Ode to the West Wind

Romanticism is an ideological movement beginning at the end of the 18th century and ending in the mid-19th century. British Romanticism refers specifically to English-language romantic thinkers, artists, writers, and poets. The term arose well after the movement ended to describe people who never considered themselves a part of a unified collective. In fact, many artists in this period made a point of rejecting convention, adhering instead to their own individual impulses. Nonetheless, these varied styles and approaches share a few key common traits. British Romantic poets considered writing to be a transcendent act, one that brought the writer closer to the divine, unity with all things, and truth. They prioritized individuality, seeing the inner self as the locus of true knowledge. They connected human flourishing with the natural world, imagination with power, and art with social progress.

“Ode to the West Wind” embodies all of these themes to varying degrees. Naturalism crops up in the title and develops throughout the poem. The poem explores individualism and creative achievement through the content as well as the amalgamation of literary devices. Shelley makes extensive use of British Romantic ideas throughout his oeuvre, and “Ode to the West Wind” is a healthy specimen of British Romantic philosophy of art in particular.