Synopses & Reviews
Contrasts different notions of the status of poetry in the work of MacPherson, Burns, Hogg, Scott, and Wordsworth.
Synopsis
This book examines the tension between the material, economic pressures motivating poetry as an occupation, and traditional notions of literary history defining poetry as an art. It focuses on five writers in the Romantic period: James MacPherson, Robert Burns, James Hogg, Walter Scott, and William Wordsworth. The economic and linguistic status of Scotland during the period makes the first four especially interesting as examples of poetic ambition. Murphyâs study then crosses the border into England, offering a new perspective on Wordsworthâs poetic career.
Table of Contents
Introduction; 1. James MacPherson; 2. Robert Burns; 3. James Hogg; 4. Walter Scott; 5. William Wordsworth; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.