English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History by Coppee (pdf document) free file download at fliiby.com

"English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History, by Henry Coppée ï»¿The Project Gutenberg EBook of English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History, by Henry Coppee This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Title: English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History Designed as a Manual of Instruction Author: Henry Coppee Release Date: February 26, 2005 [EBook #15176] Language: English Character set encoding: UTF-8 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ENGLISH LITERATURE, *** Produced by Distributed Proofreaders English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History. Designed as a Manual of Instruction. By Henry Coppée, LL.D., President of the Lehigh University. The Roman Epic abounds in moral and poetical defects; nevertheless it remains the most complete picture of the national mind at its highest elevation, the most precious document of national history, if the history of an age is revealed in its ideas, no less than in its events and incidents.—Rev. C. Merivale. History of the Romans under the Empire, c. xli. -1- English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History, by Henry Coppée Second Edition. Philadelphia: Claxton, Remsen & Haffelfinger. 1873. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, by Claxton, Remsen & Haffelfinger, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. Stereotyped by J. Fagan & Son, Philadelphia. To the Right Reverend William Bacon Stevens, D.D., LL.D., Bishop Of Pennsylvania. My Dear Bishop: I desire to connect your name with whatever may be useful and valuable in this work, to show my high appreciation of your fervent piety, varied learning, and elegant literary accomplishments; and, also, far more than this, to record the personal acknowledgment that no man ever had a more constant, judicious, generous and affectionate brother, than you have been to me, for forty years of intimate and unbroken association. Most affectionately and faithfully yours, Henry Coppée. Preface It is not the purpose of the author to add another to the many volumes containing a chronological list of English authors, with brief comments upon each. Such a statement of works, arranged according to periods, or reigns of English monarchs, is valuable only as an abridged dictionary of names and dates. Nor is there any logical pertinence in clustering contemporary names about a principal author, however illustrious he may be. The object of this work is to present prominently the historic connections and teachings of English literature; to place great authors in immediate relations with great events in history; and thus to propose an important principle to students in all their reading. Thus it is that Literature and History are reciprocal: they combine to make eras. Merely to establish this historic principle, it would have been sufficient to consider the greatest authors, such as Chaucer, Spenser, Shakspeare, Milton, Dryden, and Pope; but it occurred to me, while keeping this principle before me, to give also a connected view of the course of English literature, which might, in an academic curriculum, show students how and what to read for themselves. Any attempt beyond this in so condensed a work must prove a failure, and so it may well happen that some readers will fail to find a full notice, or even a mention, of some favorite author. -2- English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History, by Henry Coppée English literature can only be studied in the writings of the authors here only mentioned; but I hope that the work will be found to contain suggestions for making such extended reading profitable; and that teachers will find it valuable as a syllabus for fuller courses of lectures. To those who would like to find information as to the best editions of the authors mentioned, I can only say that I at first intended and began to note editions: I soon saw that I could not do this with any degree of uniformity, and therefore determined to refer all who desire this bibliographic assistance, to The Dictionary of Authors, by my friend S. Austin Allibone, LL.D., in which bibliography is a strong feature. I am not called upon to eulogize that noble work, but I cannot help saying that I have found it invaluable, and that whether mentioned or not, no writer can treat of English authors without constant recurrence to its accurate columns: it is a literary marvel of our age. It will be observed that the remoter periods of the literature are those in which the historic teachings are the most distinctly visible; we see them from a vantage ground, in their full scope, and in the interrelations of their parts. Although in the more modern periods the number of writers is greatly increased, we are too near to discern the entire period, and are in danger of becoming partisans, by reason of our limited view. Especially is this true of the age in which we live. Contemporary history is but party-chronicle: the true philosophic history can only be written when distance and elevation give due scope to our vision. The principle I have laid down is best illustrated by the great literary masters. Those of less degree have been treated at less length, and many of them will be found in the smaller print, to save space. Those who study the book should study the small print as carefully as the other. After a somewhat elaborate exposition of English literature, I could not induce myself to tack on an inadequate chapter on American literature; and, besides, I think that to treat the two subjects in one volume would be as incongruous as to write a joint biography of Marlborough and Washington. American literature is too great and noble, and has had too marvelous a development to be made an appendix to English literature. If time shall serve, I hope to prepare a separate volume, exhibiting the stages of our literature in the Colonial period, the Revolutionary epoch, the time of Constitutional establishment, and the present period. It will be found to illustrate these historical divisions in a remarkable manner. H. C. The Lehigh University, October, 1872. Contents Chapter I. The Historical Scope of the Subject. Literature and Science—English Literature—General Principle—Celts and Cymry—Roman Conquest—Coming of the Saxons—Danish Invasions—The Norman Conquest—Changes in Language -3- English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History, by Henry Coppée Chapter II. Literature a Teacher of History. Celtic Remains. The Uses of Literature—Italy, France, England—Purpose of the Work—Celtic Literary Remains—Druids and Druidism—Roman Writers—Psalter of Cashel—Welsh Triads and Mabinogion—Gildas and St. Colm Chapter III. Anglo-Saxon Literature and History. The Lineage of the Anglo-Saxon—Earliest Saxon Poem—Metrical Arrangement—Periphrasis and Alliteration—Beowulf—Caedmon—Other Saxon Fragments—The Appearance of Bede Chapter IV. The Venerable Bede and the Saxon Chronicle. Biography—Ecclesiastical History—The Recorded Miracles—Bede’s Latin—Other Writers—The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: its Value—Alfred the Great—Effect of the Danish Invasions Chapter V. The Norman Conquest and Its Earliest Literature. Norman Rule—Its Oppression—Its Benefits—William of Malmesbury—Geoffrey Monmouth—Other Latin Chronicles—Anglo-Norman Poets—Richard Wace—Other Poets of Chapter VI. The Morning Twilight of English Literature. Semi-Saxon Literature—Layamon—The Ormulum—Robert of Gloucester—Langland. Piers Plowman—Piers Plowman’s Creed—Sir Jean Froissart—Sir John Mandevil Chapter VII. Chaucer, and the Early Reformation. A New Era: Chaucer—Italian Influence—Chaucer as a Founder—Earlier Poems—The Canterbury Tales—Characters—Satire—Presentations of Woman—The Plan Proposed -4- English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History, by Henry Coppée Chapter VIII. Chaucer (Continued).—Reforms in Religion and Society. Historical Facts—Reform in Religion—The Clergy, Regular and Secular—The Friar and the Sompnour—The Pardonere—The Poure Persone—John Wiclif—The Translation of the Bible—The Ashes of Wiclif Chapter IX. Chaucer (Continued).—Progress of Society, and of Language. Social Life—Government—Chaucer’s English—His Death—Historical Gower—Chaucer and Gower—Gower’s Language—Other Writers Facts—John Chapter X. The Barren Period Between Chaucer and Spenser. Greek Literature—Invention of Printing. Caxton—Contemporary History—Skelton—Wyatt—Surrey—Sir Thomas Moore—Utopia, and other Works—Other Writers Chapter XI. Spenser and the Elizabethan Age. The Great Change—Edward VI. and Mary—Sidney—The Arcadia—Defence of Poesy—Astrophel and Stella—Gabriel Harvey—Edmund Spenser: Shepherd’s Calendar—His Great Work Chapter XII. Illustrations of the History in the Faerie Queene. The Faerie Queene—The Plan Proposed—Illustrations of the History—The Knight and the Lady—The Wood of Error and the Hermitage—The Crusades—Britomartis and Sir Artegal—Elizabeth—Mary Queen of Scots—Other Works—Spenser’s Fate—Other Writers Chapter XIII. The English Drama. Origin of the Drama—Miracle Plays—Moralities—First Comedy—Early Tragedies—Christopher Marlowe—Other Dramatists—Playwrights and Morals -5- English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History, by Henry Coppée Chapter XIV. William Shakspeare. The Power of Shakspeare—Meagre Early History—Doubts of his Identity—What is known—Marries and goes to London—"Venus" and "Lucrece"—Retirement and Death—Literary Habitudes—Variety of the Plays—Table of Dates and Sources Chapter XV. William Shakspeare (Continued). The Grounds of his Fame—Creation of Character—Imagination and Fancy—Power of Expression—His Faults—Influence of Elizabeth—Sonnets—Ireland and Collier—Concordance—Other Writers Chapter XVI. Bacon, and the Rise of the New Philosophy. Birth and Early Life—Treatment of Essex—His Appointments—His Philosophy—Magna Instauratio—His Defects—His Fame—His Essays Fall—Writes Chapter XVII. The English Bible. Early Versions—The Septuagint—The Vulgate—Wiclif; Tyndale—Coverdale; Cranmer—Geneva; Bishop’s Bible—King James’s Bible—Language of the Bible—Revision Chapter XVIII. John Milton, and the English Commonwealth. Historical Facts—Charles I.—Religious Extremes—Cromwell—Birth and Early Works—Views of Marriage—Other Prose Works—Effects of the Restoration—Estimate of his Prose Chapter XIX. The Poetry of Milton. The Blind Poet—Paradise Lost—Milton and Dante—His Faults—Characteristics of the Age—Paradise Regained—His Scholarship—His Sonnets—His Death and Fame -6- English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History, by Henry Coppée Chapter XX. Cowley, Butler, and Walton. Cowley and Milton—Cowley’s Life and Works—His Fame—Butler’s Career—Hudibras—His Poverty and Death—Izaak Walton—The Angler; and Lives—Other Writers Chapter XXI. Dryden, and the Restored Stuarts. The Court of Charles II.—Dryden’s Early Life—The Death of Cromwell—The Restoration—Dryden’s Tribute—Annus Mirabilis—Absalom and Achitophel—The Death of Charles—Dryden’s Conversion—Dryden’s Fall—His Odes 207 Chapter XXII. The Religious Literature of the Great Rebellion and of the Restoration. The English Divines—Hall—Chillingsworth—Taylor—Fuller—Sir T. Browne—Baxter—Fox—Bunyan—South—Other Writers 221 Chapter XXIII. The Drama of the Restoration. The License of the Age—Dryden—Wycherley—Congreve—Vanbrugh— Farquhar—Etherege—Tragedy—Otway—Rowe—Lee—Southern 233 Chapter XXIV. Pope, and the Artificial School. Contemporary History—Birth and Early Life—Essay, on Criticism—Rape of the Lock—The Messiah—The Iliad—Value of the Translation—The Odyssey—Essay on Man—The Artificial School—Estimate of Pope—Other Writers 241 Chapter XXV. Addison, and the Reign of Queen Anne. The Character of the Age—Queen Anne—Whigs and Tories—George I.—Addison: The Campaign—Sir Roger de Coverley—The Club—Addison’s Hymns—Person and Literary Character 254 -7- English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History, by Henry Coppée Chapter XXVI. Steele and Swift. Sir Richard Steele—Periodicals—The Crisis—His Last Days—Jonathan Swift: Poems—The Tale of a Tub—Battle of the Books—Pamphlets—M. B. Drapier—Gulliver’s Travels—Stella and Vanessa—His Character and Death 264 Chapter XXVII. The Rise and Progress of Modern Fiction. The New Age—Daniel Defoe—Robinson Crusoe—Richardson—Pamela, and Novels—Fielding—Joseph Andrews—Tom Jones—Its Moral—Smollett—Roderick Random—Peregrine Pickle 280 Other Chapter XXVIII. Sterne, Goldsmith, and Mackenzie. The Subjective School—Sterne: Sermons—Tristram Shandy—Sentimental Journey—Oliver Goldsmith—Poems: The Vicar—Histories, and Other Works—Mackenzie—The Man of Feeling 296 Chapter XXIX. The Historical Triad in the Sceptical Age. The Sceptical Age—David Hume—History of England—Metaphysics—Essay Miracles—Robertson—Histories—Gibbon—The Decline and Fall 309 on Chapter XXX. Samuel Johnson and His Times. Early Life and Career—London—Rambler and Idler—The Dictionary—Other Works—Lives of the Poets—Person and Character—Style—Junius 324 Chapter XXXI. The Literary Forgers in the Antiquarian Age. The Eighteenth Century—James Macpherson—Ossian—Thomas Chatterton—His Poems—The Verdict—Suicide—The Cause 334 -8- English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History, by Henry Coppée Chapter XXXII. Poetry of the Transition School. The Transition Period—James Thomson—The Seasons—The Castle of Indolence—Mark Akenside—Pleasures of the Imagination—Thomas Gray—The Elegy. The Bard—William Cowper—The Task—Translation of Homer—Other Writers 347 Chapter XXXIII. The Later Drama. The Progress of the Drama—Garrick—Foote—Cumberland—Sheridan—George Colman—George Colman, the Younger—Other Dramatists and Humorists—Other Writers on Various Subjects 360 Chapter XXXIV. The New Romantic Poetry: Scott. Walter Scott—Translations and Minstrelsy—The Lay of the Last Minstrel—Other Poems—The Waverley Novels—Particular Mention—Pecuniary Troubles—His Manly Purpose—Powers Overtasked—Fruitless Journey—Return and Death—His Fame 371 Chapter XXXV. The New Romantic Poetry: Byron and Moore. Early Life of Byron—Childe Harold and Eastern Tales—Unhappy Marriage—Philhellenism and Death—Estimate of his Poetry—Thomas Moore—Anacreon—Later Fortunes—Lalla Rookh—His Diary—His Rank as Poet 384 Chapter XXXVI. The New Romantic Poetry (Continued). Robert Burns—His Poems—His Career—George Crabbe—Thomas Campbell—Samuel Rogers—P. B. Shelley—John Keats—Other Writers 397 Chapter XXXVII. Wordsworth, and the Lake School. The New School—William Wordsworth—Poetical Canons—The Excursion and Sonnets—An Estimate—Robert Southey—His Writings—Historical Value—S. T. Coleridge—Early Life—His Helplessness—Hartley and H. N. Coleridge 414 -9- English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History, by Henry Coppée Chapter XXXVIII. The Reaction in Poetry. Alfred Tennyson—Early Works—The Princess—Idyls of the King—Elizabeth Browning—Aurora Leigh—Her Faults—Robert Browning—Other Poets 428 B. Chapter XXXIX. The Later Historians. New Materials—George Grote—History of Greece—Lord Macaulay—History of England—Its Faults—Thomas Carlyle—Life of Frederick II.—Other Historians 439 Chapter XL. The Later Novelists as Social Reformers. Bulwer—Changes in Writers—Dickens’s Novels—American Notes—His Varied Powers—Second Visit to America—Thackeray—Vanity Fair—Henry Esmond—The Newcomes—The Georges—Estimate of his Powers 450 Chapter XLI. The Later Writers. Charles Lamb—Thomas Hood—Thomas de Quincey—Other Novelists—Writers on Science and Philosophy 466 Chapter XLII. English Journalism. Roman News Letters—The Gazette—The Civil War—Later Divisions—The Reviews—The Monthlies—The Dailies—The London Times—Other Newspapers 475 Alphabetical Index of Authors English Literature Chapter I. The Historical Scope of the Subject. Literature and Science. English Literature. General Principle. Celts and Cymry. Roman Conquest. Coming of the Saxons. Danish Invasions. The Norman Conquest. Changes in Language. - 10 - English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History, by Henry Coppée Literature and Science. There are two words in the English language which are now used to express the two great divisions of mental production—Science and Literature; and yet, from their etymology, they have so much in common, that it has been necessary to attach to each a technical meaning, in order that we may employ them without confusion. Science, from the participle sciens, of scio, scire, to know, would seem to comprise all that can be known—what the Latins called the omne scibile, or all-knowable. Literature is from litera, a letter, and probably at one remove from lino, litum, to anoint or besmear, because in the earlier times a tablet was smeared with wax, and letters were traced upon it with a graver. Literature, in its first meaning, would, therefore, comprise all that can be conveyed by the use of letters. But language is impatient of retaining two words which convey the same meaning; and although science had at first to do with the fact of knowing and the conditions of knowledge in the abstract, while literature meant the written record of such knowledge, a far more distinct sphere has been given to each in later times, and special functions assigned them. In general terms, Science now means any branch of knowledge in which men search for principles reaching back to the ultimate, or for facts which establish these principles, or are classified by them in a logical order. Thus we speak of the mathematical, physical, metaphysical, and moral sciences. Literature, which is of later development as at present used, comprises those subjects which have a relation to human life and human nature through the power of the imagination and the fancy. Technically, literature includes history, poetry, oratory, the drama, and works of fiction, and critical productions upon any of these as themes. Such, at least, will be a sufficiently exact division for our purpose, although the student will find them overlapping each other’s domain occasionally, interchanging functions, and reciprocally serving for each other’s advantage. Thus it is no confusion of terms to speak of the poetry of science and of the science of poetry; and thus the great functions of the human mind, although scientifically distinct, co-operate in harmonious and reciprocal relations in their diverse and manifold productions. English Literature.—English Literature may then be considered as comprising the progressive productions of the English mind in the paths of imagination and taste, and is to be studied in the works of the poets, historians, dramatists, essayists, and romancers—a long line of brilliant names from the origin of the language to the present day. To the general reader all that is profitable in this study dates from the appearance of Chaucer, who has been justly styled the Father of English Poetry; and Chaucer even requires a glossary, as a considerable portion of his voc..."

You need to upgrade your Flash Player , or try to enable javascript in order see this document properly.