Foundation of literary theory and criticism

Assignment Title: ‘Biographia Literaria’ by: S.T.Coleridge

Course Title: Foundation of literary theory and criticism

Course Code: ENG-503

Bs. English (5th Semester, Evening-A)

Submitted To: Ma’am Qurratulain Najeeb Jamal

Submitted By: Aiman Kinza 61

Submission Date: November28, 2022

GOVERNMENT COLLEGE WOMEN UNIVERSITY, FAISALABAD

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

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 Foundation of literary theory and criticism

Essential Parts of the ‘Biographia Literaria’ by S.T.Coleridge;

Poetic diction, concept of poetry, Suspension of disbelief

‘Biographia Literaria’ is an important work of criticism, it is also known as ‘Biographical Sketches

of My Literary Life’. It is divided into 24 chapters, and is a fusion of philosophy and criticism. It is written

by S.T.Coleridge one of the founders of the Romantic Movement in England and a poet, critic, philosopher,

and theologian. His other notable works included 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner', 'Kubla Khan', his

theory 'suspension of disbelief', etc. He was best known for his supernatural and unique themes. It is a

meditative narrative [having a mixture of philosophy and opinion, discussion of multiple issues], described

as ‘immethodical miscellany’ intended to be a short preface to the collection of his poem ‘Sibylene Leave’

[1817] but coming out as a full-fledged book. Firstly, Coleridge discussed his school life, secondly, critical

theory of poetry, thirdly, fancy and imagination, criticism of Words Worth’s poetry…

Firstly, the operating language of poetry, the style of writing poetry, which is mainly referred to as

poetic diction, was artistically explained in Biographia Literaria. Coleridge also criticizes Words Worth

and says that ‘on what points I coincide with the opinions in that preface, and in what points I altogether

differ’. According to Words Worth poetic diction should mimic the language of common men [low diction]

‘to bring language near to the language of men’, based on rustic men. On the other hand, Coleridge argued

that poetry is always a product of creative artifice. It is never natural; it is always artificial as its creation is

voluntary act carried out by the poet. Hence its language should be different from natural language or

language of common men. It’s a piece of art having special willing efforts of artist [not a spontaneous

overflow of emotion], so; its language should be artistic, technical. He holds that poetic language is a work

of artifice which is specifically crafted. Hence, it should not lose its poetic quality. He said that common

men language would not be appropriate to provide suitable diction to show various experiences. Coleridge

also disagrees with Words worth viewing the assertion that ‘there neither is nor can be any essential

difference between the language of prose and metrical composition’. He argued that poetry should be

different from prose because their aims are different. The use of meter is as artificial as the use of poetic

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diction. He argued that Words worth’s characters and language are also not from low and rustic life in all his

works.

Secondly, the concept of poetry is also beautifully explained in ‘Biographia Literaria’. According to

Words Worth, poetry is “poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings” and "emotion recollected in

tranquility." While Coleridge said that poetry is always a product of creative artifice. It is never natural; it is

always artificial as its creation is voluntary act [not a spontaneous overflow] carried out by the poet. Poetry

is activity of poet’s mind. Poetic creativity is based on imagination. Imagination is soul of poetry. In order

to support that concept, ‘the concept of imagination’ is explained. Basically, there are two types of

imagination introduced by Coleridge. The first is ‘primary imagination’; it’s a kind of imagination that every

person possesses because every person has healthy brains and cognitive abilities, so, everyone has a certain

sense of imagination. It is ‘divine ability to create’ because when a person is observing something or

supposed to plan something, he will create scenarios in his mind all with the help of imagination. These

scenarios are moving in person’s mind like animations, so, it is a ‘source of all animated power’. It is also

‘involuntary perception’ because of cognitive abilities people involuntarily perceive things they watch. So,

now in it, people have done with their observation and perception process. Next one is ‘secondary

imagination’; which is power of the mind of an artist [not an ordinary person has such imagination]. It’s a

power of human mind to create by virtue of perception and recollection. According to Coleridge, an artist

creates an art or work after a process of perceiving, recollecting, and then creating an artistic work or poetry

by using his secondary memory with extra power and voluntary efforts [nevertheless involuntary overflow].

Everyone has interaction with nature, not everyone wants to interpret it like poets. It requires, ‘will’ to work

upon raw material, poetry is not as much spontaneous or natural as it is based on a person’s special, active

will and efforts. Thus, Coleridge, concept of poetry is in contrast with Wordsworth. Coleridge said that

meter is a crucial part of poetry. He does not provide a clear purpose of poetry, but he said that poetry is

basically transmission of pleasure. He said: "A poem is that species of composition which is opposed to the

works of science by proposing for its immediate object pleasure, not truth."

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He said that poetry is highest form, can exist without meter too. Poetry is combination of all human wisdom,

ideas, and experience.

S.T.Coleridge had also given the concept of a new theory, ‘Suspension of Disbelief’ which is also

known as ‘Willing Suspension of Disbelief’, in ‘Biographia Literaria’. According to him, it is the avoidance

of critical thinking, in which, for a certain time period, audience suspends [ignores/avoids] the disbelief

[unreal happenings or events] of the work or play; in order to experience what is happening in it or for the

sake of enjoyment. It is highly used in plays, movies, and in all types of fictional works, for enjoyment. For

instance, if a person read gothic novel such as ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ or ‘Frankenstein’,

there are a lot of unreal things and happening like Goblin [different creature] even a magical world, ghosts,

vampire, monster [in Frankenstein], but in order to understand the events of novel, person will willing avoid

or ignore the disbelief, for enjoyment [in order to experience catharsis sometimes].

Wordsworth wanted to transform ordinary things into extraordinary things; such as he had done in

his poetry [depicting daily life ordinary things, depicting an ordinary shepherd in such a way that people

wished them to be shepherds, ordinary Daffodils into an extraordinary creations, etc.]. While Coleridge

wanted to depict an extraordinary as an ordinary, such as supernatural things [that generally do not exist in

world, such as fairy, goddess, black magic, Satan]; as he did in 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' by

describing ghosts or spirits in it. He depicted the supernatural things in such a way that they seem to be an

integral part of life [ordinary]. He said that characters should be romantic [means outwardly, fantastic], and

he tries to give them ‘human interest’ and ‘semblance of disbelief’ that would rapid audience to the

‘willing suspension of disbelief … which constitutes poetic faith’.

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