“Ode to the West Wind” by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1820)

This poem uses the same verse form as The Triumph of Life: terza rima. Wind is also an important feature in parts of The Triumph of Life, as well as in “Ode to the West Wind.”

Il Trionfi (Triumphs) by Francesco Petrarch (1374)

This is Petrarch’s poem about triumphal processionals. He includes the triumphs of Love, Chastity, Death, Fame, Time, and Eternity. These allegorical figures sitting in chariots and surrounded by crowds can be compared to the chariot of life and its crowd in The Triumph of Life.

The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri (c. 1321)

In this poem, the poet is guided through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. In Hell, Dante’s guide is Virgil, who can be compared to Rousseau in The Triumph of Life. The link is to an Italian illuminated manuscript; an English translation can be found here.

“A Defense of Poetry” by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1840)

This is Shelley’s essay on the craft of poetry, or poetics. This famous work can help the reader understand Shelley’s thoughts on composing The Triumph of Life.