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

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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