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An Introduction to Romanticism: Influential Lyrics:

     This site is intended to help students of British romanticism understand a few of the most influential and characteristic lyric poems of the age. The poems chosen for inclusion here are all canonical "standards"—most have been central to the academic study of romanticism for at least the last 100+ years, and, though the study of romanticism has expanded far beyond the limits of these few poems and these few poets, virtually all students and scholars of the literature are still expected to be familiar these works.

     This site can help build this basic foundation for the study of romanticism. For each poem listed in the column at left, Influential Lyrics provides a printable file with the text of the poem, an audio reading (in a linked mp3 file), some basic explanatory comments, and a handful of study questions. In addition, the "General Bibliography" (see the link at the bottom of each page) lists some key sources to consult for more detailed information and criticism. Some suggestions for how to use these materials are listed in the links below—see the "Questions" and the "Suggestions for Use."

     Two caveats: First, while these few poems are central to the study of romantic literature, they offer only a very limited view of that literature. The literature of the romantics is rich and varied, including all sorts of works of drama, prose fiction, topical satire, epic, political invective, prose essays, literary theory and criticism, theological speculation, and so forth (note, for instance, that neither William Blake nor Jane Austen is here represented, even though both are towering romantic-era writers). Second, there is no real criticism or interpretation included here—no surprising theses or debatable assertions. Instead, Influential Lyrics offers simply a guided close-reading intended to provide some background information, to clarify and describe fundamental themes and structural properties, and (I hope) to foster a sense of the artistry and beauty of these poems. In other words, Influential Lyrics might help readers understand What a poem says or How the poem is structured, but it doesn't pretend to answer Why the poem might be meaningful or significant. Questions of meaning and significance are the domain of criticism, class discussions, and good student essays—all of which will take readers far beyond the mere information provided here.