Romantic Poetry: Interest in the Past
and the Exotic
Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)
Came from aristocratic background, father was
Member of Parliament. Educated at Eton and, briefly, at Oxford. Expelled
from university for writing on Atheism (gross insolence)
Married twice--once to Harriet Westbrook, and
to Mary Wollestonecraft Godwin.
Was known as an iconoclast. Fought for
Catholic emancipation. Lived in France and settled in Italy where he died
in a boating accident.
Shelley wrote poetry and drama and essays.
Encountered many disasters, financial and personal.
"Ozymandias"
Set in Egypt; speaker encounters a traveler
who has come upon the ruins of Ramses II.
Poem is concerned with time and expresses interest
in once powerful kings.
"Indian Girl's Song"
Setting is India
Speaker is the Indian girl who thinks about a
difficult, inaccessible love. Use of the dream to transport the speaker
and us as an audience
"Ozymandias"--interest in Egyptian history and
its ruins--all great civilizations must end.
Past allows us a critical distance