The Romantic era is an important period in the history of English literature when many of the touching and evocative poems were presented to the public. My choice of the “Romantic” group is explained by the profoundness of themes and emotions expressed by the authors. Through the use of imagery and different means of expression, Romantic poets managed to address serious issues and shared their own feelings with readers.
For me, “The Second Coming” by Yeats is an example of how the images of the poem emerged from the real experience of the author since W.B. Yeats witnessed tragic World War I events. I was amazed by how Yeats used the metaphor of the Second Coming when talking about the fate of humanity. By using this idea in his poem, the poet implied that history is repeated and that the world torn by the war is slowly coming to the dramatic end. Moreover, phrases like “things fall apart” and “mere anarchy” made me feel the atmosphere of devastation and allowed me to look at the consequences of the war from the poet’s perspective.
Another poem that especially touched me is Blake’s “Chimney Sweeper,” which is a first-person story about a boy working hard at a very young age. Even though the author describes the life of one child, it is obvious that he addresses the problem of the overall inequality and hardship of the poor. What makes this poem so expressive and powerful is that issues of child labor, exploitation, and suffering are addressed through the description of routine but meaningful scenes like the shaving the boy’s head.
One thing these and other romantic poems have in common is that they usually deal with conflicts between humans and their environment. Even though they may appear to be shallow or unclear at first sight, deep messages may be hidden behind symbols. For example, the West Wind in Shelley’s poem is a symbol of a powerful change, bringing revival. I would say that these poems make their readers admire the skillful language and think about the contents at the same time, and they are always interesting to analyze and interpret.