Philosophical Connections: Akenside, Neoclassicism, Romanticism

Neoclassical and Romantic verse cultures are often seen as opposing, but there are continuities between the two movements. Mark Akenside's Pleasures of Imagination offers a case study in the connections between the two, highlighting the poetic form of knowing that foregrounds feeling over fact and connects Neoclassicism and Romanticism.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 19 May 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Neoclassical and Romantic verse cultures are often perceived as being in opposition to one another, with the latter constituting a hostile response against the former. However, there exist numerous continuities between these two movements, which delve into the evolution of verse forms during the mid-eighteenth century. This Element suggests that the poet Mark Akenside, and his highly influential work, Pleasures of Imagination, serve as a case study highlighting the profound connections between Neoclassicism and Romanticism. Akenside's poem provides a crucial illustration of how verse rivaled philosophy during that period, offering a fresh perspective on philosophical issues related to appearance or how the world appears to be. Consequently, this leads to the emergence of a poetic form of knowledge: one that prioritizes emotion over fact, connects Neoclassicism and Romanticism, and which Akenside referred to as the pleasures of the imagination.

Neoclassical and Romantic verse cultures are often perceived as being in opposition to one another, with the latter constituting a hostile response against the former. However, there exist numerous continuities between these two movements, which delve into the evolution of verse forms during the mid-eighteenth century. This Element suggests that the poet Mark Akenside, and his highly influential work, Pleasures of Imagination, serve as a case study highlighting the profound connections between Neoclassicism and Romanticism. Akenside's poem provides a crucial illustration of how verse rivaled philosophy during that period, offering a fresh perspective on philosophical issues related to appearance or how the world appears to be. Consequently, this leads to the emergence of a poetic form of knowledge: one that prioritizes emotion over fact, connects Neoclassicism and Romanticism, and which Akenside referred to as the pleasures of the imagination.

Weight: 128g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009222976