Romantic Poetry

These poetry picks highlight the emotional and nature-focused spirit of Romanticism, a movement that originated in the 18th century. The Collection features selections from Emily Dickinson, John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley, William Wordsworth, William Blake, and other exemplars of the Romantic poetry genre.

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William Wordsworth
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Publication year 1807Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: GriefTags Lyric Poem, Romanticism / Romantic Period

Publication year 1816Genre Poem, FictionThemes Natural World: Appearance & RealityTags Lyric Poem, Philosophy, Mythology

Publication year 1595Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: LoveTags Lyric Poem, Elizabethan Era

Publication year 1865Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Natural World: Place, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Appearance & RealityTags Lyric Poem, Science / Nature, Realism, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Transcendentalism

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Edgar Allan Poe
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Publication year 1849Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: CommunityTags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, Love / Sexuality

The last poem Edgar Allan Poe—infamous poet and fiction author of the macabre—completed during his tumultuous life, “Annabel Lee,” was first published in the New York Tribune in 1849, two days after Poe’s death. Displaying the melodic lyricism, gothic overtones, and memorable imagery which informed so much of Poe’s work, “Annabel Lee” is considered one of the defining entries in his canon, and a classic of 19th century American poetry.The poem concerns the death of... Read Annabel Lee Summary


Publication year 1940Genre Poem, FictionThemes Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: ApathyTags Modernism, The Lost Generation, Relationships

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William Blake
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Publication year 1794Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & AngerTags Lyric Poem, Trauma / Abuse / Violence

Publication year 1863Genre Poem, FictionThemes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Class, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Animals, Values/Ideas: Good & EvilTags British Literature, Romanticism / Romantic Period

Publication year 1890Genre Poem, FictionThemes Life/Time: Mortality & DeathTags Classic Fiction, Realism, Romanticism / Romantic Period

Emily Dickinson holds a special place in the firmament of American writers. Although she lived in the 19th century and seldom left her home region in Massachusetts, her poetry speaks to readers of all ages and backgrounds. Dickinson possessed a singular poetic style, characterized by inventive punctuation, powerful efficiency, and deep inquiry of the human experience. Her poem “Because I could not stop for Death” has become a touchstone for readers encountering Dickinson for the... Read Because I Could Not Stop for Death Summary


Publication year 1914Genre Poem, FictionThemes Society: War, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: ConflictTags Lyric Poem, Satire, Military / War, Victorian Period, Christian literature

English poet and novelist Thomas Hardy wrote “Channel Firing” in May of 1914, only three months before the beginning of WWI. Eerily prophetic, the poem depicts the global chaos and destruction that soon followed. Overlaid by tones of satire and irony, the poem details the violence of war and humanity’s age-old proclivity toward it through a conversation between God and the dead. Hardy, although best known for his earlier novels, received positive reception concerning war... Read Channel Firing Summary


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Samuel Taylor Coleridge
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Publication year 1816Genre Poem, FictionThemes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Natural World: Place, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: BeautyTags Narrative / Epic Poem, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Love / Sexuality, LGBTQ, Religion / Spirituality, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature

Samuel Taylor Coleridge, a key figure in the British Romantic Era of poetry wrote the Gothic narrative poem “Christabel” in two parts, the first in 1797, and the second in 1800. Though it was still unfinished, “Christabel” was published in 1816.“Christabel” is Coleridge’s longest poem, at almost 700 lines. It is also the least edited of Coleridge’s work. Most of the poem contrasts the innocent piety of Christabel with the experience and supernatural abilities of... Read Christabel Summary


Publication year 1751Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Mortality & DeathTags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, Classical Period

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John Keats
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Publication year 1818Genre Poem, FictionThemes Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Place, Natural World: Appearance & RealityTags Narrative / Epic Poem, Mythology, Romanticism / Romantic Period

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Robert Burns
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Publication year 1792Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: PlaceTags Lyric Poem, Relationships, Grief / Death, Love / Sexuality, British Literature, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Age of Enlightenment

Publication year 1860Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: GriefTags Transcendentalism

Publication year 1896Genre Poem, FictionThemes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Natural World: Space & The Universe, Emotions/Behavior: LonelinessTags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Transcendentalism, American Literature

Publication year 1929Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / PerseveranceTags Lyric Poem, Love / Sexuality, Grief / Death

Publication year 1807Genre Poem, FictionThemes Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: MemoryTags Lyric Poem, Romanticism / Romantic Period

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Samuel Coleridge
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Publication year 1816Genre Poem, FictionThemes Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: MemoryTags Lyric Poem

Publication year 1819Genre Poem, FictionThemes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Safety & DangerTags Love / Sexuality

Publication year 2009Genre Poem, FictionTags Narrative / Epic Poem, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages

Publication year 1773Genre Poem, FictionThemes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / PerseveranceTags Religion / Spirituality, Lyric Poem, Depression / Suicide

“Light Shining Out of Darkness,” written by William Cowper, was first published in 1774 by John Newton, a Calvinist pastor, in Twenty-Six Letters on Religious Subjects; to Which Are Added Hymns. Later, the hymn was again collected in Olney Hymns in 1779, a text featuring hymns by both Cowper and Newton (“Light Shining Out of Darkness.” Representative Poetry Online, 1998.). In addition to being a hymn, the text could be labeled as a lyric poem... Read Light Shining Out of Darkness Summary


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Percy Bysshe Shelley
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Publication year 1817Genre Poem, FictionThemes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Natural World: Objects, Natural World: Place, Natural World: EnvironmentTags Philosophy, Science / Nature, Romanticism / Romantic Period

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Percy Bysshe Shelley
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Publication year 1816Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Order & ChaosTags Lyric Poem, Science / Nature, Romanticism / Romantic Period

Publication year 1807Genre Poem, FictionThemes Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Place, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: JoyTags Lyric Poem, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature

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William Blake
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Publication year 1789Genre Poem, FictionThemes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: AnimalsTags Romanticism / Romantic Period, Religion / Spirituality

Publication year 1819Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Place, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Values/Ideas: BeautyTags Lyric Poem, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Grief / Death

Publication year 1930Genre Poem, FictionTags Lyric Poem, LGBTQ

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Percy Bysshe Shelley
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Publication year 1813Genre Poem, FictionThemes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Place, Natural World: Environment, Life/Time: The Future, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: WarTags Narrative / Epic Poem, Christian literature, Poetry: Dramatic Poem, Mythology, Fantasy, Philosophy, Politics / Government, Military / War, History: World, Science / Nature, Religion / Spirituality, Grief / Death, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature

Publication year 1800Genre Poem, FictionThemes Natural World: Flora/plants, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Literature, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: LonelinessTags Lyric Poem, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Grief / Death

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Lord George Gordon Byron (Lord Byron)
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Publication year 1814Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Natural World: Appearance & RealityTags Lyric Poem, Romanticism / Romantic Period

Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: LoveTags Lyric Poem, Love / Sexuality

“She Was a Phantom of Delight” is a short lyric poem by the English poet William Wordsworth. Often regarded as the greatest of the English Romantics, Wordsworth composed “Phantom” in 1804 and published it in his 1807 collection Poems, in Two Volumes. He wrote it in praise of his wife Mary (née Hutchinson), whom he first met in 1787 and married in 1802. The poem explores three stages of development in William and Mary’s relationship... Read She Was a Phantom of Delight Summary


Publication year 1856Genre Poem, FictionThemes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / PerseveranceTags Lyric Poem, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Transcendentalism

“Song of Myself” is a free verse poem by the American writer, journalist, and poet Walt Whitman. Originally self-published by Whitman himself in 1855, it was considerably revised and expanded over subsequent decades. In 1889, “Song of Myself” was released in its final form as part of the last edition of the collection Leaves of Grass. This final version—the version referenced in this guide—is considered by literary scholars to be the definitive statement of Whitman’s... Read Song of Myself Summary


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Jack Gilbert
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Publication year 1994Genre Poem, FictionThemes Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: LoveTags Lyric Poem

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William Cullen Bryant
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Publication year 1817Genre Poem, FictionThemes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Place, Values/Ideas: Fate, Society: Community, Natural World: EnvironmentTags Lyric Poem, Science / Nature, Grief / Death, Romanticism / Romantic Period

Publication year 1789Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: LoveTags Narrative / Epic Poem, Love / Sexuality, Mythology

The Book of Thel was written and etched by William Blake in 1789. It is one of his prophetic illuminated books, crafted after Songs of Innocence but before The Marriage of Heaven and Hell. Blake’s recognition as an influential figure in the British Romantic literary movement only came after his death. The Book of Thel is a narrative, allegorical, and symbolic poem written in 14-syllable lines. Its themes include the expansiveness of God’s love, interconnectedness... Read The Book of Thel Summary


Publication year 1843Genre Poem, FictionThemes Life/Time: Mortality & DeathTags Lyric Poem, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Animals

Publication year 1839Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: ConflictTags Narrative / Epic Poem, Depression / Suicide

Publication year 1789Genre Poem, FictionThemes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Relationships: Fathers

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Edgar Allan Poe
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Publication year 1845Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: MemoryTags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Narrative / Epic Poem, Classic Fiction, Animals, Grief / Death

Influenced by the English Romantic poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge, “Lord” George Gordon Byron, and Percy Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe represents one of the essential American Romantic poets of the nineteenth century. Romanticism here refers to a literary movement of the late 1700s and 1800s which focused on the emotional life of the individual and curiosity about the self. This movement complemented a larger geopolitical and ideological shift in the United States. As a young nation... Read The Raven Summary


Publication year 1798Genre Poem, FictionTags Classic Fiction, Narrative / Epic Poem

“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” first published in 1798, is a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge and is the first poem in Lyrical Ballads, a collaborative effort of Coleridge and  fellow poet William Wordsworth. Lyrical Ballads is widely considered to be the first collection of Romantic English poetry, and “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” is a classic example of English Romanticism, with its vivid imagery and inclusion of the supernatural. The poem is... Read The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Summary


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Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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Publication year 1855Genre Novel/Book in Verse, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: courage, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Language, Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Religion & SpiritualityTags Narrative / Epic Poem, Fairy Tale / Folklore, American Literature, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Agriculture, History: U.S., Science / Nature

Publication year 1824Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Life/Time: Mortality & DeathTags Lyric Poem, Allegory / Fable / Parable, Romanticism / Romantic Period

Publication year 1862Genre Poem, FictionThemes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Natural World: Appearance & RealityTags Lyric Poem, American Literature, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Religion / Spirituality

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Robert Burns
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Publication year 1786Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Natural World: AnimalsTags Science / Nature

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Percy Bysshe Shelley
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Publication year 1820Genre Poem, FictionTags Animals

Publication year 1896Genre Poem, FictionThemes Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Objects, Natural World: Place, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Safety & DangerTags Lyric Poem, American Literature, Romanticism / Romantic Period