Romantic Criticism: Introduction Romantic criticism emerges as a powerful reaction against the rigid conventions of Neo-Classical thought, particularly those associated with critics like Samuel Johnson and earlier classical authorities such…
Johnson on Dramatic Unities and Shakespearean Drama This text discusses the topic of Johnson on Dramatic Unities and Shakespearean Drama. Samuel Johnson, in his Preface to Shakespeare, offers one of…
Dr. Johnson's Preface to Shakespeare (Critical Principles) Samuel Johnson occupies a central place in eighteenth-century English criticism. Dr. Johnson's Preface to Shakespeare (1765), written for his edition of the plays…
Sidney: Defense of Poetry and Imitation Philip Sidney wrote An Apology for Poetry (also called The Defence of Poesy) in the late sixteenth century. It stands as one of the…
US Economic Revolution In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the United States underwent what historians often call the Market Revolution or America’s or US Economic Revolution. This transformation…
How Did The New Republic of USA Stabilize Itself? The ratification of the Constitution in 1788 did not guarantee political stability in the new republic of USA. The United States…
What is Film or Cinema? Film, or cinema, is a visual medium that tells stories through moving images, sound, and editing. Unlike printed literature, which relies primarily on written language,…
Comparative and National Literature: Extrinsic Approaches The study of literature may proceed in two broad directions: inward towards the nation and outward towards the world. These directions correspond to the…
Key Constitutional Compromises After achieving independence, the United States faced a new challenge: how to govern itself effectively (so the key constitutional compromises). The Articles of Confederation, adopted in 1781,…
Causes of the American Revolution What Political and Economic Factors Led to Revolution? The American Revolution did not erupt suddenly in 1776. It was the result of escalating political conflict…
Geoffrey Chaucer Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343–1400) is often called the “Father of English Poetry.” He occupies a central position in the history of English literature because he helped establish English…
Literary Theory, Criticism, and History The study of literature rests on three interconnected foundations: literary theory, literary criticism, and literary history. Though related, these terms are not identical. Each performs…