Evaluate Coleridge’s ‘Dejection: An Ode’ as a representative poem of the Romantic Revival. [British Poetry]

 Coleridge's "Dejection: An Ode" is a representative poem of the Romantic Revival for several reasons. Firstly, the poem reflects the Romantic ideals of emotion, imagination, and nature. The poet expresses his feelings of dejection and despair through vivid imagery and powerful metaphors, which convey the intensity of his emotions. The use of natural imagery, such as the "dreary intercourse of daily life," and the reference to the "bare, forked animal," highlights the connection between the poet's internal emotional state and the external natural world, which is a common theme in Romantic poetry.

Additionally, the poem is a perfect example of the Romantic emphasis on the individual self, as the poet reflects on his own personal experiences and emotions. The poem is written in a highly introspective and confessional style, and the poet uses the first person to express his feelings of dejection and despair, which is a common feature of Romantic poetry.

Furthermore, "Dejection: An Ode" is a prime example of the Romantic preference for spontaneous emotion over reason and the spontaneity of inspiration over calculation. The poet expresses his feelings without any sense of control, and the poem reflects the Romantic belief in the value of the individual experience and emotion over the social and political concerns of the age.

In summary, "Dejection: An Ode" by Coleridge is a representative poem of the Romantic Revival, as it reflects the Romantic ideals of emotion, imagination, and nature, emphasizes the individual self, and gives priority to spontaneous emotion over reason and the spontaneity of inspiration over calculation.