To William Wordsworth. Composed On The Night After His Recitation Of A Poem On The Growth Of An Indi by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Poem, Summary, & Analysis)

 

To William Wordsworth. Composed On The Night After His Recitation Of A Poem On The Growth Of An Indi

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

(Poem, Summary, & Analysis) 

To William Wordsworth. Composed On The Night After His Recitation Of A Poem On The Growth Of An Indi

 

Friend of the Wise! and Teacher of the Good!

Into my heart have I received that Lay

More than historic, that prophetic Lay

Wherein (high theme by thee first sung aright)

Of the foundations and the building up

Of a Human Spirit thou hast dared to tell

What may be told, to the understanding mind

Revealable; and what within the mind

By vital breathings secret as the soul

Of vernal growth, oft quickens in the heart

Thoughts all too deep for words!--

 

Theme hard as high!

Of smiles spontaneous, and mysterious fears

(The first-born they of Reason and twin-birth),

Of tides obedient to external force,

And currents self-determined, as might seem,

Or by some inner Power; of moments awful,

Now in thy inner life, and now abroad,

When power streamed from thee, and thy soul received

The light reflected, as a light bestowed--

Of fancies fair, and milder hours of youth,

Hyblean murmurs of poetic thought

Industrious in its joy, in vales and glens

Native or outland, lakes and famous hills!

Or on the lonely high-road, when the stars

Were rising; or by secret mountain-streams,

The guides and the companions of thy way!

 

Of more than Fancy, of the Social Sense

Distending wide, and man beloved as man,

Where France in all her towns lay vibrating

Like some becalméd bark beneath the burst

Of Heaven's immediate thunder, when no cloud

Is visible, or shadow on the main.

For thou wert there, thine own brows garlanded,

Amid the tremor of a realm aglow,

Amid the mighty nation jubilant,

When from the general heart of human kind

Hope sprang forth like a full-born Diety!

----Of that dear Hope afflicted and struck down,

So summoned homeward, thenceforth calm and sure

From the dread watch-tower of man's absolute self,

With light unwaning on her eyes, to look

Far on--herself a glory to behold,

The Angel of the vision! Then (last strain)

Of Duty, chosen Laws controlling choice,

Action and Joy!--An Orphic song indeed,

A song divine of high and passionate thoughts

To their own music chaunted!

 

O great Bard!

Ere yet that last strain dying awed the air,

With stedfast eye I viewed thee in the choir

Of ever-enduring men. The truly great

Have all one age, and from one visible space

Shed influence! They, both in power and act,

Are permanent, and Time is not with them,

Save as it worketh for them, they in it.

Nor less a sacred Roll, than those of old,

And to be placed, as they, with gradual fame

Among the archives of mankind, thy work

Makes audible a linkéd lay of Truth,

Of Truth profound a sweet continuous lay,

Not learnt, but native, her own natural notes!

Ah! as I listened with a heart forlorn,

The pulses of my being beat anew:

And even as Life returns upon the drowned,

Life's joy rekindling roused a throng of pains--

Keen pangs of Love, awakening as a babe

Turbulent, with an outcry in the heart;

And Fears self-willed, that shunned the eye of Hope;

And Hope that scarce would know itself from Fear;

Sense of past Youth, and Manhood come in vain,

And Genius given, and Knowledge won in vain;

And all which I had culled in wood-walks wild,

And all which patient toil had reared, and all,

Commune with thee had opened out--but flowers

Strewed on my corse, and borne upon my bier,

In the same coffin, for the self-same grave!

 

That way no more! and ill beseems it me,

Who came a welcomer in herald's guise,

Singing of Glory, and Futurity,

To wander back on such unhealthful road,

Plucking the poisons of self-harm! And ill

Such intertwine beseems triumphal wreaths

Strew'd before thy advancing!

 

Nor do thou,

Sage Bard! impair the memory of that hour

Of thy communion with my nobler mind

By pity or grief, already felt too long!

Nor let my words import more blame than needs.

The tumult rose and ceased: for Peace is nigh

Where Wisdom's voice has found a listening heart.

Amid the howl of more than wintry storms,

The Halcyon hears the voice of vernal hours

Already on the wing.

 

Eve following eve,

Dear tranquil time, when the sweet sense of Home

Is sweetest! moments for their own sake hailed

And more desired, more precious, for thy song,

In silence listening, like a devout child,

My soul lay passive, by thy various strain

Driven as in surges now beneath the stars,

With momentary stars of my own birth,

Fair constellated foam, still darting off

Into the darkness; now a tranquil sea,

Outspread and bright, yet swelling to the moon.

 

And when--O Friend ! my comforter and guide!

Strong in thyself, and powerful to give strength!--

Thy long sustainéd Song finally closed,

And thy deep voice had ceased--yet thou thyself

Wert still before my eyes, and round us both

That happy vision of belovéd faces--

Scarce conscious, and yet conscious of its close

I sate, my being blended in one thought

(Thought was it? or aspiration? or resolve?)

Absorbed, yet hanging still upon the sound--

And when I rose, I found myself in prayer.

 

Summary

The poem is an outpouring of admiration, emotional reflection, and deep spiritual response by Samuel Taylor Coleridge to a poem recited by his close friend William Wordsworth, which is likely an early version of The Prelude. Coleridge responds on the very night of the recitation, overwhelmed by the depth and grandeur of Wordsworth’s work.

 

Lines 1–11: Reception of the Poem

Coleridge begins by addressing Wordsworth as the “Friend of the Wise” and “Teacher of the Good”, expressing that he has received the poem not just intellectually but deep in his heart. He describes it as more than a historical account—rather a prophetic lay—that dares to speak of how the human spirit is formed and developed. It conveys what can be told to an understanding mind, and even suggests those deep, ineffable truths that are felt inwardly, like the secret stirrings of spring (“vernal growth”)—truths too profound for words.

 

Lines 12–36: High and Complex Themes of the Poem

He praises the poem for tackling an extremely difficult theme: the evolution of human consciousness. It explores spontaneous joys and mysterious fears—the roots of reason and emotion. It reflects on internal psychological forces and external influences, capturing sublime moments when the soul is illuminated either from within or through the reflection of outward beauty and power.

Coleridge recalls the range of experiences the poem covers: youthful imagination, poetic inspiration, and moments of awe. Whether Wordsworth walked through local or foreign landscapes, under stars, or beside hidden streams, nature was always a guide and companion to his poetic journey.

 

Lines 37–56: The Social and Political Context

Coleridge emphasizes that Wordsworth's poetic insight goes beyond personal imagination; it includes a deep social consciousness. He recalls the hopeful days of the French Revolution, when all of France was alive with the idea of liberty—like a ship suddenly struck by divine thunder. Wordsworth had been in France during that emotional upheaval, adorned by the spirit of hope that had gripped all of humanity.

Yet, this hope was eventually shattered. But rather than falling into despair, Hope re-emerged more serene and assured. Now personified as an angelic, visionary presence, Hope resides in the “absolute self,” calmly looking far into the future with unwavering light.

 

Lines 57–65: The Noble Strain of Duty

The last part of Wordsworth’s poem, Coleridge says, sang of Duty—a moral law embraced with full awareness. This, he says, is like an Orphic song, a hymn of divine origin, filled with intense and noble thoughts harmonized into poetic music.

 

Lines 66–82: Awe and Admiration for Wordsworth

Coleridge pauses to address Wordsworth directly again. Even before the last note of the poem had faded, he had already seen him as part of the eternal choir of truly great men. True greatness, he says, is timeless. Such figures act with lasting power, and their works become part of the sacred history of humanity. Wordsworth’s poem, too, is worthy to be archived with the works of ancient sages. It sings not with borrowed learning, but with the native music of truth itself.

 

Lines 83–100: Coleridge's Emotional Reaction

The effect on Coleridge is profound and deeply painful. He compares himself to a drowning man being revived—life returns, but with it comes intense pain. The joy of hearing the poem revives his own past hopes, love, fears, and regrets. He reflects on his lost youth, wasted manhood, and the seeming futility of his own gifts and learning. All his past efforts, he feels, have become like flowers laid on his own corpse—beautiful but destined to decay with him in the same grave.

 

Lines 101–109: A Call to Move On

Coleridge interrupts this gloomy reflection. He realizes it is unworthy of him—especially since he once sang of glory and the future. He recognizes that indulging in self-pity and regret only poisons the moment. It would be wrong to cast such dark thoughts before the triumphal path of Wordsworth’s poetic achievement.

 

Lines 110–116: A Plea to Wordsworth

He asks Wordsworth not to let this moment of communion between their higher minds be spoiled by sympathy or sorrow. He insists his own grief need not be dwelled upon. The storm of emotion has passed, and now peace is near—wherever wisdom finds a listening heart. Even in the midst of life’s coldest storms, he suggests, the Halcyon (a bird symbolic of calm) already hears spring on its way.

 

Lines 117–129: Quiet Reflection and Reverence

Coleridge recounts how, during the evenings that followed, he treasured the tranquil sense of home, made even more precious by Wordsworth’s poem. As he listened in silence, like a devout child, he felt himself transported—sometimes as if riding waves beneath starlight, sometimes as a calm sea reflecting the moon. His inner world was stirred and illuminated by Wordsworth’s poetic “strain.”

 

Lines 130–139: Closing – A Spiritual Awakening

He concludes by directly addressing Wordsworth as his friend, guide, and source of strength. Even after the poem ended, Wordsworth himself remained vividly before his eyes, surrounded by the presence of beloved faces. Coleridge became so spiritually absorbed in the experience that he could not distinguish between thought, aspiration, or resolve—it was all one. He rose from the experience not with intellectual reflection, but in prayer, indicating how deeply he had been moved, even transformed.

 

Overall Summary

This poem is a deeply personal and emotional tribute from Coleridge to Wordsworth. It praises the poetic mastery, spiritual depth, and philosophical insight of Wordsworth’s work—especially in depicting the development of the human soul and moral self. At the same time, it reveals Coleridge’s own inner turmoil, regrets, and spiritual yearning. In the end, the experience of hearing Wordsworth’s poem becomes a sacred, almost religious event, rekindling hope and ending in silent prayer.

 

Analysis in Detail

Poem Overview

This poem is a deeply emotional response by Samuel Taylor Coleridge to William Wordsworth’s recitation of what would later become part of The Prelude. It praises Wordsworth’s poetic and philosophical depth while simultaneously revealing Coleridge’s own sense of loss, failure, and inner conflict. It is a rare poetic moment where one great poet pays tribute to another—not only as a friend, but as a spiritual and intellectual guide.

 

Themes and Philosophical Concerns

1. Greatness of the Poet and Poetry

Coleridge exalts Wordsworth as a “Friend of the Wise” and “Teacher of the Good”, suggesting his poetry transcends ordinary verse and enters the realm of spiritual revelation. He calls the poem a “prophetic lay,” highlighting its role in unveiling hidden truths about the growth of the human soul—truths both observable and mystical.

Wordsworth’s poetry, in Coleridge’s view, is akin to divine inspiration.

Coleridge emphasizes that it touches truths that are “too deep for words”—revealing poetry’s capacity to surpass even rational discourse.

 

2. The Development of the Individual Mind

At the heart of Wordsworth’s poem (and Coleridge’s response) is the philosophical exploration of the growth of human consciousness. Coleridge admires how Wordsworth traces the development of the individual—from childhood to maturity—through memory, nature, imagination, and self-awareness.

The poem explores how human consciousness is shaped both by internal forces (like imagination and conscience) and external stimuli (like nature and historical events).

Coleridge praises how Wordsworth portrays this journey with “moments awful”, illuminating flashes of insight that lead to moral and spiritual clarity.

 

3. Power of Nature and the Sublime

The imagery Coleridge uses to describe Wordsworth’s life—walking under stars, by mountain streams, or in native glens—reflects the Romantic belief that Nature is not just a backdrop but an active participant in human development.

Nature is the guide, companion, and inspirer of the poet.

The “light reflected” and “light bestowed” echo Wordsworth’s own ideas about the reciprocal relationship between mind and nature.

 

4. Hope, Revolution, and Disillusionment

Coleridge recalls the era of the French Revolution—a time when hope flourished like a divine birth. Wordsworth had witnessed this firsthand, and Coleridge lauds his poetic rendering of its excitement and collapse.

Coleridge uses metaphors like “Hope sprang forth like a full-born Deity” to express the revolutionary fervor.

Yet this hope was “afflicted and struck down”, paralleling the moral and political disillusionment both poets experienced.

Coleridge appreciates how Wordsworth handles this shift with spiritual maturity—presenting Hope as serene and visionary, now situated in the “absolute self”—a reference to philosophical idealism (especially Kantian ideas of moral autonomy).

 

5. Duty and Moral Will

Wordsworth's poem ends with a meditation on duty, and Coleridge is especially moved by this. He calls it an “Orphic song”—mythically divine and wise.

For Coleridge, the concept of duty is the culmination of all personal and philosophical development.

Duty, unlike impulsive joy or fleeting hope, becomes a lasting and deliberate commitment to moral action.

 

6. The Poetic and Eternal

Coleridge places Wordsworth among the “choir of ever-enduring men”—those rare individuals whose works are timeless. He claims that such poets exist outside time, and their work belongs in humanity’s sacred archives.

Poets like Wordsworth are part of a transcendent tradition that is not bound by historical time.

Poetry becomes a sacred link in the “linked lay of Truth”—each great poet adding their voice to an eternal chorus.

 

Coleridge’s Personal Crisis and Emotional Response

1. Revived but Wounded

While he praises Wordsworth’s poem, Coleridge also admits that it has reawakened his own buried pains. The image of a drowned man revived captures this paradox: joy returns, but so does the pain.

His response is deeply personal—he feels stirred, yet that very stirring leads to suffering.

The joy of poetic and spiritual truth throws his own failures into sharp relief.

 

2. Regret and Sense of Lost Potential

Coleridge compares his life’s work to flowers on a coffin—beautiful but ultimately futile. He laments that all his gifts, knowledge, and efforts now seem wasted.

There’s a sharp contrast between Wordsworth’s rising greatness and Coleridge’s perceived decline.

His line “Sense of past Youth, and Manhood come in vain” encapsulates his self-disappointment.

 

3. Self-Awareness and Recovery

But Coleridge does not dwell long in self-pity. He rebukes himself, realizing it is “ill beseems” someone who once sang of glory to indulge in poisonous self-harm. He chooses instead to lay down these regrets and celebrate Wordsworth’s achievement without marring it with sorrow.

This is a moment of self-correction and humility.

He acknowledges that poetry should elevate, not be burdened by personal bitterness.

 

Spiritual and Transformative Closure

In the final stanzas, Coleridge describes the quiet evenings after the recitation. He is filled with a sacred stillness, listening like a “devout child”. His soul is moved by the music of Wordsworth’s verse, and in the end, without conscious thought, he finds himself in prayer.

The transformation is spiritual: poetry has led him from despair to devotion.

The poem ends not with analysis, but with surrender—suggesting that true art and friendship can stir the soul toward divine reflection.

 

Language, Style, and Structure

Form: The poem is written in blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter), allowing a natural, reflective tone.

Tone: Reverent, emotional, introspective, admiring.

Imagery: Strong use of natural imagery (stars, streams, mountains, seasons), political allusions (Revolution), and personal metaphors (drowning, resurrection).

Syntax: Long, flowing sentences mirror the meditative thought process.

Allusions: Classical (Orpheus), Biblical (angelic visions, prayer), and philosophical (Kantian self, Romantic naturalism).

 

Conclusion

Coleridge’s “To William Wordsworth” is a powerful poetic homage, blending admiration with personal confession. It honors Wordsworth’s vision of human development, the power of poetry, and the moral imperative of duty. At the same time, it reveals Coleridge’s own internal struggle—with regret, inadequacy, and the longing for peace. Ultimately, the poem is a testament to the redemptive and spiritual force of true poetry and deep friendship.

 

Key Exam Points

Title and Context

Occasion: Written after Wordsworth recited an early version of The Prelude to Coleridge in 1807–08.

Significance: A rare poetic tribute by one major poet to another, expressing admiration and personal emotional impact.

 

Main Themes

Growth of the Human Mind

Wordsworth’s poem explores the moral and spiritual development of the self.

Coleridge praises how it reveals hidden psychological truths.

Nature and the Imagination

Nature is both the teacher and companion in personal development.

The imagination shapes and reflects external experience.

Hope and Disillusionment

The French Revolution initially brought hope, later replaced by disillusionment.

Wordsworth’s mature vision finds strength in inner moral duty.

Duty and Moral Will

Final phase of human growth involves conscious acceptance of moral responsibility.

Poetic Greatness and Immortality

Wordsworth is placed among the “ever-enduring men”—timeless, prophetic poets.

Poetry is described as a sacred, truth-revealing force.

Personal Struggle and Regret

Coleridge’s joy in Wordsworth’s greatness is mingled with personal grief and feelings of failure.

He refers to his past gifts and learning as wasted, symbolized as flowers on his own coffin.

Spiritual Awakening through Art

Despite sorrow, Coleridge experiences emotional revival and spiritual calm.

Ends in prayer—art leads to transcendence.

 

Tone and Mood

Tone: Reverential, admiring, introspective, melancholic, yet spiritually elevated.

Mood: Emotional turbulence mixed with intellectual awe and eventual peace.

 

Form and Style

Verse Form: Blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter).

Style: Meditative, lyrical, and philosophical.

Imagery: Natural, celestial, spiritual, and psychological imagery.

 

Important Literary Devices

Allusion: Orphic song (Orpheus), French Revolution, classical and biblical references.

Symbolism: Nature symbolizes personal and spiritual development; flowers on a coffin symbolize lost potential.

Metaphor: Drowning and revival, light and reflection, winds and tides for inner forces.

 

Key Lines for Quotation

“Friend of the Wise! and Teacher of the Good!”

“Hope sprang forth like a full-born Deity!”

“A song divine of high and passionate thoughts / To their own music chaunted!”

“And when I rose, I found myself in prayer.”

 

Significance in Romanticism

Embodies Romantic ideals: the power of imagination, reverence for nature, introspection, and the sacred role of the poet.

Represents Romantic friendship and creative dialogue between Coleridge and Wordsworth.

Merges emotion and philosophy, showing the poet as both a thinker and a feeler.

 

Examinable Focus Areas

Coleridge’s tribute to poetic genius.

Relationship between nature, mind, and morality.

Coleridge’s personal crisis and emotional honesty.

Use of language and form to reflect spiritual experience.

Role of poetry as prophecy and revelation.

 

Revision Sheet

Title and Context

Written after Wordsworth recited a version of The Prelude to Coleridge.

A powerful poetic response, expressing awe, admiration, and personal emotional turmoil.

Coleridge sees Wordsworth’s work as a prophetic account of the spiritual growth of the human soul.

 

Key Themes

Spiritual and Intellectual Growth

Wordsworth traces the formation of the human mind and spirit, especially through contact with nature.

Coleridge recognizes this as a rare and profound poetic achievement.

Nature as Teacher and Companion

Nature plays an essential role in shaping the moral and emotional life of the individual.

Hope and Disillusionment

The early hope of the French Revolution is contrasted with its later failure.

Wordsworth's poetry shows how the soul must find strength within, through duty and moral resolve.

The Role of Duty

The idea of “chosen Laws controlling choice” points to the power of deliberate moral action.

This is presented as the culmination of true personal development.

Poetic Immortality and Greatness

Coleridge places Wordsworth among the timeless “ever-enduring men,” like classical prophets and poets.

Wordsworth’s poetry is seen as sacred, a natural music of truth.

Coleridge’s Personal Reflection and Grief

The poem becomes intensely personal as Coleridge reflects on his own lost youth, failed promise, and creative struggles.

His sense of regret is profound—he likens his talents and knowledge to flowers laid on his own coffin.

Emotional and Spiritual Awakening

Despite sorrow, Coleridge experiences a deep revival of feeling.

The poem ends on a moment of peace, humility, and spiritual clarity—“I found myself in prayer.”

 

Tone and Mood

Tone: Reverent, admiring, deeply emotional, confessional.

Mood: A mix of inspiration and melancholy, ending with spiritual calm.

 

Style and Form

Written in blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter).

Lyrical and meditative.

Reflects Coleridge’s typical introspective and philosophical style.

 

Imagery and Devices

Natural Imagery: Mountains, streams, stars, flowers—all reflecting inner emotional states.

Metaphor: Drowning and revival for spiritual awakening; flowers on a coffin for lost potential.

Allusion: Orphic song (Orpheus), French Revolution, biblical overtones.

Symbolism: Nature, light, and tides symbolizing inward and outward forces shaping the soul.

 

Memorable Lines

“Friend of the Wise! and Teacher of the Good!”

“Hope sprang forth like a full-born Deity!”

“A song divine of high and passionate thoughts / To their own music chaunted!”

“And when I rose, I found myself in prayer.”

 

Romantic Features

Intense subjectivity and introspection.

Emphasis on nature, imagination, and emotion.

Reverence for genius and artistic inspiration.

Celebration of the poet as prophet and moral guide.

Honest confrontation with inner conflict and failure.

 

Points to Remember for Exams

This is Coleridge’s tribute to The Prelude and to Wordsworth’s vision.

It reflects both admiration and personal sorrow—making it deeply autobiographical.

Use of blank verse mirrors Milton’s Paradise Lost, suggesting spiritual grandeur.

The poem explores the psychological depth of poetic creation and reception.

Ends with spiritual renewal—poetry becomes a path to transcendence.

 

Possible Exam Questions

 

What inspired Coleridge to write this poem?

 

Identify and explain the metaphor of “flowers strewed on my corse.”

 

What role does nature play in the poem?

 

Quote a line that reflects Coleridge’s admiration for Wordsworth.

 

How does Coleridge describe the emotional impact of hearing Wordsworth’s poem?

 

Describe the mood of the poem and how it changes throughout.

 

How does Coleridge present Wordsworth as a prophetic poet?

 

Comment on the use of natural imagery in the poem.

 

How does Coleridge contrast his own creative failure with Wordsworth’s success?

 

What does Coleridge suggest about the relationship between poetry and spiritual experience?

 

Discuss how Coleridge’s poem reflects the ideals of Romanticism.

 

Examine the personal and emotional tone of Coleridge in ‘To William Wordsworth’.

 

Analyse the ways in which Coleridge praises Wordsworth’s poetic achievement in this poem.

 

How does Coleridge combine reverence for Wordsworth with introspective self-criticism?

 

In what ways does ‘To William Wordsworth’ express both admiration and melancholy? Support with references.

 

“A song divine of high and passionate thoughts / To their own music chaunted” — Comment on the significance of this line.

 

How does Coleridge depict the growth of the human spirit as outlined in Wordsworth’s poem?

 

“And when I rose, I found myself in prayer.” – Analyse the spiritual resolution at the end of the poem.

 

Consider Coleridge’s use of blank verse and poetic devices in conveying deep emotion and philosophical reflection.