Transitional poets
This task is given by Bhatt Prakruti ma'am
1.What do you understand by the term transitional? How do the poets and writers of the later half of the 18th century represent the transition from the sensibility of one literary age to that of another? What were some of the significant characteristics of their works?
It was in the late eighteenth century that the poets began tiring with the neo - classical ideals of wit, reason and decorum . The people had become fed up with the rational, intellectual, formal and unromantic poetry of the age of Pope . The people began feeling suffocated with the artificiality of city life and craved for freshness of Nature and naturality. They wished to return to the free and living world of leaves , flowers, clouds, rivers and mountains .The age witnessed the struggle between the old and the new , and the gradual triumph of the latter over the former . Though the poets of this age could not break totally free from the spirit of the previous age of Pope , they certainly foresaw the new world and worked as a link between the previous age and the Romantic age , hence they are also called ‘Precursors of Romantic Revival Movement '.
● 18th century represent transition:
It was the mid-eighteenth century and poets were tiring of the neoclassical ideals of reason and wit. The Neoclassic poets, such as Alexander Pope, "prized order, clarity, economic wording, logic, refinement, and decorum. Theirs was an age of rationalism, wit, and satire." (Guth 1836) This contrasts greatly with the ideal of Romanticism, which was "an artistic revolt against the conventions of the fashionable formal, civilised, and refined Neoclassicism of the eighteenth century." (Guth 1840) Poets like William, "dropped conventional poetic diction and forms in favour of freer forms and bolder language. They preached a return to nature, elevated sincere feeling over dry intellect, and often shared in the revolutionary fervour of the late eighteenth century." (Guth 589) Poets wanted to express emotion again. They wanted to leave the city far behind and travel back to the simple countryside where rustic, humble men and women resided and became their subjects. These poets, William Blake, Thomas Gray, and Robert Burns, caught in the middle of neoclassic writing and the Romantic Age, are fittingly known as the Transitional poets.
● Transitional poets:
James Thomson (1700-48)
Oliver Goldsmith (1728-74)
Thomas Percy (1728-1811)
Thomas Chatterton (1752-70)
James Macpherson (1736-96)
Thomas Gray (1716-71)
William Collins (1721-59)
● Features of Transitional poetry:
1. Transitional poetry was a reaction against intellectual poetry of 18th century and it appealsmore to the imagination and emotions of readers. They employed a simple style of poetrywriting.
2. Transitional poetry was a Return to Nature movement. While neoclassical poetry dealt withtown life, clubs and coffeehouses, transitional poetry dealt with nature, countryside andsimple human life. So humanism was yet another feature of Transitional poetry .
3. Transitional poetry was a reaction against conventional poetic rules. While neoclassical poetsused heroic couplet and classical style, transitional poets preferred blank verse, Spensarianstanza and the lyric.
4. Fresh treatment of old themes such as legends, history of Middle Ages, supernatural stories,etc were the other features of transitional poetry.
2.“And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, Awaits alike th' inevitable hour.” From which work are these lines taken? What do they signify?
The lines "And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, Awaits alike th' inevitable hour" are taken from "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" by Thomas Gray. Let's explore their significance in detail:
# Detailed Analysis and Significance of the Lines
1. Source and Context:
- Poem: "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard"
- Author:Thomas Gray
- Published: 1751
- Context in Poem:
These lines appear in the closing stanzas of the poem, where Gray reflects on the inevitability of death for all, regardless of their social status or achievements.
2. Thematic Significance:
- Inevitability of Death:
The lines emphasize that death is the great equalizer. No matter how beautiful or wealthy one might be, everyone ultimately faces the same fate. This theme underscores the transient nature of human life and material accomplishments.
- Universal Mortality:
Gray's meditation on mortality highlights the universality of death. By stating that beauty and wealth also "await th' inevitable hour," he suggests that external attributes and material possessions are meaningless in the face of death.
- Equality in Death:
The lines critique societal hierarchies by suggesting that all distinctions vanish in death. The noble and the commoner, the wealthy and the poor, all share the same end.
3. Critique of Social Hierarchies:
- Transcending Social Status:
Gray's reflection on the inevitability of death serves as a critique of social hierarchies. He implies that the distinctions between different classes are superficial, as death transcends all social boundaries.
- Humanizing the Elite:
By including beauty and wealth among the attributes that cannot defy death, Gray humanizes the elite, reminding readers of their shared humanity with the common folk.
4. Philosophical Reflection:
- Memento Mori:
The lines serve as a reminder of the inevitability of death, a theme common in literature known as "memento mori" (Latin for "remember you must die"). This philosophical reflection encourages readers to contemplate their mortality and the meaning of their lives.
- Encouragement for Humility:
By highlighting the futility of beauty and wealth in the face of death, Gray's words encourage humility. They remind readers to value the more meaningful and lasting aspects of life, such as virtue and human connection.
5. Emotional Resonance:
- Melancholy Tone:
The tone of these lines, and indeed the entire poem, is melancholic and reflective. Gray evokes a sense of sorrow for the inevitability of death, while also offering a quiet acceptance of this universal truth.
- Empathy and Compassion:
The poem evokes empathy for the common people buried in the churchyard, whose lives and contributions were often overlooked in favor of the elite. Gray's words invite readers to consider the worth of every human life.
● Conclusion
The lines "And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, Awaits alike th' inevitable hour" from Thomas Gray's "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" carry profound significance. They reflect on the universal nature of mortality, critique social hierarchies, and offer philosophical and emotional reflections on the transient nature of human life and achievements. Gray's meditation on death serves as a powerful reminder of our shared humanity and the ultimate equality that death imposes on all.
3.Discuss why Robert Burns is also considered the National Poet of Scotland.
●Introduction :
Robert Burns (1759–1796) was a Scottish poet and lyricist, widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland. Known as the "Bard of Ayrshire" and celebrated globally, he is famous for his heartfelt and honest writing that captures themes of love, nature, friendship, and Scottish identity. Burns wrote in both Scots and English, often using dialects that bring a unique, authentic feel to his work. His poems like Auld Lang Syne and To a Mouse reflect his empathy for ordinary people and his passion for social justice. Burns' work has had a lasting impact on literature, inspiring movements such as Romanticism and shaping the voice of Scottish poetry. Every year on January 25th, people celebrate Burns Night in his honor, with traditional readings, food, and music.
●National Bard
Scotland's national poet Robert Burns is recognised the world over for his work focusing on universal themes of love and nature.
He has a national day named after him on the 25th January each year. Burns suppers are celebrated on this day with traditional dishes of haggis and whisky and recitals of his best-loved work. At New Year all over the world, his poem 'Auld Lang Syne', a sincere expression of friendship is sung. His face has featured on banknotes and his books have been translated into over forty languages.
He died over 200 years ago in 1796, so why has Burns become a poster boy for the Scottish identity.
●Burns' life:
So who is this national bard?
He was a farmer's son who could speak to the common man. His life growing up among the ordinary people of Scotland meant he could write about nature and hardship as well as love and family. He also led a colourful and varied life which exposed him to different sections of society.
He was born in a small town in Ayrshire in 1759, the son of a tenant farmer. He was well-read and was educated both at school and at home. He began writing while working on his father's farm and his first works were songs declaring his love to local girls.
Burns' first collection of poetry, 'Poems Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect', was published in 1786 and includes favourite 'To A Mouse'. It became known as the 'Kilmarnock Edition' after the town in which it was published and all copies were sold within a few weeks.
Burns had been planning to emigrate to Jamaica but, encouraged by the success of his book, he stayed in Scotland where he took the Scottish literary world by storm. He published a second edition of his poems but his popularity did not make him wealthy. He liked a drink and due to his lifestyle, the money made from writing did not last long.
By 1787, he was working as a farmer again and in 1788, despite his increasingly radical views, he took a job in the Excise Service. The hard work this job entailed and his dissolute lifestyle took their toll on Burns' health and he died on 21 July 1796, aged 37, on the day his son Maxwell was born.
●The Ploughman poet:
The main reason Burns is so popular today is because of the themes and language of everyday life that he used. His poems were humorous and he used small subjects to express big ideas.
This can be seen in poems like 'To a Mouse', as he draws a comparison between the lives of mice and men. In 'Tam o' Shanter, he suggests that the drunken protagonist who's chased by witches should have heeded his wife's advice and gone home instead of going drinking. In 'To a Louse', he highlights how useful it would be for us to have the power to see ourselves as others see us when he pokes fun at the posh lady in church with a louse on her hat.
Burns was a champion of the Scots language at a time when it was not popular in literary circles. It is through his work that we are still exposed to Scots. By writing in the vernacular, he paved the way for Scottish writers like James Kelman, James Robertson and Irvine Welsh to do the same today.
●Lyrical poet:
Burns wasn't just known for his poems. He was also a prolific song writer and we often remember songs more easily than we do poems. He adapted the words of old Scottish folk songs and contributed over 300 songs to the Scots Musical Museum.
One of his most famous poems was 'Auld Lyne Syne' which is set to the music of a traditional folk song. This song is now sung all over the world to herald the New Year and is taken to mean 'long, long ago' or 'days gone by'.
In terms of songwriting ability, he is perhaps the nearest thing Scotland has to Lennon and McCartney. Bob Dylan cites 'My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose' as his greatest lyrical inspiration.
Burns was also musical himself and played the violin, the guitar and the stock and horn. There is also strong evidence that he could read music.
●Burns and modern day culture:
His work has even influenced 20th Century American authors. JD Salinger's book ‘Catcher in the Rye’ references the song 'Comin' thro' the Rye' and John Steinbeck’s novel ‘Of Mice and Men’ is named after a line in the poem 'To a Mouse'.
It is Burns' ability to empathise with the human condition that makes him a universally loved poet and songwriter and an important cultural figure over 200 years after his death.
Burns is often mythologised in Scottish life and literary circles especially at the time of year when Burns suppers are held across the country. But what is interesting about him is that he was a farmer's son with a dubious reputation, both as a womaniser and later as an exciseman, who had a way with words which ultimately became his legacy.
●Conclusion:
Robert Burns' legacy endures as one of Scotland's greatest cultural icons and as a poet whose voice transcends time. His work captures universal themes of love, freedom, equality, and the struggles of ordinary life, resonating with people far beyond his homeland. Burns' use of Scots language and vivid portrayals of rural life have helped preserve Scottish culture, and his influence is seen in literary and musical traditions worldwide.
● My reference sources are:
https://vaidehi09.blogspot.com/2021/01/thomas-gray-and-robert-burns.html?m=1
Thank you..
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