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UniversitàdegliStudidiPisaa.a.2016‐17

LetteraturaingleseI(Curriculum“C”)–9CFU

SimonaBeccone(simona.beccone@unipi.it)

“Romanticcreativity”

Testiprimari

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TheTyger(W.Blake)1. TygerTyger,burningbright,

2. Intheforestsofthenight;

3. Whatimmortalhandoreye,

4. Couldframethyfearfulsymmetry?

5. Inwhatdistantdeepsorskies,

6. Burntthefireofthineeyes?

7. Onwhatwingsdareheaspire?

8. Whatthehand,dareseizethefire?

9. Andwhatshoulder,&whatart,

10. Couldtwistthesinewsofthyheart?

11. Andwhenthyheartbegantobeat,

12. Whatdreadhand?&whatdreadfeet?

13. Whatthehammer?whatthechain,

14. Inwhatfurnacewasthybrain?

15. Whattheanvil?whatdreadgrasp,

16. Dareitsdeadlyterrorsclasp!

17. Whenthestarsthrewdowntheirspears

18. Andwater'dheavenwiththeirtears:

19. Didhesmilehisworktosee?

20. DidhewhomadetheLambmakethee?

21. TygerTygerburningbright,

22. Intheforestsofthenight:

23. Whatimmortalhandoreye,

24. Dareframethyfearfulsymmetry?

 

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TheCrystalCabinet(W.Blake)

1. TheMaidencaughtmeinthewild,2. WhereIwasdancingmerrily; 3. SheputmeintoherCabinet, 4. Andlock’dmeupwithagoldenkey.

5. ThisCabinetisform’dofgold 6. Andpearlandcrystalshiningbright, 7. Andwithinitopensintoaworld 8. Andalittlelovelymoonynight.

9. AnotherEnglandthereIsaw, 10. AnotherLondonwithitsTower, 11. AnotherThamesandotherhills, 12. AndanotherpleasantSurreybower,

13. AnotherMaidenlikeherself, 14. Translucent,lovely,shiningclear, 15. Threefoldeachintheotherclos’d— 16. O,whatapleasanttremblingfear!

17. O,whatasmile!athreefoldsmile 18. Fill’dme,thatlikeaflameIburn’d; 19. IbenttokissthelovelyMaid, 20. Andfoundathreefoldkissreturn’d.

21. Istrovetoseizetheinmostform 22. Withardourfierceandhandsofflame, 23. ButbursttheCrystalCabinet, 24. AndlikeaweepingBabebecame—

25. AweepingBabeuponthewild, 26. AndweepingWomanpalereclin’d, 27. Andintheoutwardairagain 28. Ifill’dwithwoesthepassingwind.

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Iwanderedlonelyasacloud…(W.Wordsworth)

1. IwanderedlonelyasaCloud2. Thatfloatsonhigho'ervalesandhills,3. WhenallatonceIsawacrowd,4. Ahost,ofgoldendaffodils;5. Besidethelake,beneaththetrees,6. Flutteringanddancinginthebreeze.

7. Continuousasthestarsthatshine8. Andtwinkleonthemilkyway,9. Theystretchedinnever‐endingline10. Alongthemarginofabay:11. TenthousandsawIataglance,12. Tossingtheirheadsinsprightlydance.

13. Thewavesbesidethemdanced;butthey14. Outdidthesparklingwavesinglee;15. Apoetcouldnotbutbegay,16. Insuchajocundcompany;17. Igazed—andgazed—butlittlethought18. Whatwealththeshowtomehadbrought:

19. ForoftwhenonmycouchIlie20. Invacantorinpensivemood,21. Theyflashuponthatinwardeye22. Whichistheblissofsolitude;23. Andthenmyheartwithpleasurefills,24. Anddanceswiththedaffodils.

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TheTablesTurned(W.Wordsworth)

1. Up!up!myFriend,andquityourbooks;2. Orsurelyyou'llgrowdouble:3. Up!up!myFriend,andclearyourlooks;4. Whyallthistoilandtrouble?

5. Thesunabovethemountain'shead,6. Afresheninglustremellow7. Throughallthelonggreenfieldshasspread,8. Hisfirstsweeteveningyellow.

9. Books!'tisadullandendlessstrife:10. Come,hearthewoodlandlinnet,11. Howsweethismusic!onmylife,12. There'smoreofwisdominit.13. Andhark!howblithethethrostlesings!14. He,too,isnomeanpreacher:15. Comeforthintothelightofthings,16. LetNaturebeyourteacher.17. Shehasaworldofreadywealth,18. Ourmindsandheartstobless—19. Spontaneouswisdombreathedbyhealth,20. Truthbreathedbycheerfulness.21. Oneimpulsefromavernalwood22. Mayteachyoumoreofman,23. Ofmoralevilandofgood,24. Thanallthesagescan.25. SweetisthelorewhichNaturebrings;26. Ourmeddlingintellect27. Mis‐shapesthebeauteousformsofthings:—28. Wemurdertodissect.29. EnoughofScienceandofArt;30. Closeupthosebarrenleaves;31. Comeforth,andbringwithyouaheart32. Thatwatchesandreceives.

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KublaKhan:Or,aVisioninaDream.AFragment.(S.T.Coleridge)

The following fragment is here published at the request of a poet of great and deservedcelebrity [LordByron], and, as far as theAuthor'sownopinionsare concerned, ratheras apsychologicalcuriosity,thanonthegroundofanysupposedpoeticmerits.

In thesummerof theyear1797, theAuthor, then in illhealth,hadretiredtoa lonely farm‐housebetweenPorlockandLinton,ontheExmoorconfinesofSomersetandDevonshire. Inconsequence of a slight indisposition, an anodyne had been prescribed, from the effects ofwhichhefellasleepinhischairatthemomentthathewasreadingthefollowingsentence,orwordsofthesamesubstance, inPurchas'sPilgrimage :"HeretheKhanKublacommandedapalacetobebuilt,andastatelygardenthereunto.Andthustenmilesoffertilegroundwereinclosedwithawall."TheAuthorcontinuedforaboutthreehoursinaprofoundsleep,atleastoftheexternalsenses,duringwhichtimehehasthemostvividconfidence,thathecouldnothave composed less than from two to three hundred lines; if that indeed can be calledcompositioninwhichalltheimagesroseupbeforehimasthings,withaparallelproductionofthe correspondent expressions, without any sensation or consciousness of effort. Onawakeningheappearedtohimselftohaveadistinctrecollectionofthewhole,andtakinghispen, ink,andpaper, instantlyandeagerlywrotedown the lines thatareherepreserved.Atthis moment he was unfortunately called out by a person on business from Porlock, anddetainedbyhimaboveanhour,andonhisreturntohisroom,found,tohisnosmallsurpriseandmortification,thatthoughhestillretainedsomevagueanddimrecollectionofthegeneralpurportofthevision,yet,withtheexceptionofsomeeightortenscatteredlinesandimages,alltheresthadpassedawayliketheimagesonthesurfaceofastreamintowhichastonehasbeencast,but,alas!withouttheafterrestorationofthelatter!

ThenallthecharmIsbroken—allthatphantomworldsofairVanishes,andathousandcircletsspread,Andeachmisshape[s]theother.Stayawhile,Pooryouth!whoscarcelydar'stliftupthineeyes—Thestreamwillsoonrenewitssmoothness,soonThevisionswillreturn!Andlo,hestays,AndsoonthefragmentsdimoflovelyformsCometremblingback,unite,andnowoncemoreThepoolbecomesamirror.

[From The Picture; or, the Lover's Resolution, ll. 91-100]

Yet fromthestillsurvivingrecollections inhismind, theAuthorhasfrequentlypurposedtofinish forhimselfwhathadbeenoriginally,as itwere,given tohim.Αύριονάδιονάσω[“I’llsingtoyouasweetersongtomorrow”]:buttheto‐morrowisyettocome.Asacontrasttothisvision,Ihaveannexedafragmentofaverydifferentcharacter,describingwithequalfidelitythedreamofpainanddisease.

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1. InXanadudidKublaKhan2. Astatelypleasuredomedecree:3. WhereAlph,thesacredriver,ran4. Throughcavernsmeasurelesstoman5. Downtoasunlesssea.6. Sotwicefivemilesoffertileground7. Withwallsandtowersweregirdledround:8. Andthereweregardensbrightwithsinuousrills,9. Whereblossomedmanyanincense‐bearingtree;10. Andherewereforestsancientasthehills,11. Enfoldingsunnyspotsofgreenery.

12. Butoh!thatdeepromanticchasmwhichslanted13. Downthegreenhillathwartacedarncover!14. Asavageplace!asholyandenchanted15. Ase’erbeneathawaningmoonwashaunted16. Bywomanwailingforherdemonlover!17. Andfromthischasm,withceaselessturmoilseething,18. Asifthisearthinfastthickpantswerebreathing,19. Amightyfountainmomentlywasforced:20. Amidwhoseswifthalf‐intermittedburst21. Hugefragmentsvaultedlikereboundinghail,22. Orchaffygrainbeneaththethresher’sflail:23. And’midthesedancingrocksatonceandever24. Itflungupmomentlythesacredriver.25. Fivemilesmeanderingwithamazymotion26. Throughwoodanddalethesacredriverran,27. Thenreachedthecavernsmeasurelesstoman,28. Andsankintumulttoalifelessocean:29. And’midthistumultKublaheardfromfar30. Ancestralvoicesprophesyingwar!31. Theshadowofthedomeofpleasure32. Floatedmidwayonthewaves;33. Wherewasheardthemingledmeasure34. Fromthefountainandthecaves.35. Itwasamiracleofraredevice,36. Asunnypleasure‐domewithcavesofice!

37. Adamselwithadulcimer38. InavisiononceIsaw:39. ItwasanAbyssinianmaid,

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40. Andonherdulcimersheplayed,41. SingingofMountAbora.42. CouldIrevivewithinme43. Hersymphonyandsong,44. Tosuchadeepdelight’twouldwinme,45. Thatwithmusicloudandlong,46. Iwouldbuildthatdomeinair,47. Thatsunnydome!thosecavesofice!48. Andallwhoheardshouldseethemthere,49. Andallshouldcry,Beware!Beware!50. Hisflashingeyes,hisfloatinghair!51. Weaveacircleroundhimthrice,52. Andcloseyoureyeswithholydread,53. Forheonhoney‐dewhathfed,54. AnddrunkthemilkofParadise.

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Darkness(G.G.LordByron)1. Ihadadream,whichwasnotalladream.2. Thebrightsunwasextinguished,andthestars3. Didwanderdarklingintheeternalspace,4. Rayless,andpathless,andtheicyearth5. Swungblindandblackeninginthemoonlessair;6. Morncameandwent—andcame,andbroughtnoday,7. Andmenforgottheirpassionsinthedread8. Ofthistheirdesolation;andallhearts9. Werechilledintoaselfishprayerforlight:10. Andtheydidlivebywatchfires—andthethrones,11. Thepalacesofcrownedkings—thehuts,12. Thehabitationsofallthingswhichdwell,13. Wereburntforbeacons;citieswereconsumed,14. Andmenweregatheredroundtheirblazinghomes15. Tolookoncemoreintoeachother’sface;16. Happywerethosewhodweltwithintheeye17. Ofthevolcanos,andtheirmountain‐torch:18. Afearfulhopewasalltheworldcontained;19. Forestsweresetonfire—buthourbyhour20. Theyfellandfaded—andthecracklingtrunks21. Extinguishedwithacrash—andallwasblack.22. Thebrowsofmenbythedespairinglight23. Woreanunearthlyaspect,asbyfits24. Theflashesfelluponthem;somelaydown25. Andhidtheireyesandwept;andsomedidrest26. Theirchinsupontheirclenchedhands,andsmiled;27. Andothershurriedtoandfro,andfed28. Theirfuneralpileswithfuel,andlookedup29. Withmaddisquietudeonthedullsky,30. Thepallofapastworld;andthenagain31. Withcursescastthemdownuponthedust,32. Andgnashedtheirteethandhowled:thewildbirdsshrieked33. And,terrified,didflutterontheground,34. Andflaptheiruselesswings;thewildestbrutes35. Cametameandtremulous;andviperscrawled36. Andtwinedthemselvesamongthemultitude,37. Hissing,butstingless—theywereslainforfood.38. AndWar,whichforamomentwasnomore,39. Didgluthimselfagain:amealwasbought40. Withblood,andeachsatesullenlyapart

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41. Gorginghimselfingloom:nolovewasleft;42. Allearthwasbutonethought—andthatwasdeath43. Immediateandinglorious;andthepang44. Offaminefeduponallentrails—men45. Died,andtheirbonesweretomblessastheirflesh;46. Themeagrebythemeagreweredevoured,47. Evendogsassailedtheirmasters,allsaveone,48. Andhewasfaithfultoacorse,andkept49. Thebirdsandbeastsandfamishedmenatbay,50. Tillhungerclungthem,orthedroppingdead51. Luredtheirlankjaws;himselfsoughtoutnofood,52. Butwithapiteousandperpetualmoan,53. Andaquickdesolatecry,lickingthehand54. Whichanswerednotwithacaress—hedied.55. Thecrowdwasfamishedbydegrees;buttwo56. Ofanenormouscitydidsurvive,57. Andtheywereenemies:theymetbeside58. Thedyingembersofanaltar‐place59. Wherehadbeenheapedamassofholythings60. Foranunholyusage;theyrakedup,61. Andshiveringscrapedwiththeircoldskeletonhands62. Thefeebleashes,andtheirfeeblebreath63. Blewforalittlelife,andmadeaflame64. Whichwasamockery;thentheyliftedup65. Theireyesasitgrewlighter,andbeheld66. Eachother’saspects—saw,andshrieked,anddied—67. Evenoftheirmutualhideousnesstheydied,68. Unknowingwhohewasuponwhosebrow69. FaminehadwrittenFiend.Theworldwasvoid,70. Thepopulousandthepowerfulwasalump,71. Seasonless,herbless,treeless,manless,lifeless—72. Alumpofdeath—achaosofhardclay.73. Therivers,lakesandoceanallstoodstill,74. Andnothingstirredwithintheirsilentdepths;75. Shipssailorlesslayrottingonthesea,76. Andtheirmastsfelldownpiecemeal:astheydropped77. Theysleptontheabysswithoutasurge—78. Thewavesweredead;thetideswereintheirgrave,79. Themoon,theirmistress,hadexpiredbefore;80. Thewindswerewitheredinthestagnantair,81. Andthecloudsperished;Darknesshadnoneed82. Ofaidfromthem—ShewastheUniverse.

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WhenIhavefears…(J.Keats)

1. WhenIhavefearsthatImayceasetobe

2. Beforemypenhasgleanedmyteemingbrain,

3. Beforehigh‐pilèdbooks,incharactery,

4. Holdlikerichgarnersthefullripenedgrain;

5. WhenIbehold,uponthenight’sstarredface,

6. Hugecloudysymbolsofahighromance,

7. AndthinkthatImayneverlivetotrace

8. Theirshadowswiththemagichandofchance;

9. AndwhenIfeel,faircreatureofanhour,

10. ThatIshallneverlookupontheemore,

11. Neverhaverelishinthefaerypower

12. Ofunreflectinglove—thenontheshore

13. OfthewideworldIstandalone,andthink

14. Tillloveandfametonothingnessdosink.

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OdetoaNightingale

1. Myheartaches,andadrowsynumbnesspains2. Mysense,asthoughofhemlockIhaddrunk,3. Oremptiedsomedullopiatetothedrains4. Oneminutepast,andLethe‐wardshadsunk.5. 'Tisnotthroughenvyofthyhappylot,6. Butbeingtoohappyinthinehappiness—7. Thatthou,light‐wingedDryadofthetrees,8. Insomemelodiousplot9. Ofbeechengreen,andshadowsnumberless,10. Singestofsummerinfull‐throatedease.

11. O,foradraughtofvintagethathathbeen12. Cooledalongageinthedeep‐delvèdearth,13. TastingofFloraandthecountrygreen,14. Dance,andProvençalsong,andsunburntmirth!15. OforabeakerfullofthewarmSouth,16. Fullofthetrue,theblushfulHippocrene,17. Withbeadedbubbleswinkingatthebrim,18. Andpurple‐stainèdmouth,19. ThatImightdrink,andleavetheworldunseen,20. Andwiththeefadeawayintotheforestdim—

21. Fadefaraway,dissolve,andquiteforget22. Whatthouamongtheleaveshastneverknown,23. Theweariness,thefever,andthefret24. Here,wheremensitandheareachothergroan;25. Wherepalsyshakesafew,sad,lastgrayhairs,26. Whereyouthgrowspale,andspectre‐thin,anddies;27. Wherebuttothinkistobefullofsorrow28. Andleaden‐eyeddespairs;29. WhereBeautycannotkeepherlustrouseyes,30. OrnewLovepineatthembeyondtomorrow. 31. Away!away!forIwillflytothee,32. NotchariotedbyBacchusandhispards,33. ButontheviewlesswingsofPoesy,34. Thoughthedullbrainperplexesandretards.35. Alreadywiththee!Tenderisthenight,36. AndhaplytheQueen‐Moonisonherthrone,37. Clusteredaroundbyallherstarryfays;38. Butherethereisnolight,39. Savewhatfromheaveniswiththebreezesblown40. Throughverdurousgloomsandwindingmossyways.

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41. Icannotseewhatflowersareatmyfeet,42. Norwhatsoftincensehangsupontheboughs,43. But,inembalmèddarkness,guesseachsweet44. Wherewiththeseasonablemonthendows45. Thegrass,thethicket,andthefruit‐treewild—46. Whitehawthorn,andthepastoraleglantine;47. Fast‐fadingvioletscoveredupinleaves;48. Andmid‐May'seldestchild,49. Thecomingmusk‐rose,fullofdewywine,50. Themurmuroushauntoffliesonsummereves.

51. Darkling,Ilisten;and,formanyatime52. IhavebeenhalfinlovewitheasefulDeath,53. Calledhimsoftnamesinmanyamusèdrhyme,54. Totakeintotheairmyquietbreath;55. Nowmorethaneverseemsitrichtodie,56. Toceaseuponthemidnightwithnopain,57. Whilethouartpouringforththysoulabroad58. Insuchanecstasy.59. Stillwouldstthousing,andIhaveearsinvain—60. Tothyhighrequiembecomeasod.

61. Thouwastnotbornfordeath,immortalbird!62. Nohungrygenerationstreadtheedown;63. ThevoiceIhearthispassingnightwasheard64. Inancientdaysbyemperorandclown:65. Perhapstheself‐samesongthatfoundapath66. ThroughthesadheartofRuth,when,sickforhome,67. Shestoodintearsamidthealiencorn;68. Thesamethatoft‐timeshath69. Charmedmagiccasements,openingonthefoam70. Ofperilousseas,infaerylandsforlorn.

71. Forlorn!theverywordislikeabell72. Totollmebackfromtheetomysoleself!73. Adieu!Thefancycannotcheatsowell74. Assheisfamedtodo,deceivingelf.75. Adieu!adieu!Thyplaintiveanthemfades76. Pastthenearmeadows,overthestillstream,77. Upthehill‐side;andnow'tisburieddeep78. Inthenextvalley‐glades:79. Wasitavision,orawakingdream?80. Fledisthatmusic…DoIwakeorsleep?

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Ozymandias(P.B.Shelley)

1. Imetatravellerfromanantiqueland2. Whosaid:Twovastandtrunklesslegsofstone3. Standinthedesert...Nearthem,onthesand,4. Halfsunk,ashatteredvisagelies,whosefrown,5. Andwrinkledlip,andsneerofcoldcommand,6. Tellthatitssculptorwellthosepassionsread7. Whichyetsurvive,stampedontheselifelessthings,8. Thehandthatmockedthem,andtheheartthatfed:9. Andonthepedestal,thesewordsappear:10. ʻMynameisOZYMANDIAS,KingofKings.11. LookonmyWorks,yeMighty,anddespair!ʼ12. Nothingbesideremains.Roundthedecay13. OfthatColossalWreck,boundlessandbare14. Theloneandlevelsandsstretchfaraway.

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TheCloud(P.B.Shelley)

Ibringfreshshowersforthethirstingflowers,

Fromtheseasandthestreams;IbearlightshadefortheleaveswhenlaidIntheirnoondaydreams.Frommywingsareshakenthedewsthatwaken 5Thesweetbudseveryone,Whenrockedtorestontheirmother’sbreast,Asshedancesaboutthesun.Iwieldtheflailofthelashinghail,Andwhitenthegreenplainsunder, 10AndthenagainIdissolveitinrain,AndlaughasIpassinthunder.Isiftthesnowonthemountainsbelow,Andtheirgreatpinesgroanaghast;Andallthenight’tismypillowwhite, 15WhileIsleepinthearmsoftheblast.Sublimeonthetowersofmyskieybowers,Lightningmypilotsits,Inacavernunderisfrettedthethunder,Itstrugglesandhowlsatfits; 20Overearthandocean,withgentlemotion,Thispilotisguidingme,LuredbytheloveofthegeniithatmoveInthedepthsofthepurplesea;Overtherills,andthecrags,andthehills, 25Overthelakesandtheplains,Whereverhedream,undermountainorstreamTheSpirithelovesremains;AndIallthewhilebaskinheaven’sbluesmile,Whilstheisdissolvinginrains. 30Thesanguinesunrise,withhismeteoreyes,Andhisburningplumesoutspread,Leapsonthebackofmysailingrack,Whenthemorningstarshinesdead,Asonthejagofamountaincrag, 35

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Whichanearthquakerocksandswings,AneaglealitonemomentmaysitInthelightofitsgoldenwings.Andwhensunsetmaybreathefromthelitseabeneath,Itsardoursofrestandoflove, 40AndthecrimsonpallofevemayfallFromthedepthofheavenabove,WithwingsfoldedIrest,onmineairynest,Asstillasabroodingdove.Thatorbèdmaidenwithwhitefireladen, 45Whommortalscallthemoon,Glidesglimmeringo’ermyfleece‐likefloor,Bythemidnightbreezesstrewn;Andwhereverthebeatofherunseenfeet,Whichonlytheangelshear, 50Mayhavebrokenthewoofofmytent’sthinroof,Thestarspeepbehindherandpeer;AndIlaughtoseethemwhirlandflee,Likeaswarmofgoldenbees,WhenIwidentherentinmywind‐builttent, 55Tillthecalmrivers,lakes,andseas,Likestripsoftheskyfallenthroughmeonhigh,Areeachpavedwiththemoonandthese.Ibindthesun’sthronewithaburningzone,Andthemoon’swithagirdleofpearl; 60Thevolcanoesaredim,andthestarsreelandswim,Whenthewhirlwindsmybannerunfurl.Fromcapetocape,withabridge‐likeshape,Overatorrentsea,Sunbeam‐proof,Ihanglikearoof, 65Themountainsitscolumnsbe.ThetriumphalarchthroughwhichImarchWithhurricane,fire,andsnow,Whenthepowersoftheairarechainedtomychair,Isthemillion‐colouredbow; 70Thesphere‐fireaboveitssoftcolourswove,Whilethemoistearthwaslaughingbelow.Iamthedaughterofearthandwater,Andthenurslingofthesky;Ipassthroughtheporesoftheoceanandshores; 75

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Ichange,butIcannotdie.Foraftertherainwhenwithneverastain,Thepavilionofheavenisbare,Andthewindsandsunbeamswiththeirconvexgleams,Buildupthebluedomeofair, 80Isilentlylaughatmyowncenotaph,Andoutofthecavernsofrain,Likeachildfromthewomb,likeaghostfromthetomb,Iariseandunbuilditagain.

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T.S.Coleridge,BiographiaLiteraria,Chapter17(“OnPoesyorArt”),1817

Ineveryworkofartthereisareconcilementoftheexternalwiththeinternal;theconsciousis

soimpressedontheunconsciousastoappearinit;ascomparedmerelettersinscribedona

tombwithfiguresthemselvesconstitutingthetomb.Hewhocombinesthetwoisthemanof

genius.

W.Blake,AuguriesofInnocence(ThePickeringManuscript,1803?),vv.1‐4

Toseeaworldinagrainofsand,

Andaheaveninawildflower,

Holdinfinityinthepalmofyourhand,

Andeternityinanhour.

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Keats‐Letters

[On the Imagination and “a Life of Sensations rather than of Thoughts”: Letter toBenjaminBailey,22November1817]

[ . . . ]But Iamrunningmyhead intoaSubjectwhich Iamcertain Icouldnotdo justicetounder five years study and 3 vols octavo—and moreover long to be talking about theImagination—[...]IamcertainofnothingbutoftheholinessoftheHeart’saffectionsandthetruth of Imagination—What the imagination seizes as Beauty must be truth—whether itexistedbeforeornot—forIhavethesameIdeaofallourPassionsasofLovetheyareall intheirsublime,creativeofessentialBeauty—InaWord,youmayknowmyfavoriteSpeculationbymyfirstBookandthelittlesongIsentinmylast—whichisarepresentationfromthefancyof theprobablemodeofoperating in theseMatters—The Imaginationmaybe compared toAdam’sdream—heawokeandfoundit truth. Iamthemorezealous in thisaffair,becauseIhaveneveryetbeenabletoperceivehowanythingcanbeknownfortruthbyconsequitivereasoning—andyetitmustbe—CanitbethateventhegreatestPhilosophereverarrivedathis goal without putting aside numerous objections—However it may be, O for a Life ofSensationsratherthanofThoughts!Itis‘aVisionintheformofYouth’aShadowofrealitytocome—and this consideration has further convinced me for it has come as auxiliary toanotherfavouriteSpeculationofmine,thatweshallenjoyourselveshereafterbyhavingwhatwecalledhappinessonEarthrepeatedinafinertoneandsorepeated—Andyetsuchafatecan only befall thosewho delight in sensation rather than hunger as you do after Truth—Adam’sdreamwilldohereandseems tobeaconviction that Imaginationand itsempyrealreflection is the same as human Life and its spiritual repetition. But as I was saying—thesimple imaginativeMindmayhave its rewards in therepeti[ti]onof itsownsilentWorkingcoming continually on the spirit with a fine suddenness—to compare great things withsmall—have you never by being surprisedwith an oldMelody—in a delicious place—by adelicious voice, felt over again your very speculations and surmises at the time it firstoperated on your soul—do you not remember forming to yourself the singer’s face morebeautifulthatitwaspossibleandyetwiththeelevationoftheMomentyoudidnotthinkso—eventhenyouweremountedontheWingsofImaginationsohigh—thatthePrototypemustbehereafter—thatdeliciousfaceyouwillsee—Whatatime!Iamcontinuallyrunningawayfrom the subject—sure this cannot be exactly the case with a complex Mind—one that isimaginativeandat thesame timecarefulof its fruits—whowouldexistpartlyonsensationpartlyon thought—towhomit isnecessarythatyearsshouldbring thephilosophicMind—suchanoneIconsideryoursandthereforeitisnecessarytoyoureternalHappinessthatyounotonlydrinkthisoldWineofHeavenwhichIshallcalltheredigestionofourmostetherealMusingsonEarth;butalsoincreaseinknowledgeandknowallthings.

[On Negative Capability: Letter to George and Tom Keats, 21, ?27 December 1817]

MydearBrothers

Imustcraveyourpardonfornothavingwrittenerethis[...][T]heexcellenceofeveryArtisits intensity, capable of making all disagreeables evaporate, from their being in closerelationship with Beauty & Truth—Examine King Lear & you will find this exemplifiedthroughout; but in this picture we have unpleasantness without any momentous depth of

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speculation excited, in which to bury its repulsiveness—The picture is larger than Christrejected—IdinedwithHaydontheSundayafteryou left,&hadaverypleasantday, Idinedtoo(forIhavebeenouttoomuchlately)withHoraceSmith&methistwobrotherswithHill&Kingston&oneDuBois,theyonlyservedtoconvinceme,howsuperiorhumouristowitinrespecttoenjoyment—Thesemensaythingswhichmakeonestart,withoutmakingonefeel,theyareallalike;theirmannersarealike;theyallknowfashionables;theyhaveamannerismintheirveryeating&drinking,intheirmerehandlingaDecanter—TheytalkedofKean&hislowcompany—WouldIwerewiththatcompanyinsteadofyourssaidItomyself!Iknowsuchlikeacquaintancewillneverdoforme&yetIamgoingtoReynolds,onWednesday—Brown&Dilke walked with me & back from the Christmas pantomime. I had not a dispute but adisquisitionwithDilke,onvarioussubjects;severalthingsdovetailedinmymind,&atonceitstruckme,whatqualitywenttoformaManofAchievementespeciallyinLiterature&whichShakespeare possessed so enormously—I mean Negative Capability, that is when man iscapableofbeinginuncertainties,Mysteries,doubts,withoutanyirritablereachingafterfact&reason—Coleridge,forinstance,wouldletgobyafineisolatedverisimilitudecaughtfromthePenetraliumofmystery,frombeingincapableofremainingcontentwithhalfknowledge.ThispursuedthroughVolumeswouldperhapstakeusnofurtherthanthis,thatwithagreatpoetthe sense of Beauty overcomes every other consideration, or rather obliterates allconsideration.

[On Axioms and the Surprise of Poetry: Letter to John Taylor, 27 February 1818]

[ . . . ] InPoetryIhavea fewAxioms,andyouwillseehowfarIamfromtheirCentre.1st Ithink Poetry should surprise by a fine excess and not by Singularity—it should strike theReaderasawordingofhisownhighestthoughts,andappearalmostaRemembrance—2ndItstouchesofBeautyshouldneverbehalfwaytherebymakingthereaderbreathlessinsteadofcontent:therise,theprogress,thesettingofimageryshouldliketheSuncomenaturalnaturaltoohim—shineoverhimandsetsoberlyalthoughinmagnificenceleavinghimintheLuxuryoftwilight—butitiseasiertothinkwhatPoetryshouldbethantowriteit—andthisleadsmeontoanotheraxiom.ThatifPoetrycomesnotasnaturallyastheLeavestoatreeithadbetternotcomeatall.

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Shelley

From:“Preface”toPrometheusUnbound:ALyricalDramaInFourActs(1820)

Apoetisthecombinedproductofsuchinternalpowersasmodifythenatureofothers,andofsuchexternalinfluencesasexciteandsustainthesepowers;heisnotone,butboth.Everyman'smindis,inthisrespect,modifiedbyalltheobjectsofNatureandart;byeverywordandeverysuggestionwhichheeveradmittedtoactuponhisconsciousness;itisthemirroruponwhichallformsarereflectedandinwhichtheycomposeoneform.Poets,nototherwisethanphilosophers, painters, sculptors and musicians, are, in one sense, the creators, and, inanother,thecreations,oftheirage.

From:ADefenceofPoetry(1821,1840)

Intheyouthoftheworld,mendanceandsingandimitatenaturalobjects,observingintheseactions,as inallothers,acertainrhythmororder.And,althoughallmenobserveasimilar,theyobservenotthesameorder,inthemotionsofthedance,inthemelodyofthesong,inthecombinations of language, in the series of their imitations of natural objects. For there is acertainorderor rhythmbelonging to eachof these classesofmimetic representation, fromwhich the hearer and the spectator receive an intenser and purer pleasure than from anyother: thesenseofanapproximationtothisorderhasbeencalledtastebymodernwriters.Everymanintheinfancyofartobservesanorderwhichapproximatesmoreorlesscloselytothat fromwhich this highest delight results: but the diversity is not sufficientlymarked, asthat itsgradationsshouldbesensible,except inthose instanceswherethepredominanceofthis faculty of approximation to the beautiful (for so we may be permitted to name therelationbetweenthishighestpleasureanditscause)isverygreat.Thoseinwhomitexistsinexcessarepoets,inthemostuniversalsenseoftheword;andthepleasureresultingfromthemanner in which they express the influence of society or nature upon their own minds,communicatesitselftoothers,andgathersasortofreduplicationfromthatcommunity.