Emerson's Literary CriticismRalph Waldo Emerson has always fascinated students of criticism and of American literature and thought. Emerson& ’ s Literary Criticism supplies the continuing need for an anthology. This collection brings together Emerson& ’ s literary criticism from a wide variety of sources. Eric W. Carlson has culled both the major statements of Emerson's critical principles and many secondary observations that illuminate them. Here are more than sixty selections on thirty-five critical topics. Headnotes provide valuable background. Carlson relates Emerson& ’ s critical principles to his philosophy, social thought, and literary milieu, and also to biographical details. Intended for the student as well as the researcher, this book amply illustrates Alfred Kazin's contention that Ralph Waldo Emerson was "one of the shrewdest critics who ever lived." |
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Page xviii
or , The Mystic ” ( W 4 : 93 – 146 ) , he incisively criticizes and rejects
Swedenborg ' s study of the spiritual world as having been “ narrowed and
defeated by the exclusively theologic direction ” of his inquiries : “ His perception
of nature is not ...
or , The Mystic ” ( W 4 : 93 – 146 ) , he incisively criticizes and rejects
Swedenborg ' s study of the spiritual world as having been “ narrowed and
defeated by the exclusively theologic direction ” of his inquiries : “ His perception
of nature is not ...
Page xxi
In another journal passage , however , he referred to poetic perception as “ the
only truth ” because realized “ from within " : Poetry is the only verity . Wordsworth
said of his Ode it was poetry , but he did not know it was the only truth . Poet sees
...
In another journal passage , however , he referred to poetic perception as “ the
only truth ” because realized “ from within " : Poetry is the only verity . Wordsworth
said of his Ode it was poetry , but he did not know it was the only truth . Poet sees
...
Page xxii
The process begins with sense perception , “ joyful perception ” ( also described
as " recipiency ' ) , followed by “ pious reception ” or “ obedience ” on the part of
the " intellect receptive . ” As the artist must “ first please the eye , ” so the ...
The process begins with sense perception , “ joyful perception ” ( also described
as " recipiency ' ) , followed by “ pious reception ” or “ obedience ” on the part of
the " intellect receptive . ” As the artist must “ first please the eye , ” so the ...
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Emerson's literary criticism
User Review - Not Available - Book VerdictEditor Carlson gathered this selection of Emerson's literary criticism in 1979. The great poet here ruminates on "Art as Experience," "The Creative Process," "Writers and Books," and more. Read full review
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Common terms and phrases
American appear beauty become better called character Chaucer Coleridge common criticism culture delight Edited effect Emerson England English essay experience expression fact feeling flow genius give Goethe hand heart human ideal ideas imagination influence insight inspiration intellect interest John journal language learned leaves lecture less light lines literary literature living look manners material meaning Milton mind moral nature never novel object organic original painting passage perception person philosopher picture poems poet poetic poetry praise present Press published reader reason relation represents rhetoric seems sense Shakspeare society soul speak speech spirit stand style symbol theory things thought translation true truth universal verse whole wonderful Wordsworth write written