English Literature and Society in the Eighteenth Century

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

21123

Title

English Literature and Society in the Eighteenth Century

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Leslie Stephen's Ford Lectures explore the reciprocal relationship between eighteenth-century English literature and social history. The text argues that literature reflects the 'spirit of the age,' tracing the shift from aristocratic wit to middle-class realism and Romanticism. It examines how social conditions, political shifts, and philosophical movements shaped literary forms, offering a historical critique that values literature as a vital expression of human thought and passion.

Summary up to 500 words

In his 1903 Ford Lectures, Leslie Stephen presents a comprehensive survey of English literature and society from 1714 to the late eighteenth century, arguing that literature must be understood as a manifestation of the 'spirit of the age' rather than a mere collection of isolated masterpieces. Stephen insists that philosophy and literature are determined by social position and practical conditions, not just abstract logic. The narrative begins with the literary dominance of the aristocracy under Queen Anne, epitomized by Alexander Pope. Stephen analyzes Pope not just as a poet but as the 'authorised interpreter' of the upper class, whose satires and deistic verses reflected the cynical, polished morality of the elite. He contrasts this with the emerging middle-class values seen in the works of Richardson and Fielding, where literature became a vehicle for 'common sense' and moral instruction rather than aristocratic wit. A significant portion of the argument addresses the 'Ossian craze' and the revival of interest in ballads and local legends. Stephen interprets this not as mere nostalgia but as a symptom of deep dissatisfaction with rationalist deism and a desire for emotional and imaginative expression. He highlights the rise of provincial intellectual centers, particularly in Scotland, where figures like Burns and Adam Smith contributed to a new cultural vitality. Burns is celebrated as the embodiment of the Scottish genius, representing a spontaneous, masculine vigor that transcended literary conventions. The text further explores the transition to Romanticism through the works of Scott, Wordsworth, and Coleridge. Scott is described as a reactionary patriot who made the past alive while illuminating the present as an outgrowth of tradition. Wordsworth is presented as seeking the language of the unsophisticated peasant, while Coleridge introduces a mystical element, viewing nature as a divine symbolism rather than a dead mechanism. Stephen concludes that the history of the period illustrates a gradual displacement of aristocratic culture by the middle and working classes. The 'return to Nature' evolves from a call for rational simplicity to a demand for the reconstruction of the social and philosophical fabric. Ultimately, the lectures assert that great literature requires a people behind it, serving as a genuine creation of the times rather than a survival of antiquated conventions.

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Categories

• English Literature
• Social History