Biographia Literaria: Or, Biographical Sketches of My Literary Life and Opinions, Volume 2 |
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Page 6
... prose composition ; the difference therefore must consist in a dif- ferent combination of them , in consequence of a different object proposed . According to the difference of the object will be the difference of the combination . It is ...
... prose composition ; the difference therefore must consist in a dif- ferent combination of them , in consequence of a different object proposed . According to the difference of the object will be the difference of the combination . It is ...
Page 11
... prose aims at , whether col- loquial or written . My own conclusions on the nature of poetry , in the strictest use of the word , have been in part anticipated in the preceding disquisition on the fancy and imagination . What is poetry ...
... prose aims at , whether col- loquial or written . My own conclusions on the nature of poetry , in the strictest use of the word , have been in part anticipated in the preceding disquisition on the fancy and imagination . What is poetry ...
Page 24
... prose . Though alas ! even our prose writings , nay even the stile of our more set discourses , strive to be in the fashion , and trick themselves out in the soiled and over - worn finery of the meretricious muse . It is true , that of ...
... prose . Though alas ! even our prose writings , nay even the stile of our more set discourses , strive to be in the fashion , and trick themselves out in the soiled and over - worn finery of the meretricious muse . It is true , that of ...
Page 30
... prose than with us . From the earlier appearance and established primacy of the Tuscan poets , concurring with the number of independent states , and the diversity of written dialects , the Italians have gained a poetic idiom , as the ...
... prose than with us . From the earlier appearance and established primacy of the Tuscan poets , concurring with the number of independent states , and the diversity of written dialects , the Italians have gained a poetic idiom , as the ...
Page 53
... prose and that of metrical composition , there neither is , nor can be any essential difference . " It is against these exclusively , that my opposition is directed . I object , in the very first instance , to an equivocation in the use ...
... prose and that of metrical composition , there neither is , nor can be any essential difference . " It is against these exclusively , that my opposition is directed . I object , in the very first instance , to an equivocation in the use ...
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Common terms and phrases
admiration Aldobrand ANSW appear beauty Bertram blank verse character child common composition conversation critic Cuxhaven DANE defect delight diction drama Edinburgh Review effect Elbe English equally excellence excitement expression feelings former French genius German German language greater Greek ground guage Hamburg heart human imagery images imagination imitation instance interest judgement Klopstock lady language least less lines low and rustic Lubec Lyrical Ballads MADRIGALE Martha Ray means ment metre metrical Milton mind moral nature object odes passage passion perhaps person philosophical Pindar pleasure poem poet poet's poetic poetry present prose racter Ratzeburg reader reason rhyme S. T. COLERIDGE scene seemed sense sentences Shakespeare Sonnet soul specimens spirit stanzas style surprize sweet sympathy taste thing thou thought tion tragedy truth Venus and Adonis verse whole wish words Wordsworth writers
Popular passages
Page 12 - ... reveals itself in the balance or reconciliation of opposite or discordant qualities: of sameness, with difference; of the general, with the concrete; the idea, with the image; the individual, with the representative; the sense of novelty and freshness, with old and familiar objects; a more than usual state of emotion, with more than usual order...
Page 67 - But nature makes that mean: so, over that art Which you say adds to nature, is an art That nature makes. You see, sweet maid, we marry A...
Page 52 - Accordingly, such a language, arising out of repeated experience and regular feelings, is a more permanent, and a far more philosophical language, than that which is frequently substituted for it by Poets...
Page 38 - 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 co-exist in a state of greater simplicity, and, consequently, may be more accurately contemplated, and more forcibly communicated; because the manners of rural life germinate from those elementary feelings,...
Page 2 - In the one, the incidents and agents were to be, in part at least, supernatural; and the excellence aimed at was to consist in the interesting of the affections by the dramatic truth of such emotions as would naturally accompany such situations, supposing them real.
Page 18 - It has been before observed that images, however beautiful, though faithfully copied from nature, and as accurately represented in words, do not of themselves characterize the poet. They become proofs of original genius only as far as they are modified by a predominant passion; or by associated thoughts or images awakened by that passion...
Page 139 - While he was talking thus, the lonely place, The old Man's shape, and speech, all troubled me: In my mind's eye I seemed to see him pace About the weary moors continually, Wandering about alone and silently.
Page 174 - And not in utter nakedness, But trailing clouds of glory do we come From God who is our home: Heaven lies about us in our infancy! Shades of the prison-house begin to close Upon the growing boy ; But he beholds the light, and whence it flows, He sees it in his joy ! The youth who daily further from the east Must travel, still is nature's priest, And by the vision splendid Is on his way attended ; At length the man perceives it die away, And fade into the light of common day.
Page 20 - ... with him: Yet nor the lays of birds, nor the sweet smell Of different flowers in odour and in hue, Could make me any summer's story tell, Or from their proud lap pluck them where they grew : Nor did I wonder at the lily's white, Nor praise the deep vermilion in the rose ; They were but sweet, but figures of delight, Drawn after you ; you pattern of all those. Yet seem'd it winter still, and, you away, As with your shadow I with these did play : XCIX.
Page 64 - And it would be a most easy task to prove to him, that not only the language of a large portion of every good poem, even of the most elevated character, must necessarily, except with reference to the metre, in no respect differ from that of good prose, but likewise that some of the most interesting parts of the best poems will be found to be strictly the language of prose when prose is well written.