1. Briefly explain the impact of french revolution on literature.
The french revolution, which lasted from 1789 to 1799, had a profound impact on the world of literature. The revolution was a major turning point in european history, marking the end of the absolute monarchy and the beginning of a new era of democratic governance. The impact of the revolution was felt in all areas of life, including literature, which was used as a means of reflecting on the events and ideas of the time.
One of the major impacts of the french revolution on literature was the emergence of romanticism. Romanticism was a literary movement that celebrated the imagination, emotions, and individual experience. The movement emerged as a reaction to the enlightenment, which was seen as overly rational and obsessed with reason. Romantic writers sought to reclaim the emotional and spiritual aspects of life, which had been neglected during the enlightenment. Many of these writers, such as william wordsworth and samuel taylor coleridge, were inspired by the ideals of the french revolution and sought to capture the spirit of the times in their work.
The french revolution also led to an increase in political writing and polemic. The events of the revolution generated intense debate and discussion, and writers were quick to respond to these developments. Some writers, such as thomas paine, used their work as a means of promoting the revolutionary cause, while others, such as edmund burke, opposed the revolution and sought to defend the traditional social order. The french revolution marked the beginning of a new era of political writing, in which writers sought to use their work to engage with the major political issues of the time.
The revolution also had a significant impact on the way that literature was produced and consumed. The establishment of the revolutionary state led to an increase in censorship, as the authorities sought to control the flow of information. This had the effect of making literature more politically conscious, as writers were forced to consider the implications of their work for the state. At the same time, the expansion of the public sphere and the rise of the middle class led to an increase in the demand for literature. This led to the establishment of new literary forms, such as the novel, which became increasingly popular in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Finally, the french revolution had a lasting impact on the way that literature was thought about and studied. The revolution marked a shift away from the classical tradition, and towards a new, more democratic and progressive mode of thought. This had the effect of making literature more accessible and democratic, as more people began to engage with it and to think about its role in shaping the world.
In conclusion, the french revolution had a profound impact on the world of literature. The revolution led to the emergence of romanticism, an increase in political writing, changes in the way that literature was produced and consumed, and a lasting impact on the way that literature was thought about and studied. The french revolution remains one of the most important events in european history, and its impact on literature continues to be felt today.
2. Explain the salient features of british romantic poetry.
British romantic poetry, which emerged in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, is characterized by a number of distinct features that set it apart from other literary movements of the time. The romantic poets sought to reclaim the emotional and spiritual aspects of life that had been neglected during the enlightenment, and they used their work to explore new ideas and themes. Here are some of the salient features of british romantic poetry:
emphasis on individualism: romantic poets placed a strong emphasis on the individual and his or her experience. They celebrated the power of the imagination and the importance of the individuals subjective experience. This was in sharp contrast to the enlightenment, which was characterized by an emphasis on reason and objective knowledge.
Nature: romantic poets celebrated the natural world and saw it as a source of inspiration and spiritual renewal. They saw nature as a symbol of beauty and power, and they used it to explore themes of death, rebirth, and the transience of life.
Emotions: romantic poets celebrated emotions and saw them as a source of truth. They believed that emotions were more important than reason, and they used their work to explore feelings such as love, loss, and joy.
Imagination: the romantic poets placed a strong emphasis on the imagination, and they saw it as a means of escape from the constraints of the real world. They used their work to explore the limitless possibilities of the imagination and to challenge conventional ways of thinking.
Mysticism: many romantic poets were interested in mysticism and the spiritual world. They saw themselves as spiritual explorers, seeking to understand the mysteries of the universe and to uncover the secrets of the human soul.
Symbolism: romantic poets often used symbols to convey deeper meanings and to explore complex themes. They saw symbols as a way of accessing the unconscious mind and of expressing ideas that could not be expressed in words.
Death and mortality: death was a recurring theme in romantic poetry, and many of the poets sought to explore its mysteries and to come to terms with their own mortality. They saw death as a part of life, and they used it as a means of exploring the human experience.
The sublime: the sublime was an important concept in romantic poetry, and many of the poets sought to evoke feelings of awe and wonder in their work. They saw the sublime as a means of transcending the ordinary and of accessing the infinite.
Nationalism: the romantic poets were often interested in nationalism, and they sought to celebrate their own country and its history. They saw nationalism as a means of asserting their own cultural identity and of preserving their heritage for future generations.
In conclusion, british romantic poetry is characterized by a strong emphasis on the individual, nature, emotions, imagination, mysticism, symbolism, death and mortality, the sublime, and nationalism. The romantic poets sought to reclaim the emotional and spiritual aspects of life that had been neglected during the enlightenment, and they used their work to explore new ideas and themes. Their work continues to be celebrated and studied today, and it remains a significant part of the literary canon.
3. What romantic tendencies are present in burns poetry?
Robert burns, often referred to as the "national bard of scotland, " was a poet and lyricist whose work is considered to be some of the best examples of scottish romanticism. Although burns lived in the late 18th century, his work is considered to be part of the romantic movement, which emerged in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Here are some of the romantic tendencies that are present in burns' poetry:
emphasis on nature: burns saw nature as a source of inspiration and used it to explore themes of death, rebirth, and the transience of life. He celebrated the natural world and saw it as a symbol of beauty and power.
Emotions: burns celebrated emotions and saw them as a source of truth. He believed that emotions were more important than reason, and he used his work to explore feelings such as love, loss, and joy.
The supernatural: burns was interested in the supernatural and the spiritual world. He saw himself as a spiritual explorer, seeking to understand the mysteries of the universe and to uncover the secrets of the human soul.
The common people: burns was a strong advocate for the common people and saw their struggles and hardships as a source of inspiration. He sought to celebrate their lives and to give a voice to their stories.
Nationalism: burns was a nationalist and sought to celebrate scotland and its history. He saw nationalism as a means of asserting his own cultural identity and of preserving his heritage for future generations.
The rural life: burns was born and raised in a rural environment, and his poetry often reflects his love for the rural life. He celebrated the simple, natural way of life in the countryside and saw it as a source of inspiration.
Love and desire: burns was known for his love poetry, and many of his poems explore themes of love and desire. He was a passionate and romantic poet, and his work often reflects his own experiences with love and heartbreak.
Folklore and traditions: burns was interested in folklore and tradition, and he often incorporated elements of folklore and traditional songs into his own work. He sought to preserve scotland's cultural heritage and to keep its traditions alive.
The imagination: burns placed a strong emphasis on the imagination, and he saw it as a means of escape from the constraints of the real world. He used his work to explore the limitless possibilities of the imagination and to challenge conventional ways of thinking.
In conclusion, burns' poetry is characterized by an emphasis on nature, emotions, the supernatural, the common people, nationalism, the rural life, love and desire, folklore and traditions, and the imagination. His work reflects his love for scotland and its people, and it remains an important part of the scottish literary canon. Burns' work continues to be celebrated and studied today, and it is widely regarded as some of the best examples of scottish romanticism.
4. Comment on blakes portrayal of children and childhood in his songs of innocence and experience.
William blake's songs of innocence and experience is a collection of poems that explore the themes of childhood, innocence, and experience. Blake's portrayal of children and childhood in these poems is complex and nuanced, and it reflects his unique perspective on the world. Here are some of the key ways in which blake portrays children and childhood in his poetry:
innocence: blake's portrayal of children in the songs of innocence is characterized by their innocence, purity, and childlike innocence. In these poems, children are seen as beings of light and hope, who have not yet been corrupted by the cruel realities of the world. Blake's depiction of children as innocent beings is in stark contrast to the often dark and pessimistic worldview that he presents in the songs of experience.
Playfulness: blake's children are depicted as playful and carefree, enjoying the simple pleasures of life. He sees playfulness as an essential aspect of childhood and a key component of children's overall development.
Imagination: blake was a firm believer in the power of the imagination, and he saw it as an essential aspect of childhood. He depicts children as imaginative beings, who are capable of creating their own worlds and experiencing the world in new and exciting ways.
Vulnerability: blake's children are depicted as vulnerable and in need of protection, especially in the face of the harsh realities of the world. He sees the world as a dangerous place, and he portrays children as beings who are at risk of being hurt or damaged by the cruelty of the world.
Transformation: blake portrays childhood as a time of transformation, as children grow and change and move from innocence to experience. He sees this transformation as an inevitable part of life, but also as a potential source of pain and loss.
Relationship with nature: blake's children are depicted as being closely connected to nature, and they are often depicted playing in natural settings. He sees nature as a source of inspiration and rejuvenation, and he portrays children as being in harmony with nature and its rhythms.
Loss of innocence: in the songs of experience, blake portrays the loss of innocence as a central theme. He depicts children who have been hurt and damaged by the harsh realities of the world, and he explores the ways in which they are transformed by their experiences.
The divine: blake sees childhood as a time when children are closest to the divine, and he portrays children as beings who are capable of experiencing the divine in a pure and unencumbered way. He sees the loss of innocence as a loss of the divine, and he portrays the journey from innocence to experience as a journey away from the divine.
In conclusion, blake's portrayal of children and childhood in the songs of innocence and experience is complex and nuanced, reflecting his unique perspective on the world. He portrays children as innocent and playful beings, who are closely connected to nature and the divine. At the same time, he portrays the loss of innocence as a central theme, and he explores the ways in which children are transformed by their experiences. Blake's portrayal of children and childhood remains an important aspect of his poetry, and it continues to be studied and appreciated by readers today.
5. Explain coleridges ideas on fancy and imagination.
Samuel taylor coleridge was a major poet and literary critic of the romantic era, and he made important contributions to our understanding of the human imagination. In his works, coleridge distinguishes between two related but distinct faculties of the mind: "fancy" and "imagination".
"fancy" refers to a type of imagination that is associated with the mind's ability to arrange and rearrange sensory images. It is a spontaneous, seemingly effortless process that creates an ordered, harmonious sequence of mental images, without necessarily making any connection to the reality of the objects represented. Coleridge described fancy as a "mode of memory" that combines and recombines images and impressions to form new and delightful combinations, but which lacks the power of true imagination.
In contrast, "imagination" is a much more complex and powerful faculty of the mind, associated with creative invention and the ability to unify and harmonize sensory images in a way that creates a new and original whole. Coleridge described imagination as the "living power and prime agent of all human perception, and as a repetition in the finite mind of the eternal act of creation in the infinite i am. " the imagination, in coleridge's view, is the mind's ability to synthesize and unify experiences, and to create new connections between them, resulting in a kind of mental construct that transcends the sum of its parts.
For coleridge, the imagination is the primary means by which we create meaning and beauty, and it is what allows us to experience the world in a unique and personal way. The imagination enables us to see connections between seemingly disparate things, to perceive the world in new and original ways, and to create works of art that have the power to move us on a deep emotional level.
The distinction between fancy and imagination is an important one, as it highlights the role that the mind plays in shaping our experience of the world. Coleridge's ideas about fancy and imagination suggest that the mind is not a passive receptor of sensory information, but an active participant in the creation of meaning and beauty. Furthermore, his distinction between fancy and imagination implies that there is a hierarchy of mental faculties, with imagination being the highest and most powerful of them all.
In coleridge's view, the imagination is not just a faculty of the mind, but a kind of spiritual power that allows us to transcend the limitations of our physical and sensory experience. The imagination enables us to see beyond the surface of things and to experience the world on a deeper, more meaningful level. Through the imagination, we can connect with the infinite and eternal, and in doing so, we can experience a sense of transcendence and unity with the universe.
In conclusion, coleridge's ideas about "fancy" and "imagination" have had a profound impact on our understanding of the human mind and its role in shaping our experience of the world. By distinguishing between these two related but distinct mental faculties, coleridge highlights the importance of the imagination in our ability to create meaning and beauty, and to experience the world in a rich and meaningful way. His ideas continue to be relevant today, and serve as a reminder of the power of the human imagination to shape our understanding of the world and our place in it.