History of English Literature

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CHAPTER V.

Swift.

Swift's debut-Character-Pride-Sensitiveness—

His life in Sir William Temple's house-At

Lord Berkeley's-Political life - Influence-

Failure-Private life-Lovemaking- Despair

and insanity.

II. His wit-His power, and its limits-Prosaic and

positive mind-Holding a position between vul-

garity and genius-Why destructive

III. The pamphleteer-How literature now concerns itself

with politics-Difference of parties and pamphlets

in France and England-Conditions of the

literary pamphlet-Of the effective pamphlet―

Special and practical pamphlets-The Examiner

-The Drapier's Letters A Short Character of

Thomas Earl of Wharton-An Argument against

Abolishing Christianity-Political invective-

Personal defamation-Incisive common sense-

Grave irony.

IV. The poet-Comparison of Swift and Voltaire-
Gravity and harshness of his jests-Bickerstaff-

198

210

214

Coarseness of his gallantry-Cadenus and Vanessa
-His prosaic and realistic poetry-The Grand
Question Debated-Energy and sadness of his
shorter poems-Verses on his own Death-His

excesses

v. The narrator and philosopher-A Tale of a Tub-His
opinion on religion, science, philosophy and
reason-How he maligns human intelligence-
Gulliver's Travels - His opinion on society,
government, rank, and professions-How he
maligns human nature-Last pamphlets-Com-
position of his character and genius.

CHAPTER VI.

The Novelists.

II. De Foe-His life-Energy, devotion, his share in

politics-Spirit-Difference of old and modern

realists Works- - Career

Aim Robinson

Crusoe How this character is English-Inner
enthusiasm Obstinate will-Patience in work
-Methodical common sense-Religious emotions
-Final piety

III. Circumstances which gave rise to the novels of the

eighteenth century-All these novels are moral

fictions and studies of character-Connection of

the essay and the novel-Two principal notions

in morality-How they produce two kinds of

novels.

IV. Richardson-Condition and character-Connection

of his perspicacity and his rigour-Talent, min-

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268

VI.

uteness, combinations-Pamela Her mood-

Principles-The English wife-Clarissa Harlowe

-The Harlowe family-Despotic and unsociable

characteristics in England-Lovelace-Haughty

and militant characteristics in England-Clarissa

-Her energy, coolness, logic-Her pedantry and

scruples-Sir Charles Grandison-Incongruities of

automatic and edifying heroes-Richardson as a

preacher-Prolixity, prudery, emphasis.

Fielding-Mood, character, and life-Joseph An-

drews-His conception of nature-Tom Jones-

Character of the squire-Fielding's heroes-

Amelia-Faults in her conception

Smollett-Roderick Random-Peregrine Pickle-Com-

parison of Smollett and Le Sage-Conception of

life-Harshness of his heroes-Coarseness of his

pictures Standing out of his characters

Humphrey Clinker.

VII. Sterne-Excessive study of human particularities-

Sterne's character-Eccentricity-Sensibility-

Obscenity-Why he depicts the diseases and

degeneracies of human nature.

VIII. Goldsmith-Purification of the novel-Picture of

citizen life, upright happiness, Protestant virtue

-The Vicar of Wakefield-The English clergy-

IX.

man

Samuel Johnson-His authority-Person-Manners

-Life-Doctrines-His opinion about Voltaire

and Rousseau-Style-Works

Hogarth-Moral and realistic painting-Contrast

of English temperament and morality-How

morality has disciplined temperament

CHAPTER VII.

The Poets.

PAGE

| I.

¡ II.

IV.

Rule and realm of the classical spirit-Its char-
acters, works, scope, and limits - How it is
centred in Pope

Pope-Education-Precocity-Beginnings-Pas-

Essay on Criticism

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Personal

toral poems
appearance-Mode of life-Character-Medio-
crity of his passions and ideas-Largeness of his
vanity and talent - Independent fortune and
assiduous labour
Epistle of Eloisa to Abelard-What the passions
become in artificial poetry-The Rape of the Lock
-Society and the language of society in France
and England-Wherein Pope's badinage is pain-
ful and displeasing-The Dunciad-Obscenity
and vulgarities-Wherein the English imagina-
tion and drawing-room wit are irreconcilable
Descriptive talent-Oratorical talent - Didactic
poems-Why these poems are the final work of
the classical spirit-The Essay on Man-His
deism and optimism-Value of his conceptions
-How they are connected with the dominant
style-How they are deformed in Pope's hands
Methods and perfection of his style-Excellence
of his portraits-Why they are superior-Trans-
lation of the Iliad-Change of taste during the
past century
Incongruity of the English mind and the classical
decorum-Prior-Gay-Ancient pastoral impos-
sible in northern climates-Conception of the
country natural in England-Thomson