Individual consciousness in romantic poetry: Wordsworth, Byron, and Keats

Abstract

Emotion, imagination and individual expression are common terms used for the poetry of the Romantic period, but the portrayal of emotion and the construction of selfhood is a complex field of study. The present thesis investigates the way in which William Wordsworth, Lord Byron, and John Keats create different models of the self by exploring the role of consciousness, memory, conflict and imagination in the process of forming individual consciousness in Romantic poetry. The study goes through observations via a comparative reading of selected poems by Wordsworth, Byron and Keats. Memory and reflection combine in Wordsworth's poetry to enable the slow emergence of consciousness, and to make the self a process of growth and self-discovery. In contrast to his narrative work, Byron's poetry presents a more alternative subjectivity that is formed in the context of conflict, alienation, and emotional division. On the other hand, Keats creates an imaginative and creative self that takes pleasure in uncertainty, magnificence, and emotional complexity. The study also focuses on Romantic selfhood and its non-static nature illustrated by Romantic criticism, emotion studies, and theories of consciousness. This study, which combines the distinct voices of the poets, adds to current debates over Romantic subjectivity and emphasizes the pivotal role of emotional expressions in constructing selfhood.