France: An Ode
Encyclopedia
France an Ode was written by Samuel Coleridge
in April 1798. The poem describes his development from supporting the French Revolution
to his feelings of betrayal when they invaded Switzerland. Like other poems by Coleridge, it connects his political views with his religious thoughts. The Gothic elements of the poem connect the poem's style to many of his early poetic works.
and an opponent of the British Prime Minister William Pitt
. However, France's invasion of Switzerland caused him to lose faith in the revolutionaries' cause during April 1798. Although Coleridge opposed Pitt, he supported Britain and the British cause when France threatened to invade Britain by writing a poem originally titled The Recantation: An Ode, which was later renamed France: An Ode. The poem was published in the 16 April 1798 Morning Post
(see 1798 in poetry
). Alongside the poem was a note from Daniel Stuart, the paper's editor, which stated that, like Coleridge, the paper also switched its position on France: "The following excellent Ode will be in unison with the feelings of every friend to Liberty and foe to Oppression; of all who, admiring the French Revolution, detest and deplore the conduct of France towards Switzerland."
Soon after, the poem was published in a small work containing his other poems Frost at Midnight
and Fears in Solitude
under the title France: An Ode to sound more neutral. The poems were published in order with Fears in Solitude first and Frost at Midnight last in order to position the public poem, France: An Ode, in between two conversation poems
. It was eventually reprinted by Stuart in October 1802 along with an edited version of Fears in Solitude. Of his poems, Coleridge did not like France: An Ode for what it revealed about him politically. Robert Southey
, Coleridge's friend, mentioned in a letter in May 1799: "Coleridge's 'Ode upon France' is printed in the Spirit of the Public Journals under the title of 'the Recantation.' How will he like this, and how will they like it who do not allow it to be a recantation?"
In a 1799 review in the New London Review, an anonymous reviewer claimed that Coleridge plagiarised lines from Samson Agonistes
when he referenced John Milton
's poem in lines 53 and 54 of the poem. Later, Thomas DeQuincey made this same argument in an 1834 review for Taits Edinburgh Magazine. William Wordsworth noted that the allusion to Samson Agonistes was intentional, but it is possible that "insupportably advancing" was changed to "irresistibly advancing" in a later edition in order to hide the allusion.
Then the poem describes France at the beginning of the revolution. The image, a combination of giant and child, was is commonly quoted in political works:
The poem then criticizes Britain for joining tyrannous governments in opposing France:
When France entered into the Reign of Terror
, the narrator describes it as necessary. However, the supporters of France were still terrified by the violence while they hoped that liberty would come:
Then the narrator describes the betrayal he suffered as France invaded Switzerland:
The poem, like other poems by Coleridge, connects his political views with his religious ideas. Many of the images that he uses to describe the French Revolution are connected to the Book of Revelations. Religious Musings
shows an early version of the idea that was later developed in France: An Ode. Coleridge's interpretation involves a Golden Age that is in a distant future, and that he can only spend his time thinking about what the future would hold. The Gothic elements of the poem connect it to many of his other works, including Ancient Mariner, "Ballad of the Dark Ladie", Fears in Solitude, Frost at Midnight, The Nightingale
, "Three Graves", and "Wanderings of Cain".
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Samuel Taylor Coleridge was an English poet, Romantic, literary critic and philosopher who, with his friend William Wordsworth, was a founder of the Romantic Movement in England and a member of the Lake Poets. He is probably best known for his poems The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla...
in April 1798. The poem describes his development from supporting the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
to his feelings of betrayal when they invaded Switzerland. Like other poems by Coleridge, it connects his political views with his religious thoughts. The Gothic elements of the poem connect the poem's style to many of his early poetic works.
Background
Coleridge was an early supporter of the French RevolutionFrench Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
and an opponent of the British Prime Minister William Pitt
William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806...
. However, France's invasion of Switzerland caused him to lose faith in the revolutionaries' cause during April 1798. Although Coleridge opposed Pitt, he supported Britain and the British cause when France threatened to invade Britain by writing a poem originally titled The Recantation: An Ode, which was later renamed France: An Ode. The poem was published in the 16 April 1798 Morning Post
Morning Post
The Morning Post, as the paper was named on its masthead, was a conservative daily newspaper published in London from 1772 to 1937, when it was acquired by The Daily Telegraph.- History :...
(see 1798 in poetry
1798 in poetry
Nationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature .-Events:* William Wordsworth begins writing the first version of The Prelude, finishing it in two parts in 1799. This version describes the growth of his understanding up to age 17, when he departed for...
). Alongside the poem was a note from Daniel Stuart, the paper's editor, which stated that, like Coleridge, the paper also switched its position on France: "The following excellent Ode will be in unison with the feelings of every friend to Liberty and foe to Oppression; of all who, admiring the French Revolution, detest and deplore the conduct of France towards Switzerland."
Soon after, the poem was published in a small work containing his other poems Frost at Midnight
Frost at Midnight
Frost at Midnight was a poem written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in February 1798. Part of the conversation poems, the poem discusses Coleridge's childhood experience in a negative manner and emphasizes the need to be raised in the countryside...
and Fears in Solitude
Fears in Solitude
Fears in Solitude, written in April 1798, is one of the conversation poems by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The poem was composed while France threatened to invade Great Britain. Although Coleridge was opposed to the British government, the poem sides with the British people in a patriotic defense of...
under the title France: An Ode to sound more neutral. The poems were published in order with Fears in Solitude first and Frost at Midnight last in order to position the public poem, France: An Ode, in between two conversation poems
Conversation poems
The conversation poems are a group of eight poems composed by Samuel Taylor Coleridge between 1795 and 1807. Each details a particular life experience which lead to the poet's examination of nature and the role of poetry...
. It was eventually reprinted by Stuart in October 1802 along with an edited version of Fears in Solitude. Of his poems, Coleridge did not like France: An Ode for what it revealed about him politically. Robert Southey
Robert Southey
Robert Southey was an English poet of the Romantic school, one of the so-called "Lake Poets", and Poet Laureate for 30 years from 1813 to his death in 1843...
, Coleridge's friend, mentioned in a letter in May 1799: "Coleridge's 'Ode upon France' is printed in the Spirit of the Public Journals under the title of 'the Recantation.' How will he like this, and how will they like it who do not allow it to be a recantation?"
In a 1799 review in the New London Review, an anonymous reviewer claimed that Coleridge plagiarised lines from Samson Agonistes
Samson Agonistes
Samson Agonistes is a tragic closet drama by John Milton. It appeared with the publication of Milton's Paradise Regain'd in 1671, as the title page of that volume states: "Paradise Regained / A Poem / In IV Books / To Which Is Added / Samson Agonistes"...
when he referenced John Milton
John Milton
John Milton was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell...
's poem in lines 53 and 54 of the poem. Later, Thomas DeQuincey made this same argument in an 1834 review for Taits Edinburgh Magazine. William Wordsworth noted that the allusion to Samson Agonistes was intentional, but it is possible that "insupportably advancing" was changed to "irresistibly advancing" in a later edition in order to hide the allusion.
Poem
The poem begins by describing the narrator's feelings about liberty:- Yea, every thing that is and will be free!
- Bear witness for me, wheresoe'er ye be,
- With what deep worship I have still adored
- The spirit of divinest Liberty. (lines 18–21)
Then the poem describes France at the beginning of the revolution. The image, a combination of giant and child, was is commonly quoted in political works:
- When France in wrath her giant-limbs upreared,
- And with that oath, which smote air, earth, and sea,
- Stamped her strong foot and said she would be free,
- Bear witness for me, how I hoped and feared! (lines 22–25)
The poem then criticizes Britain for joining tyrannous governments in opposing France:
- Like fiends embattled by a wizard's wand,
- The Monarchs marched in evil day,
- And Britain joined the dire array;
- Though dear her shores and circling ocean,
- Though many friendships, many youthful loves
- Had swoln the patriot emotion
- And flung a magic light o'er all her hills and groves; (lines 29–35)
When France entered into the Reign of Terror
Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror , also known simply as The Terror , was a period of violence that occurred after the onset of the French Revolution, incited by conflict between rival political factions, the Girondins and the Jacobins, and marked by mass executions of "enemies of...
, the narrator describes it as necessary. However, the supporters of France were still terrified by the violence while they hoped that liberty would come:
- When France her front deep-scarr'd and gory
- Concealed with clustering wreaths of glory;
- When, insupportably advancing,
- Her arm made mockery of the warrior's ramp;
- While timid looks of fury glancing,
- Domestic treason, crushed beneath her fatal stamp,
- Writhed like a wounded dragon in his gore; (lines 51–57)
Then the narrator describes the betrayal he suffered as France invaded Switzerland:
- I hear thy groans upon her blood-stained streams!
- Heroes, that for your peaceful country perished,
- And ye that, fleeing, spot your mountain-snows
- With bleeding wounds; forgive me, that I cherished
- One thought that ever blessed your cruel foes!
- To scatter rage, and traitorous guilt,
- Where Peace her jealous home had built;
- A patriot-race to disinherit
- Of all that made their stormy wilds so dear;
- And with inexpiable spirit
- To taint the bloodless freedom of the mountaineer—
- O France, that mockest Heaven, adulterous, blind,
- And patriot only in pernicious toils! (lines 67–79)
Themes
A main focus of France: An Ode is Coleridge's feelings over France's invasion of Switzerland. The invasion marked when France became a threat to other nations. When positioned between Fears in Solitude and Frost at Midnight, shows the development of Coleridge's feelings from youth. It describes how he viewed each stage of the revolution, from hope to horror, and how it caused him to turn from his contemporary politics while still defending liberty.The poem, like other poems by Coleridge, connects his political views with his religious ideas. Many of the images that he uses to describe the French Revolution are connected to the Book of Revelations. Religious Musings
Religious Musings
Religious Musings was composed by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1794 and finished by 1796. It is one of his first poems of critical merit and contains many of his early feelings about religion and politics.-Background:...
shows an early version of the idea that was later developed in France: An Ode. Coleridge's interpretation involves a Golden Age that is in a distant future, and that he can only spend his time thinking about what the future would hold. The Gothic elements of the poem connect it to many of his other works, including Ancient Mariner, "Ballad of the Dark Ladie", Fears in Solitude, Frost at Midnight, The Nightingale
The Nightingale: A Conversation Poem
The Nightingale: A Conversation Poem was a poem written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in April 1798. Originally included in the joint collection of poems called Lyrical Ballads, the poem disputes the traditional idea that nightingales are connected to the idea of melancholy. Instead, the nightingale...
, "Three Graves", and "Wanderings of Cain".