1. Samuel Taylor Coleridge

2. Samuel Taylor Coleridge

3. Early Life Born October 21, 1772 Devonshire, England
Pursued life as clergy at first
Began to sway while in Jesus College, Cambridge
Racked up large debt while in school
Brothers had to eventually pay off debt
Debt followed him throughout his life; usually depending on friends to help support him

4. Inspirations Met Robert Southey before taking a trip
Two gentlemen hit it off and discussed Plato’s republic
Decided to plan a pantisocracy (equal government by all) by going to New World with 10 families to set up a commune by a river
Left on trip and returned to Southey’s engagement
Coleridge was in love with another woman who was already engaged, so he married Southey’s fiancé’s sister
Their marriage was distant at best

5. Coleridge + Wordsworth = Lyrical Ballads
In 1795, Coleridge met William Wordsworth
Wordsworth influenced Coleridge’s style immediately
Coleridge went from “celebratory and conventional” to a more natural progression in his poetry
Coleridge published his first work during this time
In , Coleridge lived by Wordsworth and Wordsworth’s sister, Dorothy
They collaborated on Lyrical Ballads

6. Lyrical Ballads
Lyrical Ballads is considered the volume of poetry that really started the Romantic Period
It is known to encapsulate all of the great poetry of that time between the two writers
Many believe that after this was published, Wordsworth lost his skills and never wrote anything as good again

7. In the end… Coleridge was addicted to opium and also ill
Moved about a lot to fight opium addiction
Finally moved in with doctor during later years to help fight addiction
Died in 1834