This volume investigates the diverse critical methodologies applied to the works of the English Romantic poets during the mid-twentieth century. M. H. Abrams, a preeminent scholar of Romanticism, compiles thirty essays from influential critics to demonstrate the breadth of analytical approaches used to interpret canonical Romantic verse. The collection serves as a survey of how various schools of thought—ranging from historical to phenomenological—interrogate the themes and structures of the era's major poetry.

Scholars and students of literature frequently identify this collection as a foundational resource for understanding the evolution of mid-century critical theory regarding Romanticism. The text is noted for its academic density and the high caliber of its contributors, making it a standard reference for those studying the intersection of poetry and literary analysis.