Poetic Form and Romantic Provocation

Critics have long understood the development of Romantic aesthetics as a turning point in literary theory, but much Romantic writing represents subjects as not in charge of their feelings, dreams, or actions. Poetic Form and Romantic Provocation argues that being moved contrary to one's will is an aesthetic phenomenon explored by Romantic poets whose experiments with poetic form and genre provoke unanticipated feelings through verse. By analyzing how Romantic poets intervene, affectively and aesthetically, in readerly expectations of form and genre, Mathes shows how provocations disrupt and invite, disturb and compel—interrupting or suspending or retreating in ways that ask readers to orient themselves, materially and socially, in relation to literary experiences that are at once virtual and embodied.

Format: Hardback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 30 May 2022
Publisher: Stanford University Press

Critics have long recognized the emergence of Romantic aesthetics as a pivotal moment in the evolution of literary theory, a shift that has left an indelible mark on our contemporary understanding of subjectivity and embodiment. However, the question of what aesthetic experience can truly accomplish remains at odds with the prevalent portrayal of subjects in Romantic writing as seemingly powerless over their emotions, dreams, and actions. In response to this conundrum, Poetic Form and Romantic Provocation presents a compelling argument that being moved against one's will is, in itself, an aesthetic phenomenon explored by Romantic poets through their innovative experiments with poetic form and genre. By delving into how these poets actively intervene, both affectively and aesthetically, in the reader's expectations of form and genre, Mathes demonstrates how provocations disrupt and invite, disturb and compel—interrupting, suspending, or retreating in ways that challenge readers to reorient themselves materially and socially in relation to literary experiences that are simultaneously virtual and embodied.

Examining the formal tactics employed by renowned Romantic poets such as Charlotte Smith, William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, John Keats, and Percy Bysshe Shelley, alongside their responses to historical events like Toussaint Louverture's revolt and the Peterloo Massacre, Mathes unveils that an aesthetics of radical openness holds a central place in the development of literary theory and criticism during Romantic Britain. Through his meticulous analysis, Mathes sheds light on the ways in which Romantic poets challenged conventional norms and pushed the boundaries of artistic expression, paving the way for new and innovative approaches to literature and criticism.

In conclusion, Poetic Form and Romantic Provocation offers a thought-provoking exploration of the complex relationship between aesthetic experience, subjectivity, and power in Romantic literature. By challenging our assumptions and prompting us to reevaluate our understanding of the role of the artist in shaping cultural and societal narratives, Mathes's work contributes to a deeper appreciation of the rich and multifaceted legacy of Romanticism.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781503630246