1. "When I Have Fears That I May Cease to Be" by John Keats (1818): This sonnet explores the anxieties of a young artist facing mortality and the fear of leaving behind unfinished work. It exemplifies Keats's signature blend of passionate emotion, vivid imagery, and philosophical reflection.
2. "Composed Upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802" by William Wordsworth (1807): This sonnet celebrates the beauty and grandeur of London as seen from Westminster Bridge. It marks a shift in Wordsworth's focus towards appreciating the sublime in everyday life, a key element of Romanticism. It showcases Wordsworth's ability to find poetry in the seemingly ordinary.
3. "Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1818): This sonnet is a powerful meditation on the transience of power and the inevitable decay of empires. It employs a vivid and ironic portrayal of a crumbling statue of the once-mighty Pharaoh Ozymandias, contrasting his past grandeur with his present ruin. The sonnet emphasizes the themes of mortality and the fleeting nature of human achievement.
These three sonnets represent a broad range of themes and styles within Romantic poetry, showcasing the diversity of thought and expression that defined the movement.