Percy Bysshe Shelley, Prometheus Unbound

Mark Sandy (University of Durham)
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Traditionally thought to have been the poetic composition that, apart from

Queen Mab

[See Separate Entry], took Shelley the longest time and caused him the greatest artistic difficulties,

Prometheus Unbound

was first conceived of in only three acts. It was not until April 1819 that Shelley decided to significantly expand and revise his lyrical drama into the completed four act version published in August 1820. Shelley begun writing the first act of his lyrical drama at Este in September 1818 and, then, worked sporadically on Acts II and III (substantially altered in March and April 1819) in the late autumn and winter 1818, and completed Act IV over the summer of 1819. These new dates for the composition of

Prometheus Unbound

(suggested by Neil Fraistat) show that Shelley's lyrical drama…

1667 words

Citation: Sandy, Mark. "Prometheus Unbound". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 25 August 2004 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=2545, accessed 19 March 2024.]

2545 Prometheus Unbound 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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