A lengthy narrative poem written by Lord Byron. The poem was published between 1812 and 1818. The title comes from the term childe (or child) a medieval title for a young man who was a candidate for knighthood. The poem is divided into four cantos each containing multiple stanzas. Canto I and II of “Childe… Continue reading Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage
Lord Byron
Lord Byron, whose full name was George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron, was a prominent English poet and became a leader in the Romantic Period, alongside contemporaries like William Wordsworth, John Keats, Percy Bysshe, and Mary Shelley. He was born on January 22, 1788, in London, England. Byron’s life and works left a lasting impact… Continue reading Lord Byron
Dover Beach Analysis
Dover Beach is a lyric poem by the English poet Matthew Arnold. It was first published in 1867 in the collection New Poems. However, its composition may have begun as early as 1849, the most likely date is 1851. The poem’s title and its initial lines vividly depict the shoreline of Dover, an English ferry… Continue reading Dover Beach Analysis
Thyrsis
“Thyrsis” is a pastoral elegy in memory of his friend, the poet Arthur Hugh Clough. The poem reflects on their friendship, their shared experiences as poets, and the loss of youthful ideals. The character Thyrsis was a shepherd in Virgil’s seventh Eclogue, who lost a singing match against Corydon. The Eclogues also called the Bucolics,… Continue reading Thyrsis
The Scholer Gypsy
“The Scholar-Gipsy” is a poem by Matthew Arnold, inspired by a 17th-century Oxford story found in Joseph Glanvill’s work titled “The Vanity of Dogmatizing” (1661). It is also well-known among music enthusiasts because Ralph Vaughan Williams used lines from this poem, along with its companion piece “Thyrsis,” in his choral composition titled “An Oxford Elegy.”… Continue reading The Scholer Gypsy
Theory of Poetry By Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnold, who held a deep appreciation for Greek art, culture, and literature, expressed in the preface to his poems, believed that action held paramount importance in poetry. In his view, the subject and the action within a poem should harmonize effectively to engage the reader’s intellect. He emphasized that manner and style should not… Continue reading Theory of Poetry By Matthew Arnold
The Study of Poetry By Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnold, a prominent figure in the 19th century, held a dual role as both a celebrated poet and a leading literary critic. Widely recognized as a pioneer in modern literary criticism, he also penned numerous writings on a diverse range of topics including societal and cultural matters, religion, and the field of education. The… Continue reading The Study of Poetry By Matthew Arnold
Victorian Literary Criticism By Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnold, a prominent figure in the 19th century, held a dual role as both a renowned poet and a leading critic. He is commonly acknowledged as a pioneer in modern literary criticism, and his writings encompassed a wide range of topics, including social and cultural matters, religion, and education. He expressed the view that… Continue reading Victorian Literary Criticism By Matthew Arnold
The Last Leaf
The Last Leaf is a short story by O. Henry published in his 1907 collection The Trimmed Lamp and Other Stories. The story first appeared on October 15, 1905, in the New York World. The story begins by introducing us to two young women, Sue and Johnsy, who are roommates in Greenwich Village. Sue, the… Continue reading The Last Leaf
The Gift of the Magi
It is a short story written by O. Henry in 1905, narrates the tale of a young couple, Della and Jim, who make heartfelt sacrifices by parting with their most cherished possessions to purchase Christmas gifts for each other. Della, with her beautiful long hair, decides to cut it off and sell it for $20… Continue reading The Gift of the Magi