Percy Shelley

In Shelley's early days, Shelley's writing proved to be controversial resulting in him getting expelled from two schools. Shelley however still continued to press boundaries. Shelley encountered many losses in his personal life. Shelley's and his second wife lost three children. Shelley's writings I actually did not care that much for they were a little hard to understand. Out of Shelley's writings I enjoyed Hymn to Intellectual Beauty.

Spirit of Beauty, that dost consecrate
With thine own hues all thou dost shine upon
of human thought or form,---where art thou gone

Here Shelley is saying that intellectual beauty comes in many sizes, shapes and forms. Meaning that it is not the same for everyone, everyone is not going to see things the same way.

Thou, that to human thought art nourishment
Like darkness to a dying flame
Depart not- as thy shadow came
Depart not, lest the grave should be,
Like life and far, a dark reality

Shelley goes on to say that if you do not cultivate your intellectual beauty then your human intellect will not grow. If you do not embrace your intellectual beauty then it will die, your intellectual beauty is a complement to your human intellect as the darkness is to the flame.

Of life at that sweet time when winds are wooing
All vital things that wake to bring
News of birds and blossing
Sudden, thy shadow fell on me;
I shrieked and clasped my hands in ecstacy

Here is where Shelley's writing is indicative of Romantic writing. He brings in nature and uses it as a metaphor. Basically here Shelley is using nature to describe what it is like when you are in tune and using your intellectual beauty to help mold your human intellect.