This blog task is assigned by Pro Prakriti Bhatt ma'am.
Following are the questions which are addressed below in this blog:
1) What do you understand by the term transitional? How do the poets and writers of the later half of the 18th century represent the transition from the sensibility of one literary age to that of another? What were some of the significant characteristics of their works?
2)“And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, Awaits alike th' inevitable hour.” From which work are these lines taken? What do they signify?
3) Discuss why Robert Burns is also considered the National Poet of Scotland.
Understanding "Transitional" in Literature
In literature, the term transitional refers to a period of change or shift from one literary style or movement to another. This transition often involves blending the old and the new. Writers in a transitional period might combine elements of the previous literary tradition with emerging ideas and themes. These shifts are significant because they signal a change in the way literature is written and the values it reflects.
For example, in the late 18th century, the world of literature began to shift from the Enlightenment to Romanticism. The Enlightenment (which dominated the early part of the 18th century) was all about reason, logic, and progress. Writers emphasized science, order, and the idea that human beings could use rational thinking to improve society. But towards the end of the century, there was a shift towards Romanticism, which emphasized emotion, nature, imagination, and the individual. This shift wasn’t sudden, and the writers of the late 18th century reflected this transition in their work.
Poets and Writers of the Later 18th Century: Representing the Transition
The writers of the later half of the 18th century played an important role in this transition. They represented a shift from the logic and reason of the Enlightenment to the emotional and imaginative focus of Romanticism. Some of the most important poets and writers of this time were Samuel Johnson, Thomas Gray, Oliver Goldsmith, and Robert Burns.
1. Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)
Samuel Johnson was one of the most important literary figures of the 18th century. His work often reflected the rational, moral concerns of the Enlightenment, but he also engaged deeply with the emotions and complexities of human nature. His famous work, The Vanity of Human Wishes, for example, blends moral reflection with a more personal, emotional exploration of life’s struggles. His Dictionary of the English Language helped standardize the English language, and his writing style showed both logic and emotion, bridging the gap between Enlightenment rationalism and Romantic feeling.
2. Thomas Gray (1716-1771)
Thomas Gray’s poem Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard (1751) is one of the best examples of this transitional period. At first glance, the poem might seem to focus on the rational idea that life is fleeting and death is inevitable. However, Gray also focuses on the emotional aspects of life. His reflections on death, the value of simple, humble lives, and the connection between nature and the human spirit are themes that would later be central to Romanticism. The poem reflects the shift from the intellectual focus of the Enlightenment to the more personal and emotional tone that marked the Romantic era.
3. Oliver Goldsmith (1730-1774)
Oliver Goldsmith was another important writer in the late 18th century who captured this transitional moment. In his poem The Deserted Village, Goldsmith criticizes the social and economic changes happening in England, particularly the rise of industrialization and the loss of rural life. While the poem shows an intellectual awareness of the social changes of the time, it also expresses deep nostalgia for the simpler, more natural life of the countryside, a theme that would become central to Romanticism. Goldsmith’s work reflects a blend of reason and emotion, intellectual critique and personal sentiment.
4. Robert Burns (1759-1796)
Perhaps one of the most important poets in this transitional period was Robert Burns, the national poet of Scotland. Burns’s work combined emotional depth with an appreciation for Scottish folk traditions and culture. He celebrated the lives of ordinary people and explored universal themes of love, nature, and human struggles. His poems To a Mouse and A Red, Red Rose focus on nature and emotions, expressing feelings that would later become central to Romantic poetry. Burns's use of the Scots dialect helped preserve and celebrate Scottish culture, and his work also critiqued social injustices, championing the rights of common people.
Key Characteristics of 18th Century Transitional Works
Several key characteristics define the works of writers in the later 18th century:
1. Emotional Expression: Writers began to move away from the purely rational and intellectual focus of the Enlightenment and started to explore emotions, personal experiences, and feelings. This shift laid the groundwork for the more intense emotional focus of the Romantic period.
2. Nature: Nature became an important theme in the works of poets like Gray, Burns, and Goldsmith. They began to see nature not just as a backdrop for human activity, but as something that was connected to human emotion and spiritual experience. This would become a central theme in Romanticism, where nature was often idealized and considered a reflection of the inner world of the poet.
3. Social Commentary: Writers like Goldsmith and Burns also used their works to comment on the social changes of the time. They expressed concerns about the effects of industrialization, the growing power of the rich, and the struggles of common people. This social awareness would continue to be an important feature of Romantic literature.
4. Folk Traditions and National Identity: Burns, in particular, helped preserve and celebrate Scottish identity. His use of the Scots dialect and focus on Scottish customs and folklore helped build a sense of national pride in Scotland. His works connected the personal with the national, reflecting both individual emotion and a collective cultural identity.
5. Blending Reason and Emotion: While many writers of this period still valued reason, there was a growing recognition of the importance of emotion, personal experience, and the imagination. This blending of reason and emotion helped to bridge the gap between the Enlightenment and Romanticism.
Analyzing the Quote: "And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, Awaits alike th' inevitable hour."
These lines are taken from Thomas Gray's Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard (1751). In this famous poem, Gray meditates on the inevitability of death. The lines suggest that no matter how much wealth, beauty, or success a person accumulates during their life, they cannot escape death. This reflects the central theme of the poem: the idea that death is an equalizer. It doesn't matter how rich, powerful, or beautiful someone is; in the end, we all face the same fate. The poem invites readers to reflect on the fleeting nature of life and reminds us to appreciate the simple things in life, which are often more enduring and meaningful than material wealth.
Robert Burns: Scotland’s National Poet
Robert Burns is often referred to as Scotland’s national poet, and his works have become an essential part of Scottish culture and identity. There are several reasons why Burns holds this title:
1. Celebration of Scottish Culture and Identity
Burns’s poetry is deeply rooted in Scottish traditions, customs, and dialect. He used the Scots language in many of his poems, which made his work resonate with the common people of Scotland. His poetry celebrated the beauty of Scotland’s landscapes, its folk traditions, and its history. For example, his famous poem Address to a Haggis celebrates Scottish cuisine and culture in a fun, lively way.
2. Focus on Ordinary People
Burns’s work often focused on the lives of ordinary people, particularly the poor and the working class. His poems express empathy for their struggles and highlight their dignity and humanity. This focus on the common person was unusual at the time and helped Burns connect with a wide audience. His poem To a Mouse, for example, reflects on the relationship between humans and nature, using the plight of a mouse as a metaphor for the struggles of the working class.
3. Social and Political Awareness
Burns was also politically aware and used his poetry to critique social and political issues. He championed equality, justice, and the rights of the common people. Many of his works express a deep concern for social injustices, including the oppression of the poor and the inequality between the rich and the poor. In A Man’s a Man for a’ That, Burns sings about the value of individuals, regardless of their social status, and criticizes the class system.
4. Romantic Themes
Although Burns wrote during the late 18th century, his work anticipated many of the themes that would become central to the Romantic movement, such as a focus on individual emotion, a celebration of nature, and a deep interest in the lives of common people. His poetry often reflects a strong connection to the natural world, as seen in poems like To a Red, Red Rose, and explores themes of love, loss, and human struggle.
Conclusion
The later 18th century was a time of great change in literature. Poets and writers like Thomas Gray, Oliver Goldsmith, and Robert Burns helped bridge the gap between the rational, intellectual concerns of the Enlightenment and the emotional, individualistic focus of the Romantic movement. Burns, in particular, stands out as Scotland’s national poet, whose work celebrated Scottish culture and identity while addressing universal themes of love, nature, and social justice. His poetry continues to resonate today, making him one of the most beloved poets in the English language.
References:
Thomas Gray:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44299/elegy-written-in-a-country-churchyard
Robert Burns: https://www.thebottleimp.org.uk/2013/11/robert-burns-selected-poems-and-songs-edited-by-robert-p-irvine/?print=pdf
Transitional Poets : https://literarism.blogspot.com/2017/09/the-transitional-poets.html?m=1
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