Literary Sphere

ODE TO SIMPLICITY by William Collins | Background | Stanza wise explanation | Summary | Themes  🟥 AUTHOR & BACKGROUND William Collins (1721-1759) was an English poet of the 18th century, often associated with the pre-Romantic movement. He is best known for his odes, which are characterized by their emotional intensity and lyrical beauty. Collins' work bridges the gap between the Augustan poets, known for their formal precision and rationality, and the Romantic poets, who emphasized emotion and individualism. Collins was born in Chichester, England, and educated at Winchester College and Magdalen College, Oxford. He initially pursued a career in the clergy but eventually turned to poetry. Despite his talent, Collins struggled with financial difficulties and mental health issues throughout his life. His literary career was relatively brief, and his later years were marked by declining health and bouts of insanity. He died at the young age of 37. "Ode to Simplici...