A Study On Sounds In Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s Poems

Samuel Taylor Coleridge(1772-1834)is a representative of British Romantic poetry.His poetry is not only the product of intellectual enquiry,but also the fruit of artistic exploration.With great influence on his contemporaries and poets of later generations,Coleridge’s poetry is of enormous research value.Scholars from home and abroad have analyzed his poetry from the perspective of philosophy,theology,theme,language and etc.This thesis focuses on the sounds in Coleridge’s poems to reveal the multiplicity of sound,as well as the rich connotations and artistic qualities of Coleridge’s poems from the aspects of natural sounds,supernatural sounds and mental voices.This thesis consists of four chapters in addition to Introduction and Conclusion.Introduction presents the life of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and his poetic works,previous research on his poetry,as well as research significance of this thesis.Chapter One first defines the broad connotations of “sound” and its relation to poetry,and then introduces the literary trend of “anti-pictorialism” and the shift to“sound” in the Romantic era,and finally discusses how Coleridge himself views the relationship between sound and poetry.Chapter Two discusses the natural sounds in Coleridge’s conversation poems.Firstly,the reinterpretation of the notes of the nightingale in “The Nightingale: A Conversation Poem” proves that listening to nature is of great significance for capturing Romantic keywords such as “life” and “joy”.Secondly,“silence” in “This Lime Tree Bower My Prison”,“Frost at Midnight” and “Fears in Solitude” is a special presence of sound.It is indispensable because behind the silence lies Coleridge’s reflection on and concern about the individual,the society and his nation.Chapter Three explores sounds in two of Coleridge’s supernatural poems.Firstly,the eerie and mysterious acoustics on the sea in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”can create a realistic sense of experience in the supernatural world,thus suspending readers’ disbelief.Besides,the recurring bell in “Christabel” connects all the principal characters in the poem,and renders this fragmentary poem into a mysterious and organized unity.Chapter Four discusses the mental voices reflected in Coleridge’s poems.Firstly,with some knowledge about the poet’s creative background,different versions of music of the Aeolian harp in “The Eolian Harp” are interpreted,and the convergence of the poet’s personal life,his metaphysical thinking as well as theological speculation at different stages are explored.Secondly,the wind storm in “Dejection:An Ode” is seen as a clue.By investigating the richness and diversity of its sound,the great poetic potential and creative energy behind the dejected voice are revealed.Conclusion points out that the sounds in Coleridge’s poems are helpful to identify him with multiple roles: a Romantic poet who emphasizes the harmonious co-existence between man and nature,a philosopher contemplating on the nature of mind,and a theologian who has a deep understanding of the relationship between man,nature and the Divine.Moreover,the sounds in his poetry posit a means of discovering Coleridge’s extraordinary poetic creativity and imaginative power,and reveal the artistic qualities of his poetry.