2nd Year 1st Term English Literature PDF

HISTORIA ANGLOJĘZYCZNEJ LITERATURY KONSULTACJE: 9:30-10:15 WTOREK 15:15 - 16:45 PIĄTEK POKÓJ: ZB-4.08/4.09 The Imaginary Landscapes of Revolution in William Blake’s selected works. William Blake is considered a precursor of Romanticism because his poetry and artwork often explored themes of individu...

HISTORIA ANGLOJĘZYCZNEJ LITERATURY KONSULTACJE: 9:30-10:15 WTOREK 15:15 - 16:45 PIĄTEK POKÓJ: ZB-4.08/4.09 The Imaginary Landscapes of Revolution in William Blake’s selected works. William Blake is considered a precursor of Romanticism because his poetry and artwork often explored themes of individualism, imagination, and emotion, which were key elements of the Romantic movement. Songs of Innocence and of Experience Shewing the Two Contrary States of the Human Soul Songs of Innocence (1789) and Songs of Experience (1794), written and illustrated by William Blake William Blake’s works: - The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (ca 1790) Urizen Los - Urizen [reason] is the law giver who weaves the 'Net of Religion'. His counterpart is Los, who stands for the Imagination. Comparison of Chimney Sweepers from Songs of Experience and of Innocence: By comparing Blake’s two ‘Chimney Sweeper’ poems, we can get some sense of his feelings about innocence and experience as ‘contrary states’. The sweep in Innocence doesn’t understand the life in which he finds himself. He is sold ‘while yet [his] tongue, / Could scarcely cry weep weep, weep weep’. ‘Weep’ sounds very like ‘sweep’. This is a poetic strategy with which Blake suggests that as there is little difference in the way the words sound to our ears, so there is little difference in what the words mean to the child. But the child’s language is not adequate to make sense of his sorrow. He does not know that he has been taught a false language, which makes him believe that sadness must be a fact of everyday life. The little child who narrates the Song from Innocence is, therefore, unable to comprehend the world in which he finds himself. This makes innocence a much more frightening state than experience. The chimney sweeper of Experience knows his position is one of ‘misery’ and angrily berates society for it. Like the child of Innocence he cries ‘weep weep’ and Blake again puns on the similarity of sound between ‘weep’ and ‘sweep’. The difference is that the child of experience knows this life has been forced upon him and he realises that he has been ‘taught’ the language of the sweep’s sorrowful life. Unlike innocence, Blake suggests that experience is a state of knowledge and control. Selected. Interpretative Keys Blake’s Poems and Prophecies - Urizen vs Los to - Political, Social, and Poetic Revolution Faith vs Organized Religion Nature vs Progress Overman (forming a human being into something greater) Fiery Thinking (Myślenie płomieniste - Tadeusz Sławek) How can we divide a poetic idiom? Critic of a natural world that exploits one another. Proverbs of Hell (a selection) - Drive your cart and your plough over the bones of the dead - The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom - He who desires, but acts not, breeds pestilence - A fool sees not the same tree that a wise man sees - The hours of folly are measured by the clock, but of wisdom, no clock can measure - No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings - The roaring of lions, the howling of wolves, the raging of the stormy seas Romanticism - Timespan: 1790-1830 Slogans of Romanticism - Author - creator - Human & Nature - Liberation of passions - Political radicalism Conceptions of poetry: - The pastoral conception (genre of poetry that explores the - connections between human life and nature) The prophetic conception (the writer has great insight into the human condition or speaks out against social and political injustice) 1st Generation: William Blake (1757-1827) William Wordsworth (1770-1850) Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1722-1834) William Wordsworth & Samuel Taylor Coleridge - „Lake Poets”; Wordsworth Coleridge - Robert Southey - Wordsworth & Coleridge: Lyrical Ballads collection of poems: - A) 1798 - first edition - B) 1800 - second edition Tintern Abbey Poetry and the idea of turning to Nature; Wordsworth’s programme poem „ Lines ? a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey, on Revisiting the Banks of the Wye during a Tour, July 13 1798”. Johnathan Bate reintroduced Romantics as the poets of nature. Samuel Taylor Coleridge - „The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” Youth/Old age Inward eye The Eolim Hap Kubla Khan Manfred - The Giaour The Carswin Don Juan John Keats: - No upper class background - Trained to be an apothecary - Tuberculosis - „family disease” - Famous works: „The Eve of St. Agnes”, „La Belle Dame sans Merci”, „Ode to a Nightingale” - Highly inspired by John Milton Percy Bysshe Shelley: - Prometheus Unbound - a lyrical drama - Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus - John Milton’s Satan in Paradise Lost Adona’s closet drama - A closet drama is unique because the playwright does not intend for the play to be performed in front of an audience. Instead, a closet drama is intended for individual or small group readings. One example of a closet drama is Percy Shelley's Prometheus Unbound. The play is based on a Greek tragedy and would be very difficult to present on stage because the characters are gods, mythical creatures, and titans. Shelley clearly did not intend for it to be performed. Ode to a Nightingale: The poem focuses on a speaker standing in a dark forest, listening to the beguiling and beautiful song of the nightingale. This provokes a deep and meandering meditation by the speaker - Nothing can last; loss is inevitable - The speaker perceives the bird as immortality - The speaker is conflicted about whether anything is real - The bird symbolizes an awareness Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice questions to analyze:: 1. Bennets are poor, Bingley is richer and Darcy is the richest, Wickham is broke 2. Because Darcy is more clever and more rich 3. Elizabeth makes assumptions about mr Darcy based upon their first meeting, she is prejudiced against him until the end of the book 4. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth is prejudiced against mr. Darcy and mr. Darcy’s excessive pride prohibits him from expressing his feelings towards Elizabeth 5. Elizabeth in a mocking tone 6. It happens when Elizabeth’s thoughts are presented without signifying that „she thought of” something. 7. Elizabeth is attracted to Wickham’s happy readiness of conversation - a readiness at the same time perfectly correct and unassuming. He pushes her away from Mr. Darcy as he spreads lies about him 8. Mr Bennet is the family patriarch, he is fond of his eldest daughters while he does not pay that much attention to the younger ones 9. The visit reveals the truth about Mr. Darcy, which proves Elizabeth’s assumptions were wrong and that Wickham lied. 10. After reading the letter 11. It might be because Mr. Darcy is wealthier than Elizabeth, so it represents their different financial statuses 12. It does end with a fairy-tale ending 13. The novel voices criticism the idea of traditional marriage where importance is placed on aspects such as possessions, connections and class The Castle of Otranto as the first gothic novel *A medieval story of ghosts, revenge, usurpation, murder *Set in Middle Ages *Prophesy: "[T]he Castle and Lordship of Otranto should pass from the present family, whenever the real owner should be grown too large to inhabit it” *Manfred- tyrant, villain *Theodore - noble, brave, respectful of women *Superstition - indispensable Against the convention: Gothic fiction, Laurence Sterne, Mary Shelley Next editions: - Walpole reveals his authorship - Walpole reveals his intentions - The word gothic is added to the subtitle → The Castle of Otranto, A Gothic Story Towards gothic fiction: Early English novel: didactic, rational, realistic, middle-class The feeling of exhaustion Fielding, Richardson authors belonging to the older generation The new thrill was needed: Horace Walpole, The Castle of Otranto Horace Walpole, The Castle of Otranto First edition: 1764 Combining medieval romance and contemporary romance 1750 - Samuel Johnson in The Rambler expresses his concern with fiction relying mainly on imagination The Castle of Otranto - editions First edition - Published anonymously - Presented as an Italian novel Gothic as a literary mode: - Terror - obscured, indirect, playing on the reader’s superstition, evocative - Ann Radcliffe, The Mysteries of Udolpho, “explained supernatural” - ghosts never show up - Horror straightforward, obscene, materialized threat - Matthew Gregory Lewis, The Monk; demonic and spectral presence, vivid sexual imagery Laurence Sterne, Tristram Shandy: - 1759-1767 - Sentimental novel The life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman 9 volumes, digressive Topic: writing an autobiography Humorous, ironic Influence: Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote Experimental language and typography No progression of the plot Metafiction Frankenstein - Mary Shelley Mary Shelley - born to a family of a radical thinkers Father: William Godwin proto-anarchist, author of Political Justice (1793); author of Things as They Are, or The Adventures of Caleb Williams (1794) Mother: Mary Wollstonecraft proto-feminist, philosopher; author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792); died after childbirth Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley 1797-1851 1812-14 - meets and then elopes with Percy Bysshe Shelley 1815 - gives birth to 1st child (who dies soon) 1816 - marries Percy Shelley; they spend summer in Switzerland by Lake Geneva 1818 - settles with her husband in Italy; writes and publishes Frankenstein 1822 - Percy Shelley drowns 1831 - 3rd edition with the Author's Introduction William Godwin John Polidori ‚MAZEPPA’ Villa Diodati Plasticator Pyrophoros 1816 - meeting in Villa Diodati in Switzerland Frankenstein Appearance: - grotesque - tall - yellow skin - black hair - his appearance evokes fear - his body is stitched from various body parts - black lips - white teeth Feeling Frankenstein: - He felt miserable - Mix of anger - Sense of guilt - Suffering because killed his relatives monster Monster: - Wanted to hurt Victor and their relatives - Not fitting in society - His creator doesn’t accept him Qualities of monstrosity: - appearance of monster - violent behavior - lack of acceptance Creature in pop culture vs creature in novel Difference: - Color of skin (blue vs yellow, green) Bolts in his neck Similarity: - Stitches on body - Look for peace in life and people John Milton, “Paradise Lost”: - to motto odnosi się do utraty niewinności, konsekwencji grzechu - upadek moralny Victora, podobny do upadku Adama i Ewy, ponieważ Victor tworząc potwora jest odpowiedzialny za jegi czyny Modern Prometeus - Creature brings society sth Sources: Jeffrey Jerome Cohen, Culture (Seven Theses)” to the “Monster Seven Theses: Thesis 1 - The Monster’s Body is a Cultural Body Thesis 2 - The Monster Always Escapes Thesis 3 - The Monster is the Harbinger of Category Crisis Thesis 4 - The Monster Dwells at the Gates of Difference Thesis 5 - The Monster Polices the Borders of the Possible Thesis 6 - Fear of the Monster is Really a Kind of Desire Thesis 7 - Monster Stands at the Threshold of Becoming Dynamics of revenge Two sides emotional and plot about revenge In "Wuthering Heights," revenge is a central theme, driving characters like Heathcliff to seek vengeance for perceived wrongs. Heathcliff's desire for revenge against those who mistreated him reflects the destructive nature of unresolved resentment, contributing to the novel's dark and intense atmosphere. The cyclical nature of revenge is evident as characters pass on their animosity to the next generation, perpetuating a cycle of vengeance and suffering. Factors of love that persists within, love as reasonable choices Love in "Wuthering Heights" is complex and often intertwined with darker emotions. Cathy and Heathcliff share a passionate and intense love, but it is also destructive. Their love is affected by societal expectations, class differences, and Heathcliff's desire for revenge. The novel explores the idea that love can be both transcendent and damaging, blurring the lines between love and obsession. Additionally, the theme of eternal love and the supernatural elements in the story contribute to the intricate portrayal of love in "Wuthering Heights." Wuthering Heights' comparison with Gothic tradition, supernatural, what lies beyound the spectre, atmosphere "Wuthering Heights" aligns with the Gothic tradition through its eerie atmosphere, supernatural elements, and the mysterious setting of the Wuthering Heights estate. The gloomy and isolated moors contribute to the novel's Gothic ambiance, enhancing the sense of foreboding and mystery. The supernatural aspects in the story, such as Cathy's ghost haunting Wuthering Heights, add a layer of complexity. The novel blurs the lines between the natural and the supernatural, heightening the emotional intensity and creating an otherworldly dimension. The spectral presence of Cathy's ghost symbolizes unresolved passions and the haunting effects of love and revenge. Was the last British monarch of the House of Hanover was succeeded by her son, Edward VII of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Changes in legislation: - Reform Acts in 1832, 1867, 1884 - extended franchise Factory laws Marriage laws and women’s property rights The atmospheric elements play a crucial role, with the moors and the imposing structure of Wuthering Heights itself becoming almost characters in their own right. The weather and landscape mirror the characters' emotions, contributing to the overall Gothic tone. The setting becomes a reflection of the tumultuous inner lives of the characters. Industry and technology: In essence, "Wuthering Heights" draws on Gothic traditions by creating a haunting, atmospheric setting, incorporating supernatural elements, and exploring what lies beyond the specter of the everyday, delving into the darker aspects of human nature and emotions. Philosophy and science The Victorian Era Queen Victoria’s reign (1837-1901) 1840 - married Prince Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Albert of - - - The Industrial Revolution Railway era Factories Strengthening of working-class Birth of communism Emphasis on progress The Great Exhibition of 1851; the Crystal Palace Utilitarianism (Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that determines right from wrong by focusing on outcomes. Utilitarianism is a theory of morality that advocates actions that foster happiness or pleasure and oppose actions that cause unhappiness or harm) Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) Charles Darwin and naturalism Major fields of scientific interest physical science psychology, medical sciences Elizabeth (1806-1861) - science, Barrett social Browning sonnets from the Portuguese Aurora Leigh „The Cry of the Children” Dante Gabriel Rosetti (1828-1882) - Christina Rossetti (1830-1894) - Robert Browning (1812-1889) - „My Last Duchess” Men and Women Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) „The Blessed Damozel” The House of Life founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in 1848 Goblin Poems Algernon (1837-1909) - Market and Charles Other Swinburne Atlanta in Claydon Poems and Ballads Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood Charles Dickens (1812-1870) William Michel Rossetti believed there had been four dogmas shared by the members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood - - Having Genuine ideas to express Studying nature attentively, to know how to express them Sympathizing with what is direct and serious and heartfelt in art, excluding what is conventional and self-parading and learned by rote Producing thoroughly good pictures and statues Their aim was threefold: to revive British art; to make it as dynamic, powerful and creative as the late medieval and early Renaissance works created before the time of the Italian artist Raphael; and to find ways of expressing both nature and true emotions in art. - Pickwick Papers David Copperfield Bleak House A Tale Of Two Cities A Christmas Carol Hard Times Oliver Twist The Brontës: Anne Brontë - The Tennant of Wildfell Hall Emily Brontë (1818–1848) - Wuthering Heights Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855) - Jane Eyre George Eliot (Marian Evans) (1819-1880) - Adam Bede Middlemarch Mill on the Floss Daniel Deronda - The Subjection of Women Matthew Arnold (1822-1888) - Culture and anarchy - Literature and science George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Rudyard Kipling, “White Man’s Burden” - Mrs Warren’s Profession Caesar and Cleopatra Pygmalion Man and Superman William Makepeace (1811-1863) 1876 1851 Walter Pater Thackeray - The Luck of Barry Lyndon - Vanity Fair Evolution: - Charles Darwin - * On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection - Georges Cuvier 1901 Fin de siècle Fin de siècle - the end of a century the end of the 19th century in Britain Not merely about the date but rather about the period specific artistic, social and moral questions British authors indebtedness to the French decadence, symbolism, and naturalization - Edmund Gosse - Herbert Spencer = social darwinism - Naturalism in fiction Fin de siècle as a challenge to Victorian ideas Victorian morality - recognized as morality of restraint Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) - The Mayor of Casterbridge Fin se siecle literature as a portrayal of emerging attitudes to sexuality, social issues, and scientific rrpgress - Tess of the d’Urbervilles John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) - On Liberty Fin de siècle authors lack of faith in rationalism or positivism Fin de siècle authors interest in subjectivism, vitalism, aestheticism, pessimism Recurrent themes: degeneration, change, corruption of body and mind, egoism 3 open questions discuss an author work Up to 3 points per task Reflect on literary significance (we dont have to remember the dates but know the epoque and what it brought to the epoque) Connect the name to a trend/work/fact (no useless knowledge, for instance someone died in XYZ) True and false - there will be traps! Connect the title to the author Examples literature: REVISION FOR THE TEST Byronic hero The Byronic hero first reached a very wide public in Byron's semi-autobiographical epic narrative poem Childe Harold's Pilgrimage Byronic hero is a protagonist who wishes to do good, though he may feel conflicted in how to accomplish this goal. He may not want to undertake the quest that he has been given. The Byronic hero derives its name from Lord Byron, a Romantic poet who used such characters in his work. Lord Byron himself was something of a Byronic hero and matched many of the traits of his characters. As a Romantic, he focused on emotion and its consequences, making his characters complex. In comparison to traditional literary heroes who possess great bravery, inherent goodness, honesty, selflessness, etc., Byronic heroes have deep-rooted psychological issues that make them less ‘heroic’. They are presented as outcasts from society. Even though Byronic heroes don’t fit the qualities of a traditional hero, they are seen performing heroic acts, all the while being plagued by emotional obstacles such as self-doubt, violence and impulsive behaviour. Despite their innate heroic abilities, Byronic heroes are oftentimes destroyed by their flaws. of Byronic heroes in Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice) - can be one of the best examples of Byronic hero as he posses most of the characteristics of Byronic hero such as he is always isolated from other, he is emotionally disturbed due to his hidden secrets inside him, he would have reason for his evil deeds, and who can correct his own mistake by realizing it Heathcliff (Wuthering Heights) Through the course of the book, it becomes evident that Heathcliff is a classic Byronic Hero. At first glance, he is a prideful man who brings misfortune to those around him. Heathcliff’s wife Isabella wonders if he is human at all. The man is a prisoner of the past. He holds grudges and is driven by vengeance. Heathcliff’s past remains a mystery to the reader.Until the end of the novel, the persona of Heathcliff is somewhat mysterious. He is an outcast, withdrawn from reality and fixed on himself. He dwells on the past and his tragic love. His love for Catherine is obsessive. Heathcliff is a Byronic Hero whose life is ruled by emotions. His passionate nature attracts the reader, but at the same time, destroys his own life. Victor Frankenstein (Frankenstein) Mary Shelley does market Victor Frankenstein as a Byronic hero. What separates him from the ideal hero is how unusual his actions and qualities make him. He is a man with a scarred past and this continues to haunt him until his eventual death in the arms of Walton. Anxiety of authorship Anxiety of authorship is a feminist theory developed by Gilbert and Gubar that can be read as a revision of Harold Bloom’s theory of ‘anxiety of influence’. They define it as a radical fear undergone by female writers that they cannot create. They can not be precursors and that the act of writing inevitably isolates her from male forefathers and destroys her. This anxiety is further followed by other anxieties that the literary forefathers will subdue her voice and identity as a writer, escape the dilemma she faces in defining her subjectivity and potentials.Bloom claims that a young poet suffers from the anxiety of belatedness, thereby being unable to successfully rival his literary fathers. But Gilbert and Gubar revised Bloom’s male centered model to make into account the experience of literary daughters. They argue that women writers like Jane Austin, Emile Dickinson do not fit into Bloom’s theory, as there are no material precursors under the male literary tradition. So the literary daughters have the anxiety of authorship imposed by the pervasive view of writings as only male activity- the pen as a metaphorical phallus. One perfect example of anxiety of authorship is the fact that Emily Bronte, as well as her sisters, first wrote “Wuthering Heights’ under a male pseudonym - Ellis Bell because female authors were not taken seriously during the time they were writing. Their works were published in the early and mid-19th century when women did not work outside the home and were very limited in their opportunities in society. Social Darwinism Introduced by Herbert Spencer. Social Darwinists believe in “survival of the fittest”—the idea that certain people become powerful in society because they are innately better. Social Darwinism has been used to justify imperialism, racism, eugenics and social inequality at various times over the past century and a half. Queen Victoria’s coronation - 28 June 1838 - an important date, marking the beginning of the Victorian era (although the era technically started in 1837 this event is most relevant) It was in the Victorian era that the novel became the leading literary genre in English. English writing from this era reflects the major transformations in most aspects of English life, from scientific, economic, and technological advances to changes in class structures and the role of religion in society. Victorian-era literature was characterized by depictions of everyday people, hard lives, and moral lessons. They were meant for more than just entertainment. Victorians were interested in the hero as well as folk art. Victorian novels often focused on these themes. Romantic era vs Victorian era Romanticism started in the 18th century and finished at the beginning of the 19th century. It was an emotional, aesthetic, and intellectual movement in Britain and Europe. And it was a reaction against Neoclassicism, or we can say it appeared against the 'reason.' The thought of individualism and freedom was part of it. There was a motto that every people are essential in Romanticism. And there was always a connection with history in this period. Its' target was industrial developments and urbanization. And also, Secularization and Spontaneity were not overlooked in these times. Nature was a symbol of Romanticism. And it can be said that nature was a summary of Romanticism. Because today if you look at or read a masterpiece of these times, you will see a part of nature in it. The second topic is the Victorian Age; Victorian Age started in 1837 and finished in 1901 in Britain. Before talking about the characteristics of literature in these times, we should look at the most significant events that happened to understand easily because the events were unique and guided culture, technology, and art in the Victorian Age. Firstly, the Industrial Revolution reached its most vital position in England. Secondly, England became the world's imperial power and took control of Canada, Australia, India, and Africa. Thirdly, the first public railway was established. And lastly, The Reform Bill and The Second Reform Bill were accepted. With the help of all events, novels, poetry, and drama gained a new dimension. The novel was the most dominant form in the Victorian age, and the Victorian Novel's primary theme was Realism; with Realism, authors reflected the problems in the world. The Victorian novel used journalistic techniques to make the novel closer to real-life facts. The novels were about the common person, which also happened to be the struggles of the lower class. And Novels were written with simple language and characterization. The most famous Victorian authors; are Charlotte Bronte, Charles Dickens, George Elliot, Thomas Hardy, and Emily Bronte. Victorian Poetry had some influence on Romantics. Poets weren't so confident about the imagination, and the public role was private and poetic self. And Victorian Drama was influenced by other genres and gave us Oscar Wilde. Other elements about this period, science and faith, started an endless war; this war was such a great war that the other name of this era was the Age of Doubt. Utilitarianism was part of this era, and utilitarians thought of the greatest happiness for the most significant number of people. And women were the topic of discussion, and they were an angel in the house in this era. Also, People had anxiety; they felt displaced by technological developments. As it was mentioned above, nature is a summary of Romanticism. By contrast, Victorian authors depict the world as dark and complex. For example, you can see nature in Frankenstein, but you see the complex and dark city in A Christmas Carol. While the Romanticism period is the era of Idealism, the Victorian period is the era of Realism. You cannot see beautiful ideas in the Victorian period; you just see the wrong side of the real world. And another difference is emotion. Emotion draws the most extensive line between these two periods. In Romanticism works, authors speak with their feelings, such as "oh, no, it is impossible!" on the other hand, Victorian authors do not express their feeling. They just write and pass. Because of the emotional difference, their language is also different. While reading a work written in the Victorian age, I feel like reading a document, but pieces of the Romanticism era make me feel more vivid. And we should not forget that in the Victorian Era, there were issues such as the struggle between science and religion, which also made a wall between the periods. And finally, I want to say that the Victorian Age is more unique than Romanticism because it has a queen name. These are the most notable differences between them. Now let's look at the similarities between them. These two significant era's wars and enemies are the same. Both of them fight against things that harm humanity, such as alarming technological developments, not being free, poor living conditions, terrible work conditions, and bad parts of urbanization. We can say that their targets are the same; they just think of human life. And also, the poetry of these two periods shows similarities with each other, we see imagination theme in the periods, but imagination in the Victorian Era is a little bit different. And in both Victorian and Romantic poetry, there is care about the issue of Isolation. These are the most striking similarities for me. THE READING LIST 1. William Blake’s works: "The Tyger”, "London”, "The Chimney Sweeper” Epoque: Romanticism a) The Tyger (1794) - In "The Tyger", there is a duality between beauty and ferocity, with Blake suggesting that understanding one requires an understanding of the other. "The Tyger" by William Blake is a poem that explores the nature of good and evil, creation and destruction. The poem raises questions about the origin of the tiger and its creator, while also contemplating the duality of existence. Celebrating the form of the tiger, the poem 'The Tyger' can be called Romantic as it explores the nature of the creature, its individual qualities, and also the fearful emotions it evokes. The poem, as is typical of Blake's style, dabbles in Biblical ideas and religion as the speaker addresses the 'Creator' of the tiger, who also created the lamb. This is an interesting juxtaposition as it relates to Blake's poem 'The Lamb', which belongs to the collection called Songs of Innocence. The two poems have often been compared to raise the question of God's intention, the figure that created two such distinct creatures with contrasting features. As previously discussed, religion is an important theme in the poem 'The Tyger'. Religion played a significant role in the life of people in the 18th and 19th century, and the Church was a powerful institution. While against organized religion, William Blake conformed to Christian beliefs, and explored the absolute supremacy of God. The poem nods to the notion of Divine Will as well as daring to question God. The speaker also challenges the bravery and might of God by questioning who dares create a creature as ferocious as the tiger. In this sense, the poet thus questions Christian beliefs rather than blindly following them. b) London (1794) - The gist of the poem is that London is unambiguously and indubitably corrupt. Blake explores the theme of ​authoritarian abuses of power​in his poem which is set in the capital of (arguably) the most important country in the world at the time: London. c) The Chimney Sweeper (1794) - highlight the dangers of an innocent, naive view, demonstrating how this allows the societal abuse of child labor. In Experience, 'The Chimney Sweeper' further explores this flawed perception of child labor in a corrupt society. The poem may be understood on two different levels: as a criticism of child labor but also as symbolism that hardship leads to live in heaven. Whereas the chimney sweep in Songs of Innocence is abused but does not see it (or want to see it) , the chimney sweep in Experience not only sees it but also sees the hypocrisy of a world that treats him so, whilst praising “God and his Priest and King”. This is what Innocence and Experience seem to mean to Blake. Context: Blake’s visions compare to no other poets being that he has come from a lower-class family, his personal spiritual beliefs and his interest for visual arts. Keep in mind that an Industrial Revolution was going on during his days, which heavily impacted his works. He was not content with the changes. 2. William Wordsworth’s works: "I Wandered Lonely As a Cloud…”, "Expostulation and Reply," "The Tables Turned," "Tintern Abbey” (fragments), "We Are Seven” Epoque: Romanticism a) I Wandered Lonely As a Cloud…(1804) - The plot is extremely simple, depicting the poet's wandering and his discovery of a field of daffodils by a lake, the memory of which pleases him and comforts him when he is lonely, bored, or restless. “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” argues for a strong connection between experience, imagination, and language. The poem itself is a memory, focused on bringing the speaker's experience of seeing daffodils back to life on the page through the concentrated power of the imagination. b) Expostulation and Reply (1798) - “Expostulation and Reply” frames a debate between Matthew, who argues that people should spend their time actively learning from books, and William, who replies that people can learn plenty just from sitting quietly outside. c) The Tables Turned (1798) - The Tables Turned contrasts the “dull” realm of human knowledge with the joyful wisdom of nature—a world of sunshine and birdsong that illuminates truth in a way no book ever could. A person can study all they want, the speaker argues, but nature is a better teacher than all the "sages." d) Tintern Abbey (1798) “Tintern Abbey” is a complex meditation on the value of nature as a source of healing and philosophical wisdom, yet Wordsworth repeatedly questions the veracity and durability of this belief. e) We Are Seven (1798) The poem tells the story of a man talking to a young girl about her family. Though two of her siblings are dead, and only four are alive, she insists (over the protests of the man) that she and her brothers and sisters "are seven" in total. The man, however, thinks that they are only five. William Wordsworth himself suffered the loss of his mother at age eight, the same age as this little girl in We Are Seven. He also lost his father when he was thirteen. It is possible that the speaker in We Are Seven symbolizes the adult version of William Wordsworth, while the eight-year-old symbolizes his younger self. 3. Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s works: "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," "The Eolian Harp" Epoque: Romanticism a) The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1798) - The narrative poem describes the ancient mariner's experience aboard a ship after he kills an albatross. The bird has brought joy and good fortune, and once the man thoughtlessly kills the albatross, all aboard are made to suffer. The other sailors hang the albatross on the mariner's neck as punishment. 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"' warns readers of the dangers of acting without regard for the consequences. The mariner shot the albatross because he believed that it was an ill omen. The wind had begun to die, and he and his crew blamed the bird. The key symbol in the poem is, of course, the albatross. Traditionally considered to be a good omen by sailors, the albatross symbolizes many different things at different stages of the poem. Initially, it is a good omen. Once shot by the mariner and hung around his neck, it becomes a symbol of penance. The poem has many themes but the main themes include the relationship between mankind and nature, the supernatural, transformation. and b) The Eolian Harp (1795) The poem makes the anticipation of Coleridge's marriage to Sara Fricker. In this poem, the poet discusses his engagement and his future marriage. However, the central theme of the poem is not love. The poem focuses on the image of the “Eolian Harp”, and how it represents both the order and the wildness found in nature. However, The Eolian Harp is not a love poem and instead focuses on man's relationship with nature. The central images of the poem is an Aeolian harp, an item that represents both order and wildness in nature. Along with the harp is a series of oppositional ideas that are reconciled with each other. 4. John Keats, "Ode to Nightingale”, "Ode on Grecian Urn” Epoque: Romanticism human spirit. The speaker's experience of the nightingale's song fills him with a sense of joy and wonder, and he is able to momentarily transcend his earthly troubles. The superficial scope of the poem is the nightingale, which represents both nature and death. This bird flies around, and lands in a tree, forever singing its sad song, and connecting the reader as well as Keats to the ideas of immortality. The speaker praises the nightingale and its song and imagines the life of the nightingale as it flies into the forest. The speaker claims that the nightingale is pure and untouched by human suffering and misfortunes and expresses how the speaker wished he could fly away with the nightingale to escape the misery of their life. a a a) Ode to a Nightingale (1819) - This poem is a meditation on grief and mortality; it is also a celebration of life and the The nightingale, the speaker claims, is immortal, and its songs have been unchanged since biblical times. Compared to the immortal nightingale, human life seems very short. The speaker accepts death but claims that the nightingale’s song is wasted on him as his life would end soon. Finally, the speaker bids farewell to the nightingale, claiming that even their imagination is not strong enough to trick them into thinking that they could fly away with it. As the nightingale flies away, the speaker wonders whether they truly ever heard the nightingale’s song or whether it was all just a dream. Given the biographical context of the poem, the reader is aware of John Keats’ complicated relationship with death. He had recently lost his brother to tuberculosis and felt as if he were slowly withering away. In the poem, the speaker mulls on the immortality of the nightingale’s song while being aware of their own limited existence. b) Ode on a Grecian Urn (1819) - “Ode on a Grecian Urn” examines the close relationship between art, beauty, and truth. For the speaker, it is through beauty that humankind comes closest to truth—and through art that human beings can attain this beauty (though it remains a bittersweet achievement). Keats' 'Ode on a Grecian Urn' taps on the themes of the immortality of art, beauty, and romanticism. The main theme of this poem is the immortality of art. To depict this theme, Keats uses a Grecian urn and the emotive paintings on this piece. Each painting incites complex emotions in the speaker's mind. The poem explores the idea that art is eternal and unchanging, while life is fleeting and impermanent. The images on the urn will continue to inspire and fascinate viewers long after the people and events they depict have passed into obscurity. 5. Percy Bysshe Shelley, "Ode to the West Wind,” "Ozymandias" Epoque: Romanticism a) Ode to the West Wind (1819) - Throughout “Ode to the West Wind,” the speaker describes the West Wind as a powerful and destructive force: it drives away the summer and brings instead winter storms, chaos, and even death. Yet the speaker celebrates the West Wind and welcomes the destruction that it causes because it leads to renewal and rebirth. There are two west winds in the Ode: one for autumn and one for spring. Even as Shelley experiences the forceful west wind of autumn, he is reminded of the gentler west winds that will herald spring; winter may have begun, he tells us, but after winter there will be a new beginning – spring shall return. Just as the autumn west wind brings death, so does the spring west wind bring life. b) Ozymandias (1818) The poem concerns the discovery of a semi-destroyed and decaying statue of Ramesses II, also known as Ozymandias, and shows how power deteriorates and will not last forever. Its powerful imagery of fallen majesty also reflects Shelley’s fight against tyranny. Like his father-in-law, William Godwin, Shelley was opposed to monarchy and the government. By writing about Ozymandias, Shelley sends a warning to those in power – that time conquers all. While Ramesses II once held immense power, all that remains of him now is a faceless piece of rock in the desert. Shelley seems to say that pride and status are worth very little –time will overtake all; the pharaoh’s boastful words ‘King of Kings’ now sound hollow and vain. Shelley's poem also has a political undercurrent his general disapproval of royalty finds voice here. The idea of a despotic monarch, a single man born into a status rather than earning it, ran contrary to all his beliefs in a freer and better-ordered world. 6. Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice Epoque: set during the Georgian period in Britain and was published right as the Regency Era Written: 29th January 1813 Summary: Pride and Prejudice follows the turbulent relationship between Elizabeth Bennet, the daughter of a country gentleman, and Fitzwilliam Darcy, a rich aristocratic landowner. They must overcome the titular sins of pride and prejudice in order to fall in love and marry. The moral lesson of “Pride and Prejudice” is that pride can lead to blindness, and it is important to look beyond appearances. Elizabeth Bennet can see beyond Mr. Darcy's pride, and in the end, he falls in love with her because she has seen the good in him that he could not see in himself. 7. Mary Shelley, Frankenstein Epoque: Romanticism Written: 1 January 1818 Summary: "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley is a classic gothic novel that explores the dangers of ambition and the consequences of playing god. It tells the story of a young scientist who creates a monster that ultimately destroys his life and the lives of those around him. On this reading, Frankenstein is essentially a warning against messing with the natural order. Frankenstein brings disaster to himself and his loved ones; so too might we. Ambition and hubris breed monsters. 8. Alfred Lord Tennyson, The Lady of Shalott Epoque: Romantic Era Written: 1832 Tennyson's famous "The Lady of Shalott" (1842) is a haunting tale of magic and art. In this poem, a mysterious woman lives alone on the island of Shalott. Just down the river from her is King Arthur's court at Camelot, but the Lady of Shalott is not allowed even to look in that direction, much less travel there: a mysterious curse forbids it. Instead of actually seeing the world, then, she looks into a magic mirror that shows her images of the world and then weaves exquisite tapestries representing what she sees. As in all fairy tales, however, the rules exist only to be broken; the poem tells the story of why the Lady finally looks out her window, and explores the fatal consequences of this spell-breaking. The poem is often interpreted as a metaphor for the solitary nature of the artist's creative life, suggesting that the artist must be distanced, and inevitably isolated, from the surrounding world. Alfred, Lord Tennyson's 'The Lady of Shalott' is a compelling poem that explores the themes of isolation, art, the conflict between societal expectations and individual desires, and the consequences of denying one's true self. 9. Robert Browning, My Last Duchess Epoque: Victorian Era Written: 1842 It expresses tyranny, vanity and self-conceit, the hard-heartedness and the dictatorial attitude of the Duke in sharp contrast to the genial and cheerful good nature of the Duchess. She was an epitome of innocence and beauty, yet she was tortured by her husband and at last murdered in cold-blood by her tyrant husband. The title ‘My Last Duchess’ draws the reader’s attention to the subject of the poem. We learn what the Duke thought of his last Duchess, that she is dead and was possibly murdered, and that the Duke is looking for his next Duchess. The Duke’s controlling, possessive nature is symbolised by the figure of Neptune. In Roman mythology, Neptune was the God of the sea whose chariot was drawn by seahorses under his control. The Last Duchess’ carefree, free-spirited nature is symbolised by the sculpture of the seahorse. In Roman mythology, seahorses are fierce, independent, and free-willed creatures. However, the God Neptune was able to bend them to his will. The characters and murder alluded to in the poem are widely thought to have been inspired by the rumours surrounding the historical figures of Alfonso and Lucrezia of Ferrara. 10. Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights Epoque: Victorian Era Written: Written between 1845 and 1846 and finally published in 1847 Summary: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë is a gothic novel that follows the antihero, Heathcliff, as he gets revenge on the people who kept him away from his love, Catherine Earnshaw. After over a decade, he finally succeeds in his revenge and gains: Thrushcross Grange, the family home of Catherine's husband. 11. Dante Gabriel Rosetti, “The Blessed Damozel” Epoque: Victorian Era Written: 1850 “The Blessed Damozel” by Dante Gabriel Rossetti is a ballad that is dedicated to the love between a woman trapped in heaven and a man stuck on Earth. This depiction of love presents an emotionally complex picture. On the one hand, the picture is comforting. The afterlife exists, and the love of two people continues even after one of them has died. Neither forgets the other, and their connection transcends death. On the other hand, this means they are both miserable. Since death is—potentially—only a temporary parting, they have not moved on. The damozel can't be blissful in Heaven because she keeps watching and hoping her lover will come. Her lover cannot move on with his life because he is still in love with a woman who still exists but is separated from him. So they are suspended in a state of waiting. Immobilized by their love, the only action they can take is envisioning being together again. The damozel's fantasy is elaborate and highly religious. She imagines that her lover will come to her, and she'll bring him to Mary and profess their love. Mary will bring them before Christ, and they will live together in Heaven for eternity. The lover's fantasy is less complex and more sensual. He imagines he can hear her voice and feel the brush of her hair on his face. Yet their sense of longing is the same. 12. Charles Dickens, Times" Epoque: Victorian Era "Hard Written: 1854 Summary: Hard Times, by Charles Dickens, is the tale of a group of people who lived in an industrial town named Coketown during the mid-19th century. Throughout the story, the characters' different choices impacted what happened to them; those who did bad deeds died, while those who did good deeds lived fairly peacefully. Thomas Gradgrind represents the utilitarianism way of living which the book is criticizing. His daughter Louisa struggles with the expectations and limitations placed on Victorian women, while also having to deal with her father’s utilitarianism. As a contrast to Mr. Gradgrind there is Sissy Jupe - A kind-hearted and empathetic girl from the circus who becomes a surrogate daughter to Mr. Gradgrind and a source of compassion for other characters. The book dwells upon the themes of industrialization and its dehumanizing effects on workers and the struggles of identity. Charles Dickens' novel warns that the rapid rise of the Industrial Revolution would have an adverse effect on society. In Hard Times, industrialisation threatens to dehumanise the community, from the labourers in the factory to the industrialists themselves. 13. Elizabeth Barret Browning, Aurora Leigh (Book 5) Epoque: Victorian Era Written: 1856 In Book 5, Aurora continues to be creatively frustrated and longs to find genuine inspiration and love. It has been almost two years since she saw Romney, but she hears news of him at a party and learns that Romney has transformed Leigh Hall into a house for people in need in the community. 14. Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland Epoque: Middle of Victorian Era Written: 1865 15. Christina Rossetti, "Goblin Market” Epoque: Victorian Era Written: 1863 Summary: ''Goblin Market" is a symbolic poem that connects men's and women's sensational temptations. The goblins represent the evil sight of a man who tempts women towards him and ruins them at the end. In this poem, Laura and Lizzie are two sisters with two different perspectives. “Goblin Market” is a complex poetic allegory about sexual temptation. Writing in the mid-nineteenth century, at a time of strict societal expectations regarding women’s behavior, Christina Rossetti was intensely interested in the plight of fallen women—those women who, by society’s standards, were perceived to have given in to the temptation of engaging in sex outside of marriage and who were subsequently shunned. In “Goblin Market,” Rossetti reflects on the role of women in Victorian society. Victorian men had more freedom, education, opportunity, and leeway to express themselves sexually, but women were expected to remain sexually innocent or face serious consequences. The poem critiques the unfairness of society’s double standards, showing how they put women at a disadvantage, and then challenges them by allowing Laura to achieve a happy ending transgression. despite her 16. Robert Louis Stevenson, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Epoque: Victorian Era Year: 1886 Summary: The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886) is about personality and transformation. Dr Jekyll discovers a way to split his own personality between good and evil. However, his alter ego, Hyde, begins to take over Jekyll's persona and finally, unable to find the antidote, Jekyll ends his life in despair. 17. Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray Epoque: Victorian Era Written: 1891 Summary: The story follows the life of a young man named Dorian Gray, who has his portrait painted by a talented artist named Basil Hallward. Dorian becomes enamoured with his beauty and wishes to remain young and handsome forever, while his portrait would age in his place. THE TIMELINE: 1794 - William Blake’s works 1798 - William Wordsworth’s and Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s works 1812 - Lord Byron’s Childe Harold’s Pilgrimige 1813 - Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice 1818 Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein 1819 - John Keats’ and Percy Bysshe Shelley’s works 1832 - Alfred Lord Tennyson’s Lady of Shalott 1838 - coronation of Queen Victoria, beginning of the Victorian era 1842 - Robert Browning’s My Last Duchess 1847 - Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights 1850 - Dante Gabriel Rosetti’s The Blessed Damozel 1854 - Charles Dicken’s Hard Times 1856 Elizabeth Barret Browning’s Aurora Leigh 1863 - Christina Rosetti’s Goblin Market 1865 - Lewis Carrol’s Alice in Wonderland 1886 Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde 1891 - Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray