Discussion Topic
Shelley as a revolutionary poet
Summary:
Shelley is considered a revolutionary poet due to his radical ideas on politics, society, and human rights. His works often challenge oppressive institutions and advocate for personal and societal liberation. Poems like "Ode to the West Wind" symbolize transformation and change, reflecting his belief in the power of the individual and collective action to bring about revolutionary change.
How would you describe Shelley as a revolutionary poet?
Percy Bysshe Shelley can be described as revolutionary in several ways,
namely in terms of his lifestyle and personal beliefs, in terms of the content
of his poetry, in light of his notions of the role of the poet, and in terms of
the literary form of his poems.
When still a student at Oxford, Shelley wrote a pamphlet advocating atheism,
and a strong politically and religiously radical strand runs through his
personal beliefs and writings, include advocacy of revolution as a response to
authoritarian regimes. He felt that poets were the unacknowledged legislators
of mankind and that poetic inspiration carried the authority previously
accorded to mystical religion, a notion revolutionary in being intensely
individualistic. His poetic expression of intense emotion in irregular ode
forms could be seen as a revolution against the controlled and decorous
use of the heroic couplet by the Augustan poets.
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