Mythic Archetypes in Ralph Waldo Emerson (Hardcover)

Richard R. O'Keefe

ISBN 10: 0873385187 / ISBN 13: 9780873385183

Published by Kent State University Press, Kent, OH, 1995

About this Item

Hardcover. Mythic Archetypes in Ralph Waldo Emerson explores the American writers essays as mythic prose poems, suggesting a new approach to the practical criticism of Emersons works. Richard OKeefe uses the archetypal modela critical tool seldom employed on American Romantics, yet frequently applied in the study of British Romantic poets such as William Blaketo contemporize methods of examining Emersonian texts. Blake and Emerson, both products of a Christian culture, found themselves forceda generation apart and quite independentlyto redefine and reinterpret the traditional body of Christian myth they had inherited. Concentrating on the Romantic, prophetic voice in Emersons writings, OKeefe discovers an American version of Blakes fourfold myth of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Apocalypse. The presence of these recurrent mythic metaphors leads him to conclude that Emerson appears less as a Transcendental sage and more as a radical existential poet, visionary, and prophet. OKeefe presents a balanced selection of works from Emersons early and late career and provides particularly insightful readings of Circle and the Divinity School Address. His innovative study will be of value to scholars of Emerson, Blake, and American romanticism as well as to critical theorists and comparative literature specialists. This work explores Ralph Waldo Emerson's essays as mythic prose poems, suggesting a new approach to the practical criticism of his works. It presents a balanced selection of works from Emerson's early and late career and provides insightful readings of ""Circles"" and the Divinity School ""Address"". Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780873385183

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Mythic Archetypes in Ralph Waldo Emerson (Hardcover)
• Publisher: Kent State University Press, Kent, OH
• Publication Date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0873385187
• ISBN 13: 9780873385183
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Mythic Archetypes in Ralph Waldo Emerson explores the American writer’s essays as mythic prose poems, suggesting a new approach to the practical criticism of Emerson’s works. Richard O’Keefe uses the archetypal model―a critical tool seldom employed on American Romantics, yet frequently applied in the study of British Romantic poets such as William Blake―to contemporize methods of examining Emersonian texts. Blake and Emerson, both products of a Christian culture, found themselves forced―a generation apart and quite independently―to redefine and reinterpret the traditional body of Christian myth they had inherited. Concentrating on the Romantic, prophetic voice in Emerson’s writings, O’Keefe discovers an American version of Blake’s fourfold myth of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Apocalypse. The presence of these recurrent mythic metaphors leads him to conclude that Emerson appears less as a Transcendental sage and more as a radical existential poet, visionary, and prophet. O’Keefe presents a balanced selection of works from Emerson’s early and late career and provides particularly insightful readings of “Circle” and the Divinity School “Address.” His innovative study will be of value to scholars of Emerson, Blake, and American romanticism as well as to critical theorists and comparative literature specialists.

From the Back Cover

Mythic Archetypes in Ralph Waldo Emerson explores the American writer's essays as mythic prose poems, suggesting a new approach to the practical criticism of Emerson's works. Richard O'Keefe uses the archetypal model - a critical tool seldom employed on American Romantics, yet frequently applied in the study of British Romantic poets such as William Blake - to contemporize methods of examining Emersonian texts.