Topic > "This lime bower is my prison" and The Essence of Romanticism

The spirit of Romanticism, although famously broad in its philosophy, had definite universal views on the concepts of the individual, nature and imagination; which forms the basis of what are now known as the main aspects of the movement. Such aspects, addressed in Samuel Coleridge's “The Lime-Tree Bower My Prison”, include the focus on the natural world, which is associated with both its ability to transform the individual. than to the human one. such as its connection with religion, the potential of the imagination and the position of the individual in his sphere of being. These issues are reflected in "The Lime-Tree Bower My Prison" in the way he deals with the topic and in its structure. to plagiarism Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned" Get an original essay Coleridge's "This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison" reflects the romantic notion of the power of? imagination and its role in transformation. of the individual. As Milton states in Paradise Lost, "the mind is its own place, and it itself can make a heaven out of hell and a hell out of heaven", the Romantics believed that the imagination had the extraordinary power to initiate the transformation of the state of the 'individual. , particularly when used in response to the natural world. In “This Lime-Tree Prison My Bower,” an analysis of this concept can be seen in Coleridge's reversal of attitude. Initially, Coleridge displays an attitude of resentment as he sits in "this lime bower, my person." He laments, “here I must stay… meanwhile friends… wonder in joy,” with a sense of melodramatic hyperbole that expresses his petulant state of mind. Imagination, however, allows Coleridge to overcome his state of self-pity, as he remains paralyzed by a romanticized nature. His imaginary journey through the 'roaring of' to the 'Western Ridge' instills a feeling of awe, highlighted through the richness of color with which he describes the 'glorious Sun... purple heather flowers... blue ocean' and ' yellow light." Indeed, imagination allows Coleridge to achieve a greater appreciation for his surroundings, noting "much that soothed him," alluding to the bright and uplifting images of "transparent foliage, of some leaf wide and sunny... which dapples the sunlight". His renewed attitude is evident in his new perception of the pergola, because it is no longer a resentful "prison", but an affectionate "little lime tree pergola". In fact , is "happy as if/as if I myself were [with my friends]", underlining the power of the imagination to transform the individual's attitudes. Thus “The lime tree arbor, my prison”, through the representation of The poet's imaginary journey through nature, portrays the Romantic concept of the imagination's potential to transform the individual's attitude. The poem “This Linden Bower, My Prison” also explores the romantic role of the individual within the universe. The focus on the isolation of the individual and his place within his existential sphere is a key aspect of Romanticism. The structure of the poem itself, in a first-person colloquial style from the author's point of view, allows for a more introspective and subjective approach to the subject and invites the reader to participate in Coleridge's stream of consciousness. The focus on the individual's isolation is clearly established in the first line "well, they're gone, and here I must stay" with the juxtaposition of personal pronouns emphasizing his isolation. Coleridge also echoes another aspect of Romanticism with the exploration of the position of the individual:.