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Features of Shelly's Poetry

Shelley had supreme lyrical power equal to the greatest poets in any language. His poetry can be divided into two groups - visionary prophetic works featuring Shelleyan heroes rebelling against tyranny, and shorter lyrics. While the symbolism in the longer works was sometimes unclear, his descriptive power brought elemental things to vivid life through personification. His simple yet passionate style was perfectly suited to his poetic purposes. However, Shelley's limitations included diffuse narratives, a lack of humor, and sometimes unreasonable political views. Though controversial in his lifetime, after his death Shelley's reputation rose and his place among the great poets became assured.

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Sr Chandrodaya J
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4K views2 pages

Features of Shelly's Poetry

Shelley had supreme lyrical power equal to the greatest poets in any language. His poetry can be divided into two groups - visionary prophetic works featuring Shelleyan heroes rebelling against tyranny, and shorter lyrics. While the symbolism in the longer works was sometimes unclear, his descriptive power brought elemental things to vivid life through personification. His simple yet passionate style was perfectly suited to his poetic purposes. However, Shelley's limitations included diffuse narratives, a lack of humor, and sometimes unreasonable political views. Though controversial in his lifetime, after his death Shelley's reputation rose and his place among the great poets became assured.

Uploaded by

Sr Chandrodaya J
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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St Xavier’s College, Mahuadanr

Features of Shelly’s Poetry:

Lyrical power:

His lyrical Power is equal to the highest to be found in any


language. It is now recognized to be one of the supreme gifts in
Literature like the dramatic genius of Shakespeare. This gift is shown
at its best when it expresses the highest emotional ecstasy, as in the
lyrics of Prometheus Unbound. It is a sign of his great genius that, in
spite of the passion that pervades his lyrics he seldom harsh and
tuneless. He can also express a mode of blessed cheerfulness, a sane
and delectable joy and also the keenest note of depression and despair.

Choice of Subject:

Shelley’s choice of subject makes it convenient to divide his work


into two broad groups, the one consisting of his visionary prophetic
works such as Alastor or The Spirit of Solitude, The Revolt of Islam,
Prometheus Unbound and similar poems. And the other is of his shorter
lyrics. In almost all of the visionary poems we see a Shellyan hero, a
rebel against tyranny and a leader in the struggle which is to bring
about the ultimate happiness of humanity. To a large extent these
figures are the projections of the character of their creator. Often the
symbolism of the poems is not sufficiently clear or sustained and the
result is some confusion in the reader. In the subject of his shorter
poems he differs from such a poet as Burns. Shelley lacks the homely
appeal of Burns; he loves to roam through space and infinity.
His descriptive power:

His descriptive power at once strikes the imagination. The effect is


instantaneous. His fancy played among wild and elemental things but it
gave them form and substance, as well as a radiant loveliness. His
favorite device for this purpose is personification.

His Style:

His style is perfectly attuned to his purpose. Like all the finest
lyrical styles, it is simple, flexible and passionate. it has a direct clarity,
an easy et striking, eloquence and a purity of language which are
peculiarly Shelly’s own.

His Limitations:

Shelly’s limitations are almost as plain as his great abilities. In


his narrative he is diffuse and argumentative; he lacks humor and his
political poetry is often violent and unreasonable.

His Reputation:

During his lifetime Shelly’s opinions obscured his powers as a


poet. After his death his reputation rose rapidly and by the middle of
the nineteenth century his position was assured. No fluctuations in
taste can ever remove him from his place among the Great.

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