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A Study Of The Color And Imagery Of The Poetry Of William Morris, Kenneth Hugh Byron

Master's Theses

The artistic development of William Morris (1834•1896), dictated by an extreme sensitiveness to color and craftsmanship is almost wholly contained in the first well-defined period of his life. Until 1877 Morris was principally concerned with poetry and the fine arts, and from that time he concentrated on combating the rise of drabness, the result of Victorian capitalism, and worked for the cause of social reform. However,despite the great variety of Morris' achievements a unity was maintained in his love of beauty for its own sake. The scope of this paper, then, is limited to the first period of his life. …

A Reconstruction Of The Utopia Of William Morris From His Later Prose Romances, Edagr Fitz Randolph Erdman

Master's Theses

In her book, William Morris, Medievalist Revolutionary, Margaret R. Grennan says, "What the invention of the telescope did for space in the seventeenth century, the sense of the past accomplished for time in the nineteenth." In- other words, this "sense of the past, " though not a mechanical instrument like the telescope, nor aimed at discoveries within the realm of physical science, nevertheless served such men as Carlyle, Ruskin, Arnold, and Newman in much the same fashion as the telescope had served Galileo and Kepler some two hundred years earlier. If not renowned natural scientists, Carlyle, Ruskin, Arnold, and …

A Study Of The Moral Tone Of Restoration Comedy, Herbert Robinson Blackwell

Master's Theses

The so called "Restoration period" in English literature stands as an age of comic production that ranks as one of the most brilliant in the history of the English stage, second perhaps only to the preceding Elizabethan period. Restoration comedy has been famed for its indecency and immorality, and critical Judgment has always been influenced by concern over the "excesses" which the playwrights introduced into their works.

Morality is a relative term. What is sinful in one age is commonly accepted in another. Semantic differences may cause different moral connotations to be placed on certain words. Thus, in considering whether …

Religion In The Life And Works Of Longfellow, Morris Edward Cather

Master's Theses

An author's work is generally colored by the presence or the lack of religious convictions. The poetry and prose of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow indicate a deep-seated faith in God. Although this faith is most clearly manifested in the works of the man, its source is found in the life and character of the poet himself. It is the aim of this paper to discover the various contributing factors, to ascertain their effect upon the poet and his writings, and to draw certain conclusions concerning his religious faith.

Theatrical Criticism Of Addison And Steele, Virginia Marion Lewis

Master's Theses

The purpose of this paper in to bring together in one body all, or as many as possible, of the references made by Addison and Steele to the theater in The Tatler, The Spectator, and Tho Guardian. In order to do this, it has been necessary to scan all of the papers included in these three periodicals to find those which contained a mention of the theater, for only rarely did Addison or Steele devote an entire paper to any one subject. It is hoped, therefore, that in going through these essays no significant comments on the theater have been …

A Study Of Chaucer's Influence On English Literature Through Dryden, Elder Blair Apperson

Master's Theses

Geoffrey Chaucer is one of the greatest poets of our English literature. If Shakespeare stands apart as our greatest, then it is John Milton who must dispute with Chaucer the honor of second place. Milton undoubtedly surpasses Chaucer in the grandeur of his imagination and the sublimity or his poetic style; but "he cannot equal him in the range and variety of his art." On one hand we have Chaucer, the grave and serious poet.always keenly conscious that "our human life is a shifting quicksand of mutability, that lasting happiness can never be our earthly portion;" whereas we have but …

A Study Of Tennyson's Historical Trilogy, Robert Caudius Markham

Master's Theses

Although Alfred Tennyson ls not one of the great dramatists of English Literature. I feel that a study of his historic trilogy is worthwhile and beneficial. Probably we shall never understand completely the mystery of his turning to the form of the drama at the age of sixty-five. We can, however, recognize his growth and development in this field of literature and perceive hie political fervor and religious opinion from the trilogy.

The purpose of this work is to present a study of Tennyson's trilogy demonstrating the degree of dramatic development he achieved.

The Treatment Of Animals In Poetry From Pope To Wordsworth, David Kingsley Johnston

Master's Theses

The general topic of the treatment of Nature in poetry has be­come somewhat shopworn . Miss Reynolds' excellent coverage of that transitional period from Pope to Wordsworth has crossed the lending library desk into the hands of students and interested readers many times. Her effort is one of the first to reveal in a scholarly fashion a love or Nature and the manners of its expression.

Myra Reynolds considers all aspects of Nature. She seems to leave no stone of intonation unturned. In stating the paramount characteristics of the treatment of Nature as handled by the classical poets, she notes …

F. Scott Fitzgerald : His Materials And His Methods, Clifton Lanier Warren

Master's Theses

From the time I was first introduced to Fitzgerald's writing through a reading of This Side of Paradise, when I was a freshman in college, his subject matter and technique as a novelist have interested me intensely. After reading the first novel, I was not satisfied until I had voraciously read his other novels. With each reading of another of his books, my interest increased. Later, when Mizener's valuable biography appeared, I was introduced to Fitzgerald the man and have found his life as fascinating as his writings. However I felt that none of the books about Fitzgerald completely presented …

Tennessee Williams And The Tragic Tradition, Edgar E. Macdonald

Master's Theses

This thesis is an attempt to ascertain to what extent Tennessee Williams has accepted or rejected traditional precepts, concepts, and symbolism in the theatre.

Inasmuch as his dramas reanimate certain older forms with newer freedom, it is thought by many that he is changing the direction of the modem theatre. Just as Ibsen at one time rebelled against the conventions of romanticism, thereby founding a new school of thought in drama, today Tennessee Williams is leading a revolt against tho restrictions of realism. It is hoped that an analysis of his work at this time will help to determine the …

A Comparison Of The Uses Of Astrology In The Works Of John Gower And Geoffrey Chaucer, George Rufus Wyatt Jr.

Master's Theses

The literary interest in astrology which had been gradually increasing during the fourteenth century in England, culminated in the works of Geoffrey Chaucer and John Gower. It is not surprising that these two poets have used astrology very extensively in writing stories for their medieval audiences since the average man in the Middles Ages believed that life depended upon the influences of the seven planets in their positions in the zodiac. It is the purpose of this thesis to present a comparison of the uses of the astrological material in the works of Geoffrey Chaucer and John Gower. In this …

Art And Religion In Milton's Critical Theory, Otto Leonhart Brenner

Master's Theses

Unquestionably, behind Milton's writings stands his critical theory. Without it he could never have been great. His ability to select what was basic in the production of art was a prime factor in giving him the remarkable proficiency and power he displays in handling poetic forms in such a way that they ideally represent the thought and emotions experienced in nature.

A Survey Of The Critical Opinion Concerning The Effect Of Edgar Allan Poe's Life Upon His Literary Work, Alice Mary Griffith

Master's Theses

In this thesis I hope to present a picture of the effect the life of Edgar Allan Poe had upon his writing. Poe was and still is a controversial figure. Many of his biographers and critics agree that the illnesses and deaths of those dearest to him and the constant pressure of outer tragic circumstances played a great part in what he put down upon paper. Others feel his drinking and dope-taking colored his outpourings. There is much emphasis placed upon his childhood days in England. Some attention is paid to his life in Richmond as a boy. There are …

Ernest Hemingway, A Writer Of Episodes, Robert Alexander Chermside Jr.

Master's Theses

In this thesis my purpose is to analyze and review some of Hemingway's episodes and short scenes, which I believe to be his most valuable work, in order that their value may become evident. I then intend to show that the author's novels are in most cases dependent on these episodes for their literary success. In accomplishing this, it would be useless to consider everything Hemingway has written. I shall deal only with his fiction and shall confine myself to selections which most amply illustrate my point.

A Treatment Of Plant Life In Eighteenth-Century Poetry, William Melvin Maxey

Master's Theses

A critic of English literature, writing about nature in poetry, has said that the subject-matter ot poetry may be divided into three main groups: man, God, and nature. This paper is primarily concerned with the last division, and more especially with a treatment of plant life in eighteenth-century poetry. Such a treatment must of necessity require wide reading and careful selection of the material to be covered, since the chief aim of the writer is to present the subject in such a manner that it is representative of the whole period of English poetry from 1700 to 1800.

An Introduction To The Poetry Of T.S. Eliot : A Selective Handbook, Jean Katherine Collins

Master's Theses

T. S. Eliot, one of the most discussed poets of our time, has registered a deep and sincere concern for the plight of modern society. That concern is mirrored in his poetry where he has spoken his message to those who will hear it. He seems to have put a supersensitive finger on the pulse of the world's ills, and has suggested what he believes to be the only solution.

Ellen Glasgow's Virginia : The Background Of Her Novels, Ruth Jones Wilkins

Master's Theses

Ellen Glasgow's native state, the Commonwealth of Virginia, was a constituent portion of her. "I am Virginian in every drop of my blood and pulse of my heart...," she said. With her Virginia she wove a rich background for her novels. At times the cloth was homespun like the background of the Burrs in THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE; at other times it was of a finer texture as in VIRGINIA; yet again it was a rich tapestry for people like the Archibalds in THE SHELTERED LIFE.

Ellen Glasgow has contributed to world literature, in polished, exquisite form, an unbiased …

From Limbo To The World Of Light : An Examination Of The Novels Of Aldous Huxley, Walter A. Bass

Master's Theses

The line between literature and philosophy is not sharply defined, and it is never quite certain where one leaves off end the other begins. It is possible to avoid the problem altogether, if it is a problem. The Critique of Pure Reason is convincing proof that literary considerations may be avoided entirely in philosophic writing. Poe championed the other extreme, but the isolation of literature has not often been successful, and on the whole, it is perhaps justifiable to claim that literature must be a criticism of life; that is, it must have philosophic content.

From the critical point of …

The Travels Of Lord Byron, Maxwell Rock Schools

Master's Theses

It is the purpose of this work to present a concise manner the record of the travels of Lord Byron. His travels are the most important part of his life, because he spent the major part of his adult life in foreign lands, and his journeys are responsible for his great poetic creations.

Thomas Hood : Poet, Social Thinker, Comedian, Ernest W. Mooney Jr

Master's Theses

Although Thomas Hood lived an uneventful and somewhat undramatic life, it was not entirely fruitless. His unparalleled misfortune in health and economy was scarcely offset by a felicitous family life; but his poetry--some inane, some mediocre, some excellent--balanced an otherwise pathetic existence. There has been no conscious attempt in this paper to present Thomas as an undiscovered genius. His works and his life have been evaluated for their peculiar merit alone, but a study of those has revealed points hitherto vague and misunderstood as well as forgotten.

As a writer of unmitigated fun, Thomas Hood is hardly excelled. Where he …

A Comparison Of Walt Whitman And Carl Sandburg, Henrietta Sadler

Master's Theses

Walt Whitman and Carl Sandburg - two men from different sections of the country, from different centuries - have captured the heart of life. They have sung bravely the songs which guide men to the best of life. They saw the good in the evil, and they were willing to accept the evil so that they might have its good. But they were not content to lot the evil remain - the evil of man's inhumanity to man must be abolished. The two poets have taken the powerful medium of poetry and with steady words and strong sentences they have …

Political Pamphleteers Of Pre-Revolutionary Virginia, 1750-1775, Mary Thompson Clary

Master's Theses

Available material tor the study of the political pamphlet literature of Virginia during the quarter century preceding the Revolution are considerably scattered due, in part, to the fact that the Library of Congress has stored for the duration of the war many rare items of its collections.

Ambrose Bierce, Walter Richardson Hudgins

Master's Theses

While Bierce is not a great writer, when compared with the really great, he has a peculiar fascination for a select group of readers. And his fame will live more by change than by any general public acclaim. Like many others, I first became acquainted with him purely by accident. Since then I have come to know him better through desire.

Of the scores of people I have asked to give their reaction to Bierce, scacely more than a half dozen professed any knowledge that such a person ever existed. This much I noticed: All of the people who knew …

De Quincey And The Lake Poets, Samuel Abraham Cohen

Master's Theses

I feel that an investigation into the friend­ ships between each of the Lake Poets and DeQuincey is worthwhile. The intercourse of these great personalities and the effects they produced on one another are sources of valuable information . It will be the object of this study to present the personal and social lives of the Lake Poets and their devotee, with a view of finding contributions and detractions made to each other by this association.

The Element Of Experience In The Poetry Of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Bernard Marshall White-Hurst

Master's Theses

Coleridge is generally recognized as a highly imaginative poet. Students are too prone therefore to regard his poetry as directly the product of his active imagination. It is the object of this study to show instead that his poetry is based largely upon his actual experiences. I have attempted to demonstrate this fact by giving supply the facts of Coleridge's life, as fully in detail as I have been able to ascertain them, and by correlating them with certain references and materials in his poems. The selections have been grouped according to biographical chronology rather than sequences of composition, which …

Thomas Edward Brown's Narrative Poetry, Kenneth Reynders Erfft

Master's Theses

This thesis presents a study ot the narrative poetry of Thomas Edward Brown. A sincere effort has been made to keep the original aspects of the study free from those prejudices which spring from an admiration for a writer like Brown. My aim has bean to stress those aspect of Brawn's narrative work upon which he claim or distinction as a writer or narrative poetry depend.