Percy Bysshe Shelley
- Born:
- August 4, 1792, Broadbridge Heath, near Horsham, Sussex, England
- Died:
- July 8, 1822, Gulf of Spezia, Italy
- Nationality:
- English
- Profession(s):
- Poet, Essayist
Early Life and Education
- Educated at Eton College, known for his rebellious nature and refusal to submit to authority.
- Expelled from University College, Oxford in 1811 for co-authoring the pamphlet "The Necessity of Atheism."
- Eloped with Harriet Westbrook shortly after his expulsion.
Career and Major Achievements
- Developed a distinct poetic style characterized by romanticism, idealism, and radical political views.
- Associated with prominent Romantic poets, including Lord Byron and John Keats.
- Wrote extensively on themes of social justice, revolution, and the power of imagination.
- His works often explored the relationship between nature and human experience and contributed to the development of the modern understanding of biography literary define of imagery as a critical tool.
Notable Works
- Queen Mab (1813)
- Alastor, or The Spirit of Solitude (1815)
- The Revolt of Islam (1818)
- Prometheus Unbound (1820)
- Adonaïs (1821) - An elegy on the death of John Keats.
- Ozymandias (1818)
- Ode to the West Wind (1819)
Legacy and Impact
Percy Bysshe Shelley's influence on literature and political thought continues to be significant. His poems, essays, and philosophical writings have inspired generations of writers, artists, and activists. He remains a central figure of the Romantic era and a champion of individual liberty and social reform.