Romanticism in Poetry: Analysis of Keats' 'Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art' and Shelley's 'Ode to the West Wind'

This essay explores the concept of Romanticism in poetry through an analysis of two poems from the Romantic era - Keats' 'Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art' and Shelley's 'Ode to the West Wind'. The expression of Romantic ideals such as love, passion, and social change are discussed in both poems. The essay concludes by examining the lasting impact of Romanticism on literature and society.

Romanticism in Poetry
ROMANTICISM IN POETRY
Introduction
Romanticism was a wave of art, literature, and intellect which first was seen in
Europe at the end of the 18th Century. It is a concept that focuses on the strong emotions of an
individual, thereby emphasizing individualism. It also stood to remind the world about the
glory of the past, highlighting the importance of abstract emotions over material growth.
Romanticism occurred as a strong reaction to the industrial revolution, working against any
form of modernity including rationalization, practicality and liberalization.
The imminent change of thought process of the world post the industrial revolution
had triggered the artists into placing strong emphasis on aesthetic experiences such as
heroism, valor, romance, and passion in the place of science, rationalization, and realism.
Romanticism was the central theme of almost all artists of the times; the Romantic Movement
in literature started with William Wordsworth composing the Lyrical Ballads, and ended with
Queen Victoria being crowned as the Queen. A few of the notable literary giants of the era
were William Blake, Robert Southey, Lord Byron, Percy Shelley, John Keats, Dorothy
Wordsworth, and Mary Robinson.
In this essay, a study of romanticism will be made, by analyzing two poems from the
Romantic era – “Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art” by John Keats, and “Ode to
the West Wind” by Percy Shelley. The expression of the ideals of the Romantic era by both
the poets in their respective works will also be discussed.
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Romanticism in Poetry
Poem 1 - “Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art”
The poem “Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art” is a love sonnet that was
written by John Keats in 1819. It was written to a star, wherein the poet wishes that he were
as unwavering and steadfast as it was (Keats, 1819). The star in question can be understood to
be Polaris, which does not seem to move, but in the later days it was understood that Keats
was referring to his long time love and fiancée Fanny Brawne, for whom this poem would
serve as Keats’ declaration of love.
The poet clarifies that although he wishes to be steadfast like that star, unlike it he does not
want to be alone, but in the passionate embrace of his love.
“Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art—
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night”
He describes his expectations of his love to be unfaltering and unchanging, and his passionate
embrace in a sensuous manner, in the lines –
“No—yet still stedfast, still unchangeable,
Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast,”
Here, ripening might be understood to indicate the maturing of both the physical body and the
emotion of love that is present between the two people. He also describes that if he could not
achieve that, he would rather prefer death than live otherwise.
“And so live ever—or else swoon to death.”
In this poem, Keats describes the virtues of love, passion, patience faithfulness, and death, all
in a single sonnet. He likens his imagination to a star, and even though the expectations of the
poet might not be unrealistic, they are aesthetically appreciated and romanticized. Prior to
this sonnet, the star had not been used as an imagery for the said qualities of steadfastness and
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Romanticism in Poetry
patience, and with this sonnet, Keats has thrown open another possible option in imagery,
which would be later used my many proponents of English Literature. Though this poem was
published posthumously, it is regarded as Keats’ finest masterpieces.
Poem 2 - “Ode to the West Wind”
The poem “Ode to the West Wind” is a part of the lyrical drama “Promethus
Unbound” which was written in 1819 by Percy Bysshe Shelley. It is an ode or a glorification
written as a manifestation of the sorrow ensued by the loss of the poet’s son (Shelley, 1819).
It also focuses on the political changes and provides a voice to social change, in the aftermath
of the Peterloo Massacre. The five stanzas or cantos of the poem describe the influence of
wind on the different elements of nature, such as the Earth, the Winds, and the Sea, in the
lines –
“Her clarion o'er the dreaming earth, and fill…”
“Quivering within the wave's intenser day,”
However, there can be seen a change of tone in the fourth and fifth cantos, wherein the poet
beseeches to the winds to give him that power, wherein he could make the change he intends
to.
His repeated usage of the first person in the last cantos and the transition from hailing the
wind’s prowess to identification of himself with the wind show the poets’ poetic play of
suppressed personality. The stark absence of the word “wind” from the fourth canto and its
appearing only once in the last stanza show the poets intent to convey the message by
associating himself with the qualities of the wind, and wishing that he possessed them. This
can be evident in the line –
“Oh, lift me as a wave, a leaf, a cloud!”
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Romanticism in Poetry
There is a ray of hope and optimism seen in the fifth canto, wherein the poet tries to convey
that good times are ahead, in the lines –
“The trumpet of a prophecy! O Wind,
If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?”
In this poem, Shelley describes the emotions of helplessness, weaknesses, yearnings, and pent
up feelings of a person, the desire to create a change in the unfavorable happenings in the
society at the time, and likens the desire it to the prowess of the wind. Even though this was
written is a very sublime form of poetry, it sent out a strong message to the people, implying
that this was more than merely a poem but a tool towards moral and social change.
Analysis
Analyzing the two poems, it can be understood that Romanticism stood on the ideals
of emotions and glorifications, more than being a blunt statement of facts, which is generally
preferred today. However, emotions play a great role in literature even today, and though the
presentation might have changed, the core context of the poem “reaching to one’s heart” has
not changed.
The poem “Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art”, which was written in the
Romantic era, shares sentiments with many contemporary and modern works on love and
passion, thus implying that no amount of revolutions, wars or modernizations have affected
the raw emotion of love and passion. The poem “Ode to the West Wind”, also written in the
same time, is used as an inspiration for many social messages and calls for political change,
by calling out to the inner strengths of man, which might lay dormant and unused. Though
not suave and polished as Shelley’s, many contemporary and modern literatures have used
the technique of inspiring and motivating the people to work for the required change that the
society needs at that time.
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Romanticism in Poetry
Conclusion
Romanticism might have been a reaction to modernization, but the reality of today is
that the emotions and values of romantic literature have been absorbed by the modern
literature, and still remain unadulterated in most forms of literature. Romanticism has given
rise to Romantic nationalism, which focuses on conservation of cultural and historical
heritage, an ideology which is being used by most right-wingers of politics. The Romantic
Movement heavily influenced scientists, thinkers, historians, and theologians to focus on the
emotional appeal. Though there were positives to it, the deep rooted ideals needed to be
modified with time, to keep in pace with the rapidly changing times. To conclude, the ideals
of Romanticism today can be compared to a gold-trimmed hardbound classic, which can be
used for occasional reference, but not for everyday use.
REFERENCES
Keats, J. (1819). Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art.
Shelley, P. B. (1819). Ode to the West Wind. In P. B. Shelley, Prometheus Unbound.
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