“A Defence of Poetry” is a critical essay written by P. B. Shelley in 1821, in which the poet expresses his ideas about poetry and its value. It’s a declaration similar to Coleridge’s “Biographia literaria” or Wordsworth’s “Preface to Lyrical Ballads”.

The first paragraph is about the creative process of poetry. Shelley explains that poetry is not like reasoning or something referring to poet’s will. The poet can’t decide to compose poetry, even if he is the greatest poet, because everything depends to inspiration. It’s as a wind that comes in some moments but few moments later it isn’t here yet. So he can write only when he is affected by it.

The second one describes the identity of the poet. He is the man who records happiest and best moments with the purpose of pleasure to remember them. But he is not a common man, indeed he is able to write them more delicately, with more elegants words and using better imagination. This elevates him from other men. Moreover he gives his definition of poetry as the records of happiest and best moments of the happiest and best minds.

In the third paragraph the poet describes the tasks of poetry. As seen before, pleasure is the main task, but it’s not enough. He has also the task to make these records immortal, sending them forth among the mankind, bearing the joy of that moment.

In the final paragraph he elevates again the figure of the poet even if it doesn’t represent the real romantic view of man. He is the best man possible, who has every positive qualities, who receives more glory than other men and these reasons make him the most fortunate of men.