Biographies of key Romantic Poets. The Romantic period or Romantic era lasted from the end of the Eighteenth Century towards the mid 19th Century. A key aspect of the Romantic period was the English lyrical poets, who captivated readers with an emotional and vivid depiction of nature and an idealised view of the world.
William Blake (1757 –1827) English poet, wrote Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience. Blake is not considered a classical romantic poet, his poetry had its won uniqueness and realism. However, his poetry can be seen as a stepping stone towards the later romantic poets.
John Keats (1795 – 1821) English Romantic Poet, best known for his Odes, such as Ode to a Nightingale, Endymion. Keats was badly misunderstood during his life and died at the tragic age of 26.
William Wordsworth (1770 – 1850) English romantic poet from Lake District, many poems related to nature, such as his Lyrical Ballards. Became more conservative as he got older, but his early poetry was a vivid example of the romantic ‘nature’ poetry.
Lord Byron (1788 – 1824) English romantic poet. Works include Don Juan. Byron was one of the earliest ‘national celebrities’ and often caused a shock at his wild lifestyle. He was also loved as a romantic poet.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772 – 1834) English romantic poet. Author of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan.
Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792 – 8 July 1822) English romantic poet. Famous works include Queen Mab and Prometheus Unbound. Shelley was also a great supporter of Keats and wrote a wonderful elergy to Keats.
People of the Romantic Era (1790s to 1850s) Romantic poets (Blake, Keats, Coleridge, Wordsworth and Shelley) and Romantic artists, composers and writers.
