Write a short note on coleridge's theory of imagination
Answers
Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772 - 1834) was the first literary critic to study ‘imagination’ and the role it plays in creativity.
His autobiography ‘Biographia Literaria’, published in 1817 was one of his main critical studies in which he discussed the various aspects and elements of writing and imagination.
He wrote that ‘imagination’ is of two types – Primary and Secondary. Primary, is understanding the impressions of the outer world through the senses. This is a spontaneous reaction inherent in human beings. Secondary, is the poetic side which enhances the primary imagination. Coleridge called secondary imagination as a magical power.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge was an English poet of the Romantic era who came up with the theory of primary and secondary imagination.
According to him there are two kind of imagination.
The primary imagination is the first level of imagination, which is possessed by everyone.
The second level of imagination is a modification of the first level called secondary imagination, which can be achieved by only select individuals.