S. T. COLERIDGE - BIOGRAPHIA LITERARIA / CH =14

Welcome: Coleridge: Biographia Literaria

Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Biographia Literaria: Chapter 14

⏩BRIEF INTRO : 

The written monument of Coleridge’s critical work is contained in 24 chapters of Biographia Literaria (1815–17). In this critical disquisition, Coleridge concerns himself not only with the practice of criticism, but also, with its theory. In his practical approach to criticism, we get the glimpse of Coleridge the poet; whereas in theoretical discussion, Coleridge the philosopher came to the centre stage. In Chapter XIV of Biographia Literaria, Coleridge’s view on nature and function of poetry is discussed in philosophical terms. The poet within Coleridge discusses the difference between poetry and prose, and the immediate function of poetry, whereas the philosopher discusses the difference between poetry and poem.  He was the first English writer to insist that every work of art is, by its very nature, an organic whole. 

Q-1➤ Write in your words the difference between poem and prose.

ANS: 

Very simply people believes that poem is something which written by the use of meter,rhyme,diction etc; and prose is something which written unrhyme (not in rhyme).but it is wrong. If rhyme, meter and diction are super added and they do not harmonies  with   organic whole then they have nothing to do with poem.

        *POEM : Artificial arrangements of word ,

         If poet simply facilitate the memory to recollect certain facts by the use of artificial                             arrangements of  words ,as a result composition will be a poem.

         *PROSE :Words in their best order ,

⇒ DIFFERENCE OF OBJECT

Prose and Poem both contains same elements but their compositions are different. The 'object'(aim) is major difference between them. Objects have two types -1] immediate and [2] ultimate. 

⇛I] POEM : The Immediate object of poem is 'PLEASURE', not truth ;but sometimes poem maybe gave truth as  ultimate object. whereas ,

⇛II] PROSE: The prose work like Scientific and historical composition , the immediate aim or object is 'TRUTH'.In some other prose works like novels, to give pleasure is immediate aim and the ultimate end maybe  to give truth.

Q-2➤Write in your words the difference between poem and poetry.

ANS:

 'The poem of any length neither can be, nor ought to be, all poetry.'

One is a specific instance of the other.Means Poem is a specific instance of poetry.Poetry is a kind of tree and poem is one branch of these tree. It's all depended on imagination.

 

*IMAGINATION : 'CREATING AND RECREATING KNOWN AND SEEN IMAGES.'

There are two types of imagination.

1] primary imagination 

⇝ Uniting the objects of sense. 

2] secondary imagination 

⇝ Unifying the objects of sense with emotions and feelings.

@ POETRY IS : 

-Distinction resulting from the poetic genius itself, which sustains and modifies the images, thoughts, and emotions of the poet's own mind,

-The best words in their best order ,

-Activity of poets mind 

- eg. 1] Steve jobs -I PHONE 

        2] RIGHT BROTHER,S AIRPLANE 

Both things are apt for example of poetry.Poetry is imagination of poet in which he added something and harmonies it.  

          

@ poem:

-is merely one of the forms of poet's  expression

Poem is only imagination of post.

Ordinary poets can only wrote poems by their primary imaginations,whereas extra ordinary poets can write poetry and there for they need secondary imagination.And it is necessary in them.