An Outline History of English LiteratureG. Bell and Sons, 1913 - 314 pages |
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Addison Age of Dryden Age of Shakespeare Age of Tennyson Augustan ballads became Bell's blank verse Castle of Otranto character characteristic Chaucer classic Coleridge comedy complete criticism death drama Edited eighteenth century Elizabethan England English literature English poetry epic Essay Faery Queene French genius George Eliot greatest HENRY heroic history of English humour Illustrated important influence inspired interest J. P. POSTGATE JOHN language later Latin learning literary London M.A. Book mediaeval ment miracle plays modern moral movement narrative nature novel Paradise Lost passion period Plautus plays poem poet poetic poetry political Pope's popular principles production Prof prose fiction prose writers Puritanism reaction readers recognised religious Renaissance revival rime romantic romanticism satire Scott sense Shakespeare social Spenser spirit story style taste Tennyson things thought tion Tottel's Miscellany tragedy Translated Victorian vols W. M. BAKER WILLIAM Wordsworth wrote
Popular passages
Page 220 - Poems was to choose incidents and situations from common life, and to relate or describe them, throughout, as far as was possible in a selection of language really used by men, and, at the same time, to throw over them a certain colouring of imagination, whereby ordinary things should be presented to the mind in an unusual aspect...
Page 132 - Itself unseen, but in th' effects remains. Some, to whom Heav'n in wit has been profuse, Want as much more, to turn it to its use ; For wit and judgment often are at strife, Tho' meant each other's aid, like man and wife. Tis more to guide, than spur the Muse's steed; Restrain his fury, than provoke his speed: The winged courser, like a gen'rous horse, Shows most true mettle when you check his course. Those Rules of old discover'd, not...
Page 220 - The principal object, then, proposed in these Poems was to choose incidents and situations from common life, and to relate or describe them, throughout, as far as was possible in a selection of language really used by men...
Page 216 - Europe at that time was thrilled with joy. France standing on the top of golden hours, And human nature seeming born again.
Page 92 - When I was preparing to pass over into Sicily and Greece, the melancholy intelligence which I received of the civil commotions in England made me alter my purpose; for I thought it base to be travelling for amusement abroad while my fellow-citizens were fighting for liberty at home.
Page 103 - Their thoughts are often new, but seldom natural ; they are not obvious, but neither are they just ; and the reader, far from wondering that he missed them, wonders more frequently by what perverseness of industry they were ever found.
Page 215 - The Genius of Poetry must work out its own salvation in a man. It cannot be matured by law and precept, but by sensation and watchfulness in itself. That which is creative must create itself.
Page 220 - Humble and rustic life was generally chosen, because in that condition the essential passions of the heart find a better soil in which they can attain their maturity, are less under restraint, and speak a plainer and more emphatic language; because in that condition of life our elementary feelings coexist in a state of greater simplicity and consequently may be more accurately contemplated and more forcibly communicated...
Page 255 - Secondly, however, we may say, these Historical Novels have taught all men this truth, which looks like a truism, and yet was as good as unknown to writers of history and others, till so taught: that the bygone ages of the world were actually filled by living men, not by protocols, statepapers, controversies and abstractions of men.
Page 253 - I had nourished the ambitious desire of composing a tale of chivalry, which was to be in the style of the Castle of Otranto, with plenty of Border characters, and supernatural incident.