a bridge between the material and spiritual worlds, influencing later Romantic and transcendental thought.

Coleridge’s exploration of Christian theology, metaphysics, and the power of the human mind had a profound impact on both literature and philosophy, contributing to the development of idealism and influencing thinkers like Ralph Waldo Emerson and John Stuart Mill. His exploration of metaphysical and spiritual themes has influenced both literary and philosophical thought, making him a central figure in the intellectual history of the 19th century. Coleridge’s work continues to be celebrated for its depth, creativity, and profound insights into the human condition.

Some of the quotes that Samuel Taylor Coleridge is known for include:

No man was ever yet a great poet, without at the same time being a profound philosopher.

Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.

Prose: words in their best order; poetry: the best words in the best order.

Advice is like snow; the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into the mind.

Our own heart, and not other men’s opinions, forms our true honor.

He who is best prepared can best serve his moment of inspiration.

A great mind must be androgynous.

What comes from the heart goes to the heart.

No mind is thoroughly well-organized that is deficient in a sense of humor.

by David Jay Brown