The English Hero, 1660-1800Robert Folkenflik This book proposes that allegory is not a species of literature but a structure of reading applied to uncomfortable juxtapositions within literary texts. Examples from centuries of response to English Renaissance narrative poetry show not what poems mean but how they may be read and what cultural conditions encourage allegorical or nonallegorical readings. The study also encompasses interpretations of classical verse, biblical parable, Jacobean masque, modern lyric, and television advertising to explore how texts move in and out of the category of allegory. |
Contents
Acknowledgments | 7 |
An Age without a Hero? | 25 |
Drydens Alexander | 46 |
Copyright | |
7 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
action admiration Alexander allowed allusion appeared attempt becomes begins biography called century character Charles Christian claims comedy comes common concept critics death described Dryden early edition eighteenth century English English Studies epic essay example fact father Feast feeling Fielding Fielding's figure give hand hero heroic heroism human ideal imagination important interest John Johnson kind king later least less letters lines literary literature Lives London Lovelace means mind moral nature never novel Oxford passage passion perhaps period person play poem poet Poetry political Pope Pope's possible praise present protagonist provides reader reading reference Restoration rhetoric role Samuel Johnson satire scene seems sense social society Studies style suggests Swift thing thought tragedy turns University Press Verses virtue wish writing