How does Coleridge define prose, poetry, and poem in “Biographia Literaria?” Discuss. 

Answer

How does Coleridge define prose, poetry, and poem in “Biographia Literaria?” Discuss. 

Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) was a famous Romantic poet and thinker. In his book “Biographia Literaria” (1817), he shared his thoughts on literature and poetry. In chapter 14, the author clearly talks about prose, poetry, and poem. He shows the difference between them. He says that prose and poetry may use the same words. However, their purpose and style are different. He also says that poetry is more than just a poem on paper. Coleridge also discusses the “willing suspension of disbelief.” This concept explains how readers accept unreal things in stories.

Purpose of Prose vs. Poetry: Coleridge says prose is for sharing information clearly. It explains facts, tells stories, or teaches lessons directly. Poetry, however, is not about facts. Its purpose is to create beauty, strong feelings, or deep thoughts. Poetry makes readers feel something special. A poem is the final written form of poetry. While prose informs, poetry touches the heart. For example, a history book is prose, but a love poem is poetry. The difference is in their goals. One teaches, the other moves us emotionally. The following words show the differences clearly.

“A poem contains the same elements as a prose composition; the difference must consist in a different combination of them; in consequence of a different object proposed.”

Structure and Language: Prose uses normal sentences and paragraphs. It flows like everyday speech. Poetry breaks these rules. It uses short lines, rhythm, and sometimes rhyme. This makes it sound musical. A poem follows these special rules, like stanzas or meter. Coleridge says the way words are arranged in poetry matters. For example, prose says, 

“The sun rises in the east.” 

A poem might say, 

“Golden sun, rising bright,

Painting the sky with morning light.” 

The same idea becomes more beautiful in poetry.

Willing Suspension of Disbelief: Coleridge introduces this idea for poetry and stories. It means readers willingly