What role does Shelley assign to the 'spirit of the age' regarding the creation of contemporary Romantic poetry?
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Correct answer: Great poets are lightning conductors of a revolutionary force sweeping through their society
Shelley argues that the massive social, political, and philosophical shifts of the early 19th century were fueling a profound literary renaissance. He considers his contemporary writers to be standard-bearers of a sweeping energy, describing them as 'priests of an unapprehended inspiration' who are moved by a collective, revolutionary spirit greater than any single individual.
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