Poetics, an Essay on PoetrySmith, Elder, and Company, 1852 - 294 pages |
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Page 3
... the placing of criticism upon something like a scientific footing ; in brief , towards a science of poetry and of poetic expression , I desire to contribute a mite . Many are the definitions of poetry that have been given.
... the placing of criticism upon something like a scientific footing ; in brief , towards a science of poetry and of poetic expression , I desire to contribute a mite . Many are the definitions of poetry that have been given.
Page 4
... defined idea of its nature ; and since , even by failing , any definition may be at least as useful as the unlucky ship that grounded at the battle of Aboukir and did for a waymark to them that followed ; I hope that I shall not be ...
... defined idea of its nature ; and since , even by failing , any definition may be at least as useful as the unlucky ship that grounded at the battle of Aboukir and did for a waymark to them that followed ; I hope that I shall not be ...
Page 6
... definition should thus embrace all men , and not simply the well - starred few on whom have been be- stowed , and ... defined poetry not in itself , but by its accidents ; the former laying 6 INTRODUCTION .
... definition should thus embrace all men , and not simply the well - starred few on whom have been be- stowed , and ... defined poetry not in itself , but by its accidents ; the former laying 6 INTRODUCTION .
Page 7
... definitions . Were a man to explain anger by saying that it is a box on the ear , his description would be as good and ... definition must put no school beyond its pale ; it must ban neither the Greek , nor the Gothic , nor the Asiatic ...
... definitions . Were a man to explain anger by saying that it is a box on the ear , his description would be as good and ... definition must put no school beyond its pale ; it must ban neither the Greek , nor the Gothic , nor the Asiatic ...
Page 8
... definitions have split ; and witty and humorous pieces form another such reef . The wanderings and shortcomings of definitions are not wonderful , however ; nor need we wonder at the rav- ings of those who , instead of defining , have ...
... definitions have split ; and witty and humorous pieces form another such reef . The wanderings and shortcomings of definitions are not wonderful , however ; nor need we wonder at the rav- ings of those who , instead of defining , have ...
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Common terms and phrases
action activity Æschylus Aristotle artist Bacon beautiful believe belongs blank verse called chiefly Christ Christian classical Clement of Rome comparison couplet critics Divine doctrine doubt drama dramatic art dramatist Dugald Stewart employed endeavours English epic Euripides Euroclydon expression fact faculty faith former Freedom genius give Greek happiness heart heaven Hebrew Homer human idea Iliad imagery imagination imitative Immortality instinct Jeremy Collier kinds of poesy language latter law of poetry least less look lyrical manner means metaphor metre mind modern narrative nature never object perhaps philosopher pleasure plurality poem poet poetic feeling present prose reality reason regard remarkable rhyme romantic seen self-consciousness sense Shakespere shown simile simply Sir Philip Sidney song Sophocles soul speak spirit stanza tell theory things Thomas à Kempis thought tion true truly truth uncon utterance whole words Wordsworth
Popular passages
Page 144 - Of Man's First Disobedience, and the Fruit Of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal taste Brought Death into the World, and all our woe, With loss of Eden, till one greater Man Restore us, and regain the blissful Seat, Sing Heav'nly Muse...
Page 203 - Earth trembled from her entrails, as again In pangs; and Nature gave a second groan; Sky lour'd, and, muttering thunder, some sad drops Wept at completing of the mortal sin Original...
Page 187 - How beautiful is night ! A dewy freshness fills the silent air, No mist obscures, nor cloud, nor speck, nor stain, Breaks the serene of heaven : In full-orbed glory yonder moon divine Rolls through the dark blue depths.
Page 293 - Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist : notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Page 106 - A THING of beauty is a joy for ever : Its loveliness increases ; it will never Pass into nothingness ; but still will keep A bower quiet for us, and a sleep Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
Page 144 - OF MAN'S first disobedience, and the fruit Of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste Brought death into the World, and all our woe, With loss of Eden, till one greater Man Restore us, and regain the blissful seat, Sing, Heavenly Muse, that, on the secret top Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire That shepherd who first taught the chosen seed In the beginning how the heavens and earth Rose out of Chaos...
Page 193 - The stars of heaven a course are taught Too high above our human thought ; Ye may be found if ye are sought, And, as we gaze, we know. Ye dwell beside our paths and homes, Our paths of sin, our homes of sorrow; And guilty man, where'er he roams, Your innocent mirth may borrow. The birds of air before us fleet, They cannot brook our shame to meet ; But we may taste your solace sweet, And come again to-morrow. Ye fearless in your nests abide ; Nor may we scorn, too proudly wise, Your silent lessons,...
Page 54 - Whatever is great, desirable, or tremendous, is comprised in the name of the Supreme Being. Omnipotence cannot be exalted ; infinity cannot be amplified; perfection cannot be improved.
Page 34 - My slumbers — if I slumber — are not sleep, But a continuance of enduring thought, Which then I can resist not : in my heart There is a vigil, and these eyes but close To look within ; and yet I live, and bear The aspect and the form of breathing men.
Page 37 - Of honourable gain; these fields, these hills Which were his living Being, even more Than his own blood — what could they less ? had laid Strong hold on his affections, were to him A pleasurable feeling of blind love, The pleasure which there is in life itself. On the other hand, in the poems which are pitched in a lower key, as the HARRY GILL...