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POETRY

Poetry as a Criticism of Life
Poetry is "the finer spirit of knowledge" (Wordsworth). The noble and profound application of ideas to life is the most essential part of poetic greatness. Thus, poetry is a powerful and beautiful application of ideas to life and to the questions how to live. However, Mathew Arnold criticizes this view (Preface to poems of 1853 which deals with the choice of subject in poetry) and points out that it is not that a poet should gratify us by adding to our knowledge. “This is required of him also that should add to our happiness.” This sense of happiness can be traced in Romantic Poetry of the early part of the 19th century, particularly in Keats’ fancy, Shelley’s mysticism and Wordsworth’s love of Nature.

Recent Trends
Recent modern trends enlarge the province of poetry—we recognize every subject to be fit enough for poetry. All subjects, however, rough, slight, common or intellectualized, are adjusted to the poetic will. But though we have gained in one way, we have lost in another—morality profundity or ‘altitude of the soul’ without which poetry can never rise to the greatest heights, even though it may be charming, fantastic, elegant or interesting. Thus modern poetry has grown into passionless poetry. In this age it is impossible to imagine such poems as Gray’s “Elegy”, Wordsworth’s ode “Ode to Immortality” or “The Prelude”, or Milton’s “Paradise Lost”; the modern poetry would not move upon the planes of Milton and Wordsworth. Consequently, it has become dull, because it fails to interpret, with inspired conviction, the ideas of the laws of the inward world of man’s moral and spiritual nature.

Brief Survey
From Chaucer’s time to Elizabethan, Augustan, Romantic, Victorian and Eliot age history of English literature provides an exciting account. Elizabethan stage is well-marked for drama and Shakespearean poetry (leaving aside his witty sonnets is, in essence, a part of his dramas Eighteenth century is the age of reason and cold skepticism, whereas the Romantic poetry of the early part of the 19th century unlocks the treasure house of human passions. Victorian age (second half of 19th century) depicts the revival of nationalism, and the poetry of that age depicts the age of discovery, patriotism and prosperity. In the wake of the 20th century, poetry, like play, gets devoted to social activities. It is a matter-of-fact poetry; even it is simple in style; it is called Blank Verse in which the rigidity of metre is not observed.

It is art for a mission; not art for art’s sake. It possesses a social and moral touch.

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