Attic Romanticism Reason And Imagination - 1705 Words

â€Å"Here, the lofty and highly much praised artistic achievement of Attic tragedy and the dramatic dithyramb presents itself before our eyes, as the common goal of both artistic drives, whose secret marriage partnership, after a long antecedent struggle, celebrated itself with such a child, simultaneously Antigone and Cassandra.† (Friedrich Nietzsche on the relationship between the Apollnian and Dionysian) How do both reason and imagination shape poetry? Reason and Imagination are two concepts that seem opposed to one another. Reason is the ability of humans to make sense of things, and is grounded in reality while Imagination is a more abstract concept that is variously described as recreating experiences without them physically occurring,†¦show more content†¦Shelley argues against this, putting forth that â€Å"whatever strengthens and purifies the affections, enlarges the imagination, and adds spirit to sense, is useful† defending Imagination as a basis for poetry since he is able to exemplify the positive effect Imagination has on art forms. Friedrich Nietzsche held similar views on how Reason and Imagination shape a literary work to Shelley (though Nietzsche’s views on Reason without Imagination are perhaps more extreme than Shelley’s), dividing them into his own unique categories: the Apollonian and the Dionysian. Reason is represented by the Apollonian as the â€Å"the art of the sculptor† in that it produces something ordered and tangible, much as reason does, while Imagination is represented by the Dionysian as something â€Å"with which we will become best acquainted through the analogy of intoxication†, in that it is chaotic and abstract. Like Shelley, Nietzsche believes the downfall of Greek Tragedy came when Reason began to surpass Imagination. For both writers, Reason must be the basis of the ideas, and Imagination must â€Å"colour them with its own light†. Without Imagination, or the Dionysian, Poetry and other literary works are a realistic mimicking of â€Å"thoughts and emotions devoid of any trace of the ether of art†. It is clear from this that while Nietzsche believes the ApollonianShow MoreRelatedJohn Keats: Ode on a Grecian Urn1778 Words   |  7 PagesJohn Keats: Ode on a Grecian Urn Ode on a Grecian Urn is one of the most emblematic poems of the English Romanticism written by John Keats. The urn acts as a time machine which guides the poetic persona into the antique Greek culture, which faded into oblivion and obscurity throughout the centuries. However this urn still captures the essence of this ancient yet golden age. John Keats is one of the most celebrated English romantic poets. He is often called as the Poet of Beauty, becauseRead More Women’s Self-Discovery During Late American Romanticism / Early Realism3300 Words   |  14 Pagesbeen successfully done over and over by men. Even though these men write convincingly about a woman’s thoughts and feelings there’s no way they will really ever know. Based on a critical essay, The Madwoman in the Attic: The Woman writer and the Nineteenth century Literary Imagination the authors state that â€Å"Unlike her male counterpart, then, the female artist must first struggle against the effects of a socialization which makes conflict with the will of her (male) precursors seem inexpressiblyRead MoreJane Austen’s Novels and the Contemporary Social and Literary Conventions.12979 Words   |  52 Pagesvarious aspects. It means that women are deprived of free will and individuality, bearing in mind the simple aim: attractin g a suitable man who would be the one to â€Å"govern her† (Dobosiewicz 45). 1.4. Characteristics of ideal female features The reason of inventing the universal ideal of womanhood is for Dobosiewicz, clearly visible. Using Fordyce’s own words that the purpose of his work is to establish â€Å" what a woman should beâ€Å", she confirms the fact that a great deal of males pursue to achieveRead MoreCleanth Brookss Essay Irony as a Principle of Structure9125 Words   |  37 Pagesconcerning the duration and tempo of the revolution. The reader should not, therefore, look to these essays for a complete scientific system. Despite this the book does have a definite unity. This will be found in the sequence of the essays, which for this reason are best read in the order proposed. However, it would perhaps be advisable for readers unversed in philosophy to put off the chapter on reification to the very end. A few words of explanation — superfluous for many readers perhaps — are due for