In this essay by high school student Anthony Daans (who kindly allowed me to give some feedback on his project), he argues for Taylor Swift as a modern Romantic poet, while also exploring some of the ways in which this persona might stand at odds with other aspects of Swift’s career. Thank you so much, Anthony, for allowing me to share this here.
In an era where media illiteracy and anti-intellectualism are rising, and contemporary popular music often prioritises commercial interest over poetic depth, Taylor Swift emerges as a modern depiction of a romantic poet. The evocative album folklore, released during the global quarantine of 2020, encapsulates the essence of Romanticism based on the beliefs of William Wordsworth, in combination with Taylor Swift’s new endeavour in folk music and storytelling. As we delve deeper into the artistry of folklore, it will become more apparent that Taylor Swift, much like William Wordsworth, is a true romantic poet, and shows us a glimpse of how the new rise of Romanticism can take form in the 21st century.
Taylor Swift’s folklore contains numerous romantic literary themes, like escapism, the beauty of nature, nostalgia, and the glorification of the ordinary, all masterfully woven into her music. Just like Wordsworth, Swift uses her lyrics to glorify the mundaneness of life and the realities of everyday life. The songs in the folklore trilogy (‘cardigan’, ‘august’ and ‘betty’) transport the listeners into the life of three teenagers telling their side of a teenage love triangle that took place over the summer, creating a sense of nostalgia, and overall highlighting the complexities and contradictions inherent in these themes. Through her lyrics, Taylor Swift invites listeners to reflect on their own experiences and emotions while challenging common assumptions about love and memory, and demonstrating how men in their adolescence hyperbolise their own life.
The bonus track ‘the lakes’ explores the themes of escapism and the beauty of nature. The song itself is a reference to the lake poets, such as Wordsworth, who visited or lived in the lake district, a region in England frequently used as inspiration by them and Taylor. The song’s lyrics describe the Lake District as a place where one can be free from societal problems and experience a sense of peace and tranquillity with a loved one. The song expresses Swift’s desire to retreat to a place of natural beauty, just as the Lake poets did in the 18th century, and find solace with a loved one. By incorporating these themes, Swift not only pays homage to the Romantic poets, but also provides her audience with means to explore their own emotions and experiences through her music.
Taylor Swift uses a variety of literary devices in folklore to heighten her emotional impact and storytelling in her songs. Her use of metaphor in the song ‘this is me trying’ — ‘I’ve been having a hard time adjusting, I had the shiniest wheels now they’re rusting’ — demonstrates both themes strongly. The usage of the words ‘shiniest’ and ‘rust’ paint a picture that the main character used to be eye-catching and new, however now they are old and damaged. The metaphors also describe the character’s downfall, which makes it easily understood by the common man. Another device Swift uses effectively is epizeuxis: the repetition of a word or phrase for emphasis. In the song ‘mirrorball’, in the line ‘I’ve never been a natural, all I do is try, try, try’, the word ‘try’ is repeated. This highlights the speaker’s determination to keep going despite the challenges she faces. This literary device not only highlights the emotional weight of the story she is trying to convey, but also creates a rhythmic pattern that resonates with the listeners. Swift’s use of these and other literary devices, like simile, imagery and personification, displays her poetic skills, equal to those of a Romantic poet.
The tone of folklore is introspective, reflective and often filled with melancholia, reminiscent of the words of Romantic poets like Wordsworth and Coleridge. Swift’s lyrics convey introspection, as she explores the themes of loss, love and self-discovery, through the different character perspectives in her songs. In songs like ‘illicit affairs’, Swift conveys a melancholic tone that captures the loss of innocence and self in a relationship you know is not good for you. Similarly, in ‘epiphany’, Swift adopts a sombre yet reflective tone, creating the impression that the hospital during the global pandemic of 2020 was akin to a war zone, comparable to World War Two. The contemplative and often sombre tone of folklore allows listeners to delve into their own emotions and experiences, creating a deeply personal connection with the music. By maintaining this tone throughout the album, Swift aligns herself with the Romantic tradition of using literature as a means of exploring and expressing the complexities of the human experience.
While Taylor Swift displays many characteristics of Romanticism, there are aspects of her persona and drive that may seem at odds with the ideals of Wordsworth, and subsequently the Romantic movement. Swift’s immense wealth and commercial success — like the Eras Tour, which grossed over 1.04 billion dollars — and all the merchandise based on her body of work could be seen as contradictory to the Romantic ideals of rejecting materialism and societal norms. However, it is important to recognise that many Romantic poets, including Wordsworth himself, sought financial stability — through writing elegies for example — and recognition for their work. Both artists exist(ed) in societies where gaining capital is important for survival, so we might question whether it is even possible to be truly Romantic in a socio-capitalistic system. However, we cannot deny that Swift’s use of rustic, acoustic instruments, nature sounds and stripped down production in folklore further aligns with the Romantic ideals of returning to simplicity and focusing on the raw authentic expression of human emotion. The album demonstrates Swift’s commitment to creating art that can be both deeply personal and that evokes a bygone era. In this way, Swift embodies the spirit of Romanticism while navigating the complexities of her contemporary fame and success.
In conclusion, Taylor Swift’s folklore can be categorised as a modern embodiment of Romanticism due to her use of Romantic literary themes, skilful use of literary devices and the reflective tone of lyrics. While her immense wealth and commercial success may seem to contradict the Romantic ideal, her commitment to authentic expression and exploration of human emotions aligns with the traditions of the Romantic poets. Through folklore, Swift not only pays homage to the literary greats, like Wordsworth, but also gives us a glimpse of the future of Romanticism. She created a timeless work of art that resonates with contemporary audiences; because of this, Taylor Swift has cemented her status as a poet of this new upcoming Romantic age.
Swifterature 