Introduction: “The Nightingale” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
“The Nightingale” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge first appeared in 1798 as part of the landmark collection Lyrical Ballads, co-authored with William Wordsworth. This poem is emblematic of Coleridge’s Romantic ideals, blending nature, emotion, and imagination to redefine traditional themes. Departing from the conventional association of the nightingale with sorrow, Coleridge instead celebrates its song as a source of inspiration and creativity. The poem’s vivid imagery and lyrical language reflect a deep connection to nature and personal emotion, as seen in lines like, “Most musical, most melancholy Bird!” This phrase encapsulates the bird’s dual significance as a muse for poets and a symbol of profound beauty. The poem’s popularity as a textbook classic lies in its exploration of Romantic themes such as the interplay between nature and human emotion, and its introspective tone invites readers to contemplate the transformative power of art and love. Coleridge’s heartfelt devotion to his wife, Sara, culminates in the tender declaration, “My Sara – best beloved of human kind!” making the poem a timeless meditation on love, nature, and poetic inspiration.
Text: “The Nightingale” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Sister of love-lorn Poets, Philomel!
How many Bards in city garret pent,
While at their window they with downward eye
Mark the faint lamp-beam on the kennell’d mud,
And listen to the drowsy cry of Watchmen
(Those hoarse unfeather’d Nightingales of Time!),
How many wretched Bards address thy name,
And hers, the full-orb’d Queen that shines above.
But I do hear thee, and the high bough mark,
Within whose mild moon-mellow’d foliage hid
Thou warblest sad thy pity-pleading strains.
O! I have listen’d, till my working soul,
Waked by those strains to thousand phantasies,
Absorb’d hath ceas’d to listen! Therefore oft,
I hymn thy name: and with a proud delight
Oft will I tell thee, Minstrel of the Moon!
‘Most musical, most melancholy’ Bird!
That all thy soft diversities of tone,
Tho’ sweeter far than the delicious airs
That vibrate from a white-arm’d Lady’s harp,
What time the languishment of lonely love
Melts in her eye, and heaves her breast of snow,
Are not so sweet as is the voice of her,
My Sara – best beloved of human kind!
When breathing the pure soul of tenderness,
She thrills me with the Husband’s promis’d name!
Annotations: “The Nightingale” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
| Line | Literary Devices | Explanation |
| “Sister of love-lorn Poets, Philomel!” | Allusion, Personification, Apostrophe | Refers to Philomel (mythological nightingale) as a muse for poets, personifying the bird as a “sister” and directly addressing it with reverence. |
| “How many Bards in city garret pent,” | Enjambment, Metonymy | “Bards” represents poets; highlights their isolation and struggles in confined spaces (garrets) typical of poor, urban writers. |
| “While at their window they with downward eye” | Imagery | Conveys the despondency of the poets gazing downward, emphasizing their melancholy state through vivid imagery. |
| “Mark the faint lamp-beam on the kennell’d mud,” | Imagery, Symbolism | Visual imagery of the dim light and dirty streets symbolizes the bleak, uninspiring urban environment contrasting with natural beauty. |
| “And listen to the drowsy cry of Watchmen” | Onomatopoeia, Symbolism | “Drowsy cry” evokes auditory imagery and symbolizes the monotony of city life, contrasting the nightingale’s enchanting song. |
| “(Those hoarse unfeather’d Nightingales of Time!),” | Metaphor, Irony | The watchmen are ironically compared to nightingales, highlighting their harsh voices and mundane roles as a parody of the bird’s melodious song. |
| “How many wretched Bards address thy name,” | Apostrophe, Repetition | Directly addresses the nightingale, emphasizing its importance as an eternal muse for struggling poets. |
| “And hers, the full-orb’d Queen that shines above.” | Allusion, Symbolism | Refers to the moon (queen of the night sky), symbolizing purity and guidance, complementing the nightingale’s nocturnal presence. |
| “But I do hear thee, and the high bough mark,” | Imagery, Alliteration | Vivid auditory and visual imagery as the poet observes and listens to the nightingale in its natural setting. |
| “Within whose mild moon-mellow’d foliage hid” | Alliteration, Imagery | The “moon-mellow’d foliage” evokes serene imagery, blending light and nature, creating a soothing atmosphere. |
| “Thou warblest sad thy pity-pleading strains.” | Personification, Alliteration, Auditory Imagery | The nightingale’s song is personified as “pleading” and “sad,” projecting human emotions onto nature. |
| “O! I have listen’d, till my working soul,” | Apostrophe, Hyperbole | Expresses intense emotional response to the nightingale’s song, with “working soul” suggesting inspiration and creative energy. |
| “Waked by those strains to thousand phantasies,” | Hyperbole, Imagery | Describes the nightingale’s song awakening boundless imagination and creative visions in the poet. |
| “Absorb’d hath ceas’d to listen! Therefore oft,” | Enjambment, Paradox | The paradox of being “absorbed” and ceasing to listen suggests the depth of emotional and imaginative involvement. |
| “I hymn thy name: and with a proud delight” | Apostrophe, Religious Imagery | The poet “hymns” the nightingale as though worshiping its beauty, suggesting a spiritual connection to nature. |
| “Oft will I tell thee, Minstrel of the Moon!” | Metaphor, Apostrophe | Refers to the nightingale as a “minstrel” (musician), highlighting its role as a source of artistic and emotional inspiration. |
| “‘Most musical, most melancholy’ Bird!” | Alliteration, Oxymoron | The oxymoron of “musical” and “melancholy” reflects the complex emotional impact of the nightingale’s song. |
| “That all thy soft diversities of tone,” | Imagery, Alliteration | Emphasizes the variety and subtlety of the nightingale’s song, evoking sensory imagery. |
| “Tho’ sweeter far than the delicious airs” | Simile, Sensory Imagery | Compares the bird’s song to “delicious airs,” appealing to auditory senses and suggesting ethereal beauty. |
| “That vibrate from a white-arm’d Lady’s harp,” | Imagery, Symbolism | Evokes aristocratic beauty (lady playing the harp), symbolizing refined, delicate music that pales in comparison to the natural song of the bird. |
| “What time the languishment of lonely love” | Alliteration, Personification | Personifies love as “languishing,” reflecting sorrow and longing that parallels the bird’s melancholic tone. |
| “Melts in her eye, and heaves her breast of snow,” | Imagery, Symbolism | Sensuous imagery of tears and emotion, symbolizing purity and vulnerability. |
| “Are not so sweet as is the voice of her,” | Juxtaposition, Symbolism | Contrasts the bird’s song with human love, suggesting the former transcends even the most tender human emotions. |
| “My Sara – best beloved of human kind!” | Apostrophe, Hyperbole, Epiphany | Directly addresses his wife, Sara, as the pinnacle of love and humanity, reflecting the deeply personal and emotional core of the poem. |
| “When breathing the pure soul of tenderness,” | Metaphor, Personification | Love and tenderness are personified, with “breathing” symbolizing vitality and purity. |
| “She thrills me with the Husband’s promis’d name!” | Hyperbole, Personal Tone | The poet exalts Sara’s tenderness, emphasizing the emotional and spiritual bond of their relationship. |
Total Literary Devices in the Poem
- Apostrophe: 6 instances (direct address to the nightingale, moon, and Sara).
- Imagery: 10 instances (both auditory and visual).
- Alliteration: 7 instances (repeated consonant sounds for rhythm and emphasis).
- Personification: 5 instances (attributing human qualities to the nightingale, love, tenderness).
- Symbolism: 6 instances (moon, bird, nature, love).
- Oxymoron: 1 instance (“most musical, most melancholy”).
- Hyperbole: 4 instances (exaggerations of emotional or imaginative impact).
- Metaphor: 5 instances (comparisons of bird, moon, and love to other elements).
Themes: “The Nightingale” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
1. Nature as a Source of Inspiration and Emotion: In “The Nightingale,” Coleridge presents nature as a profound source of emotional resonance and creative inspiration. The nightingale, a central symbol in the poem, represents the beauty and complexity of the natural world, evoking deep imaginative responses in the poet. Coleridge’s speaker finds solace and stimulation in the nightingale’s song, describing it as “Most musical, most melancholy Bird!” This duality of joy and melancholy reflects the Romantic ideal of nature as a mirror for human emotions, capable of awakening “thousand phantasies” in the listener. The poet’s admiration for the bird’s song underscores its power to transcend the dreariness of urban life, symbolized by the “city garret” and “kennell’d mud,” and offer a connection to a more profound, spiritual reality. Nature, through the nightingale, becomes not just a refuge but a muse for poetic and emotional creation.
2. The Relationship Between Art and Emotion: In “The Nightingale,” Coleridge explores how art—symbolized by the nightingale’s song—communicates profound emotional truths and becomes a vehicle for self-expression. The bird’s song, described as “soft diversities of tone,” is a metaphor for artistic creativity, illustrating its capacity to convey nuanced feelings, from melancholy to delight. The poet contrasts this natural artistry with the human struggle for expression, as seen in “wretched Bards” who call upon the nightingale for inspiration. This dynamic between art and emotion is further enriched by the poet’s personal feelings; his response to the nightingale’s song awakens “thousand phantasies,” highlighting the transformative power of art. The poem suggests that art, much like the nightingale’s music, allows individuals to navigate and articulate their deepest emotions, bridging the gap between the external world and the inner self.
3. Love and Human Connection: Love emerges as a central theme in “The Nightingale,” particularly in the poet’s devotion to his wife, Sara, which becomes intertwined with the nightingale’s song. While the bird’s music is celebrated for its beauty, it ultimately pales in comparison to the voice of Sara, who is described as “best beloved of human kind!” This line reveals the poet’s belief that human connection surpasses even the most sublime elements of nature. The tender imagery of Sara “breathing the pure soul of tenderness” suggests that love is a deeply spiritual and redemptive force, capable of providing the fulfillment and joy that nature alone cannot. By juxtaposing the nightingale’s song with the “Husband’s promised name,” Coleridge elevates human love to a divine, transformative plane, illustrating its power to unite the emotional, spiritual, and physical aspects of life.
4. Urban Despair vs. Natural Serenity: In “The Nightingale,” Coleridge contrasts the desolation of urban life with the serenity and inspiration offered by nature. The “city garret pent” and the “kennel’d mud” of the streets evoke the confinement and gloom of urban existence, where poets and artists struggle in isolation. This imagery is juxtaposed with the tranquility of the natural setting where the nightingale sings, “within whose mild moon-mellow’d foliage hid.” The urban environment, characterized by the “drowsy cry of Watchmen” (mockingly called “hoarse unfeather’d Nightingales”), is depicted as a space of monotony and despair, while the nightingale’s song represents a reprieve from this bleakness. Through this contrast, Coleridge reinforces the Romantic ideal of nature as a sanctuary that offers emotional renewal and creative inspiration, providing a counterpoint to the alienation and sterility of urban life.
Literary Theories and “The Nightingale” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
| Literary Theory | Application to “The Nightingale” | References from the Poem |
| Romanticism | “The Nightingale” embodies the core Romantic ideals of emotional expression, the sublime in nature, and the imagination. | The speaker finds inspiration in the bird’s song, describing it as “Most musical, most melancholy Bird!” and awakening “thousand phantasies.” |
| Ecocriticism | The poem explores the relationship between humanity and the natural world, emphasizing nature as a refuge and inspiration. | The contrast between the urban “city garret pent” and the nightingale’s natural environment, “within whose mild moon-mellow’d foliage hid.” |
| Psychoanalytic Theory | The nightingale’s song acts as a trigger for the speaker’s subconscious emotions and desires, connecting love and creativity. | The line “Waked by those strains to thousand phantasies” suggests the bird’s song stirs hidden thoughts and feelings in the poet. |
| Feminist Criticism | Coleridge elevates his wife, Sara, portraying her as an embodiment of ideal love and tenderness, above even nature’s beauty. | The declaration “My Sara – best beloved of human kind!” celebrates Sara as the ultimate source of emotional fulfillment and inspiration. |
Critical Questions about “The Nightingale” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
1. How does Coleridge redefine the traditional association of the nightingale with melancholy?
In “The Nightingale,” Coleridge challenges the conventional view of the nightingale as solely a symbol of sorrow, transforming it into a representation of emotional complexity and creativity. While the bird is still described as “Most musical, most melancholy Bird!” the poet’s use of “melancholy” here is not purely negative; it conveys a bittersweet beauty that inspires the imagination and stirs profound emotions. The nightingale’s song awakens “thousand phantasies” in the speaker, suggesting that its melancholy tones lead to a transformative and even joyous creative process. By blending elements of sorrow with artistic inspiration, Coleridge redefines the nightingale as a more nuanced symbol, representing the Romantic ideal of finding beauty and meaning in emotional depth.
2. How does the poem reflect the tension between urban life and nature?
Coleridge vividly contrasts the oppressive environment of urban life with the serenity and inspiration offered by nature in “The Nightingale.” The urban setting, depicted as a “city garret pent” with “kennel’d mud,” symbolizes confinement and despair, where poets struggle in isolation. In contrast, the natural world is a sanctuary, embodied by the nightingale’s tranquil habitat “within whose mild moon-mellow’d foliage hid.” The tension between these two settings highlights the alienation of modern life and the restorative power of nature, a central concern in Romantic literature. Through this juxtaposition, Coleridge critiques the sterility of urban existence and suggests that true inspiration and emotional fulfillment can only be found in harmony with the natural world.
3. What role does love play in the poet’s relationship with nature and art?
In “The Nightingale,” love is presented as a central force that unites the poet’s appreciation for nature and his creative expression. While the nightingale’s song is celebrated for its beauty and emotional depth, Coleridge ultimately places human love, particularly his devotion to Sara, above even nature’s splendor. The lines “My Sara – best beloved of human kind!” and “She thrills me with the Husband’s promised name!” suggest that the poet’s connection with his wife provides a more profound inspiration than the nightingale’s music. This prioritization of love emphasizes its redemptive and transformative power, suggesting that human relationships are essential to the poet’s emotional and artistic fulfillment. Love, therefore, becomes the bridge between the natural and human worlds.
4. How does the poem explore the relationship between art and emotion?
Coleridge delves deeply into the connection between art and emotion in “The Nightingale,” using the bird’s song as a metaphor for artistic creation. The speaker describes the nightingale’s “soft diversities of tone” as capable of stirring profound feelings and inspiring creative visions. The bird’s song is not merely an object of passive admiration but a catalyst for emotional and imaginative awakening, as seen in the line “Waked by those strains to thousand phantasies.” The poem suggests that art, like the nightingale’s music, derives its power from its ability to evoke and articulate complex emotions. By emphasizing the interplay between melancholy, beauty, and inspiration, Coleridge portrays art as a transformative force that enriches human experience and deepens emotional understanding.
Literary Works Similar to “The Nightingale” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
| Literary Work | Author | Similarities to “The Nightingale” | References from “The Nightingale” |
| “Ode to a Nightingale” | John Keats | Both poems explore the nightingale as a symbol of beauty, inspiration, and transcendence, linking nature with deep emotional reflection. | “Most musical, most melancholy Bird!” parallels Keats’ description of the bird’s song as an eternal and otherworldly force. |
| “Lines Written a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey” | William Wordsworth | Explores the restorative and inspirational power of nature, much like Coleridge’s portrayal of the nightingale’s song in the natural world. | The contrast between the “city garret pent” and the tranquil setting of the nightingale mirrors Wordsworth’s urban and rural contrast. |
| “To a Skylark” | Percy Bysshe Shelley | Focuses on a bird’s song as a metaphor for artistic inspiration, much like the nightingale symbolizes creativity for Coleridge. | The line “Waked by those strains to thousand phantasies” mirrors Shelley’s admiration for the skylark’s boundless, uplifting song. |
| “The Eolian Harp” | Samuel Taylor Coleridge | Reflects on the connection between nature, music, and human emotion, with similar meditative and lyrical qualities as “The Nightingale.” | Both poems explore the symbolic power of sound and music, with the nightingale’s “soft diversities of tone” resembling the harp’s melodies. |
| “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” | Christopher Marlowe | Shares a romanticized view of nature as a source of beauty, love, and idealized connection. | Coleridge’s description of the natural setting, “within whose mild moon-mellow’d foliage hid,” mirrors Marlowe’s idyllic pastoral imagery. |
Representative Quotations of “The Nightingale” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
| Quotation | Context | Theoretical Perspective |
| “Sister of love-lorn Poets, Philomel!” | Directly addresses the nightingale as a muse for poets, referencing Philomel from mythology. | Romanticism: Highlights nature as a source of inspiration and mythology’s connection to creativity. |
| “How many Bards in city garret pent” | Describes the isolation of urban poets struggling for inspiration in bleak conditions. | Ecocriticism: Contrasts the urban environment with the natural world’s inspirational power. |
| “Mark the faint lamp-beam on the kennell’d mud” | Depicts the dreary, lifeless atmosphere of the city, symbolizing monotony and despair. | Urban Theory: Critiques the sterility and alienation of urban life compared to nature. |
| “Those hoarse unfeather’d Nightingales of Time!” | Compares watchmen in the city to nightingales ironically, emphasizing their discordant cries. | Irony and Satire: Undermines the romanticized view of urban substitutes for nature. |
| “Within whose mild moon-mellow’d foliage hid” | Describes the tranquil and harmonious setting where the nightingale sings, enveloped by the moonlight. | Aestheticism: Celebrates the beauty of nature’s imagery and harmony. |
| “Thou warblest sad thy pity-pleading strains” | Refers to the nightingale’s song as melancholy yet emotionally moving and evocative. | Psychoanalytic Theory: Suggests that the nightingale’s song stirs deep subconscious emotions in the poet. |
| “Waked by those strains to thousand phantasies” | Expresses how the bird’s music inspires the poet’s imagination and creative visions. | Romanticism: Explores the connection between nature and the artist’s imaginative power. |
| “Most musical, most melancholy Bird!” | Captures the paradox of the bird’s song, being both beautiful and sorrowful. | Duality in Art: Reflects the Romantic fascination with the coexistence of joy and sorrow in artistic creation. |
| “My Sara – best beloved of human kind!” | Declares the poet’s love for his wife Sara, placing her above the beauty of the nightingale’s song. | Feminist Criticism: Centers a human relationship, particularly the significance of Sara, above natural symbolism. |
| “She thrills me with the Husband’s promised name!” | Expresses the emotional fulfillment and inspiration derived from love and personal connection. | Humanism: Elevates the power of human relationships as central to emotional and creative fulfillment. |
Suggested Readings: “The Nightingale” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- McGavran, James Holt. “Coleridge, the Wordsworths, and Androgyny: A Reading of” The Nightingale”.” South Atlantic Review 53.4 (1988): 57-75.
- Bernstein, Gene M. “The Recreating Secondary Imagination in Coleridge’s ‘The Nightingale.’” ELH, vol. 48, no. 2, 1981, pp. 339–50. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2872975. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
- McGavran, James Holt. “Coleridge, the Wordsworths, and Androgyny: A Reading of ‘The Nightingale.’” South Atlantic Review, vol. 53, no. 4, 1988, pp. 57–75. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/3200671. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
- Enright, Timothy P. “Sing, Mariner: Identity and Temporality in Coleridge’s ‘The Nightingale.’” Studies in Romanticism, vol. 33, no. 3, 1994, pp. 481–501. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/25601074. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
- KNOX-SHAW, PETER. “COLERIDGE, HARTLEY, AND ‘THE NIGHTINGALE.’” The Review of English Studies, vol. 62, no. 255, 2011, pp. 433–40. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/23016436. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.