This blog task is assigned by prakruti Bhatt Ma'am (Department of English, MKBU).
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
The Transitional Nature of Late 18th Century Poetry
The term “transitional” refers to something that belongs to a period of change, acting as a bridge between two distinct stages of development. In literature, it denotes the movement from one age or style to another, where old conventions gradually give way to new ideas. Late 18th-century English poetry is often called transitional because it stands between the rational, orderly spirit of the Neoclassical Age and the imaginative, emotional outpourings of the Romantic Movement.
What Does “Transitional” Mean in Poetry?
In poetry, “transitional” means that the work reflects features of the earlier tradition while also foreshadowing elements of a new era. It does not fully belong to either side but carries the flavor of both, making it a literary “in-between space.”
Aspects of Late 18th-Century Poetry That Are Transitional
1. Blend of Reason and Emotion
Neoclassical poetry stressed reason, order, and decorum, while Romantic poetry emphasized personal feelings and imagination. Transitional poets such as Thomas Gray, William Cowper, James Thomson, and Oliver Goldsmith combined rational clarity with a growing sensitivity to emotion and nature.
2. Shift Towards Subjectivity
The late 18th century saw poets turning inward. The “Graveyard School of Poetry” (Gray’s Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard) explored themes of melancholy, death, and human destiny—subjects that foreshadowed the Romantic concern with personal experience and deep emotions.
3. Emergence of Nature Poetry
While Neoclassicists viewed nature in a polished, artificial manner, transitional poets began to see nature as a living force and a source of moral and spiritual reflection. James Thomson’s The Seasons and Cowper’s The Task marked a move towards the Romantic celebration of nature.
4. Simple and Reflective Style
Unlike the ornate and witty style of Pope, transitional poets used a plainer, softer, and more reflective diction. This simplicity paved the way for Wordsworth’s poetic theory of using “language of common men.”
5. Humanitarian and Social Themes
The age witnessed the beginnings of humanitarian ideals, with poetry reflecting sympathy for the poor and oppressed. Goldsmith’s The Deserted Village expressed concern for rural life and social injustice, anticipating the Romantic poets’ interest in the common man.
Conclusion
The late 18th century was a bridge between the Age of Reason and the Age of Imagination. Its poetry cannot be confined strictly to the Neoclassical or the Romantic tradition, but instead bears the qualities of both. This makes it rightly called transitional poetry, marking a moment of literary transformation where the seeds of Romanticism were sown.
Thomas Gray’s Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard as Transitional Poetry
The late 18th century in English literature is often described as a transitional phase—a period that bridged the gap between the Neoclassical Age of order, wit, and reason, and the Romantic Age of imagination, emotion, and nature. Among the poets of this in-between period, Thomas Gray holds a significant place. His most celebrated work, Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard (1751), perfectly illustrates the transitional character of the poetry of this era.
Neoclassical Traits in Gray’s Elegy
Gray’s poem retains many features of the Neoclassical tradition:
Form and Structure: The poem is written in heroic quatrains (iambic pentameter with ABAB rhyme), reflecting the Neoclassical concern with balance, order, and harmony.
Moral Reflection: Like Augustan poets, Gray uses his verse to deliver a universal truth—that death is the great leveler, sparing neither the rich nor the poor. His famous line, “The paths of glory lead but to the grave”, carries the didactic tone typical of Neoclassical poetry.
Calm Reasoning: Even while contemplating death, Gray maintains a controlled, reflective style rather than indulging in wild passions.
Romantic Elements in Gray’s Elegy
Yet, what makes the poem “transitional” is its anticipation of Romantic ideals:
Emotion and Melancholy: The poem dwells on feelings of loss, mortality, and human destiny, moving beyond reason into the realm of personal and emotional reflection.
Celebration of the Common Man: Instead of praising kings and nobles, Gray honors the quiet lives of the rural poor, whose virtues and struggles deserve remembrance. This democratic spirit foreshadows the Romantic emphasis on ordinary people.
Nature as Inspiration: Gray sets his meditation in a quiet rural churchyard, where “the curfew tolls the knell of parting day” and “the moping owl does to the moon complain.” Nature here is not a mere backdrop but a source of mood, symbolism, and philosophical reflection—very much in the Romantic spirit.
Conclusion
Thomas Gray’s Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard is the finest example of transitional poetry. It fuses the discipline of Neoclassicism with the emotional depth and natural imagery of Romanticism. The poem thus stands at the crossroads of two great literary movements, marking the gradual shift from an age of reason to an age of feeling. Gray, in this sense, is not just a poet of his time but a herald of the Romantic era that was to follow.
Robert Burns and the Historical Context of His Poetry
Robert Burns (1759–1796), often called the “National Bard of Scotland,” wrote poetry that was deeply rooted in the historical, political, and social context of his time. Living in the late 18th century, Burns witnessed a period of dramatic change—the Scottish Enlightenment, agrarian shifts, rising industrialism, and revolutionary ideas from abroad—all of which shaped the themes, language, and spirit of his poetry.
1. The Scottish Enlightenment and Vernacular Tradition
Burns lived during the Scottish Enlightenment, when ideas of reason, progress, and education were spreading. Yet, unlike many of his contemporaries who wrote in polished English, Burns proudly celebrated Scots vernacular language and folk traditions. His use of Scottish dialect in poems such as To a Mouse and Auld Lang Syne reflects his effort to preserve the cultural identity of Scotland at a time when Anglicization threatened it.
2. Agrarian Change and Rural Life
Burns grew up as a farmer and experienced the hardships of rural labor. The Agricultural Revolution was transforming the Scottish countryside, often displacing small farmers. Poems like The Cotter’s Saturday Night and To a Mouse highlight his sympathy for the working class and his awareness of the vulnerability of rural life. His poetry captures the dignity, struggles, and simple joys of ordinary people.
3. Revolutionary Spirit and Political Radicalism
The late 18th century was marked by the American Revolution (1776) and the French Revolution (1789). These events inspired democratic and egalitarian ideals that influenced Burns’s poetry. His famous poem A Man’s a Man for A’ That expresses a belief in equality and human dignity, challenging class privilege and aristocratic authority. Burns’s sympathy with revolutionary ideals made him a voice of social justice and liberty.
4. Celebration of Nature and Humanity
In an age moving toward industrialism, Burns’s poetry reflects a Romantic love of nature. His tender address to a field mouse in To a Mouse or a louse in To a Louse shows both humility and humor, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all creatures. This sensitivity grew from his rural background and resonates with the broader Romantic spirit emerging in Europe.
Conclusion
Robert Burns’s poetry cannot be separated from the historical context in which it was created. The Scottish Enlightenment, agrarian struggles, revolutionary ideals, and cultural pride all left their mark on his verses. By blending local tradition with universal human concerns, Burns not only became the voice of Scotland but also an early herald of Romanticism. His poetry remains timeless because it captures both the spirit of his age and the enduring values of humanity.
Anthropomorphism in Robert Burns’ To a Mouse
Robert Burns’ To a Mouse (1785) is one of the most celebrated poems in English literature for its simplicity, compassion, and universal message. Written after Burns accidentally destroyed a mouse’s nest while ploughing, the poem explores the fragile bond between humans and animals. A key literary device that shapes the poem is anthropomorphism—the attribution of human feelings, emotions, and intentions to non-human creatures.
Understanding Anthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism allows poets to bridge the gap between human experience and the natural world. By giving animals human qualities, a poet can create sympathy, highlight moral lessons, and comment on universal truths of life. In To a Mouse, Burns does not treat the mouse as a mere animal but as a fellow being, capable of fear, planning, and suffering.
Anthropomorphism in To a Mouse
1. Direct Address to the Mouse
The entire poem is framed as a conversation between the poet and the mouse. Burns speaks to it as though it were a neighbor or a friend: “Wee, sleekit, cow’rin, tim’rous beastie.” This direct address humanizes the creature, making it relatable to the reader.
2. Attributing Emotions
Burns ascribes human emotions to the mouse—fear, anxiety, and distress—when its nest is destroyed. The poet imagines the mouse as “panicked” and “shaken,” much like a human losing a home.
3. The Idea of Planning and Futurity
One of the most striking anthropomorphic elements comes when Burns suggests that the mouse had carefully prepared its nest for winter, just as humans plan for the future. The famous line—“The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft agley”—places the mouse and human on equal footing, both vulnerable to fate and uncertainty.
4. Shared Condition of Mortality
Burns reflects on the universal suffering of all living beings. He sympathizes with the mouse’s present hardship but admits that humans, unlike animals, also suffer from regret over the past and anxiety for the future. In this way, the anthropomorphic mouse becomes a mirror for human vulnerability.
Conclusion
Through anthropomorphism, Robert Burns transforms a small, frightened field mouse into a symbol of shared existence. The poem reminds us that humans and animals alike are subject to the unpredictability of life. By giving the mouse human qualities, Burns not only awakens compassion in the reader but also expresses a timeless truth: in the face of nature and fate, all living creatures are equals.
Reference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Gray
Source: Wikipedia https://share.google/FhEsr4NSQcRz0gC3L
