The Breaking of the Circle. Studies in the Effect of the "New Science" Upon Seventeenth-Century Poetry.

Nicolson, Marjorie Hope:

Published by New York: Columbia University Press, 1962

About this Item

vii, 216 p. Der Buchrücken ist geklebt, der Einband ist leicht berieben, die Seiten sind papierbedingt nachgedunkelt, vereinzelte Bleistift-Anstreichungen, ansonsten ein gutes Exemplar. / The spine is glued, the cover is slightly rubbed, the pages have darkened due to the paper, there are a few pencil markings, but otherwise it is a good copy. -- CONTENTS -- Introduction -- "A Little World Made Cunningly" I. -- 2. The Circle of Perfection -- 3. The Death of a World -- 4. The Breaking of the Circle -- 5. Content and Aspiration -- Index -- (Publishing text:) "Violence," "discordance," "ostentation," "ingenious conceits"-these are the words that have dominated the criticism of the metaphysical poets and poetry from Samuel Johnson to T. S. Eliot. Johnson declared that the "authors of this race were perhaps more desirous of being admired than understood." Many of the modern critics, though more subtle and ofttimes more appreciative than Johnson, attribute the essential character of Donne's poetry, in particular, to a kind of intel- lectual perverseness. In this rewarding book, Marjorie Hope Nicolson, distinguished author, scholar, and teacher, asserts that an analysis of the diction, style, or logic alone does not reveal the deeper meaning of seventeenth- century poetry. She dispels the aura of misinterpretation surround- ing metaphysical poetry and considers the effect of the "new science" on the artistic and philosophical ideas of the poets. In an original and convincing manner she determines the impact of the scientific discov- eries of Copernicus, Kepler, Descartes and Harvey on the traditional outlook of the Renaissance which was epitomized by the Circle of Perfection. She traces the destruction of the Circle and discusses the. development of a new aesthetics of infinity. A special chapter called "Death of a World" illuminates the breaking of the Circle in John Donne's Anniversary Poems. Sprache: Englisch Gewicht in Gramm: 250.

Seller Inventory # 1264109

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Breaking of the Circle. Studies in the Effect of the "New Science" Upon Seventeenth-Century Poetry.
• Publisher: New York: Columbia University Press
• Publication Date: 1962
• Language: English
• Binding: Paperback.
• Edition: Revised Edition.
• Condition: Gut
• Weight: 250 grams
• Seller catalogs:
  • Literaturwissenschaft