S. P. Dubey English Studies

With Special Reference to the Second Edition of Lyrical Ballads (1800) Useful for UGC/NTA NET/ PGT/ Ph. D Entrance and PG Examinations  Table of Contents Introduction Historical Background Definition of Poetry Poetic Process Subject Matter of Poetry Language of Poetry Concept of the Poet Function of Poetry MCQs Answer Key I. Introduction William Wordsworth is regarded as one of the most influential literary critics of the Romantic age. His critical views are chiefly expressed in the Preface to the Second Edition of Lyrical Ballads (1800), which serves as a manifesto of Romantic literary theory. As a critic, Wordsworth reacted against the artificiality, rigid rules, and poetic diction of Neo-classical criticism. He emphasized emotion, imagination, simplicity, and a close relationship with nature as the true foundations of poetry. His ideas redefined the purpose, language, and subject matter of poetry, making him a pioneer of modern literar...

Table of Contents Introduction Background of the Essay Eliot’s Concept of Tradition The Historical Sense Tradition and the European Literary Canon The Role of the Individual Talent Impersonality of Poetry The Theory of the Catalyst (Chemical Analogy) Eliot’s View of Poetic Creation Critical Evaluation of the Essay MCQs with Answers 1. Introduction T. S. Eliot’s essay Tradition and the Individual Talent (1919) is one of the most influential critical statements of the twentieth century. It reshaped modern literary criticism by redefining the relationship between the poet, tradition, and poetic creation. Eliot challenges the Romantic idea that poetry is primarily an expression of personal emotion and instead emphasizes discipline, impersonality, and historical consciousness. Go to Top 2. Background of the Essay The essay was first published in The Egoist in 1919 and later included in The Sacred Wood (1920). Written in the context ...

 A Comprehensive Guide for PG and UGC-NET Students Samuel Taylor Coleridge occupies a central position in English literary criticism due to his profound philosophical interpretation of poetic creativity. His theory of Fancy and Imagination , articulated mainly in Biographia Literaria (1817), marks a decisive break from the mechanical view of poetry held by earlier critics. For PG and UGC-NET students, understanding this distinction is essential, as it frequently appears in examinations and forms the foundation of Romantic literary theory. Table of Contents Introduction Philosophical Background of Coleridge’s Theory Coleridge’s Concept of Fancy Coleridge’s Concept of Imagination Primary Imagination Secondary Imagination Difference Between Fancy and Imagination Imagination as the Essence of Poetry Critical Evaluation of Coleridge’s Theory Importance for UGC-NET and PG Students Conclusion Introduction Coleridge's theory of imagination is o...

Ecocriticism is an important contemporary approach in literary criticism that examines the relationship between literature and the physical environment. With increasing concerns about climate change, environmental degradation, and sustainability, ecocriticism has become one of the most relevant critical theories for students of literature, particularly at BA, MA, and UGC-NET levels. Table of Contents What is Ecocriticism? Ecocriticism Defined Historical Development of Ecocriticism Phases (Waves) of Ecocriticism Indian Scenario Indian Literature and Ecocritical Concerns Postcolonial Ecocriticism Conclusion What is Ecocriticism? Ecocriticism is a branch of literary criticism that examines the relationship between literature and the physical environment. It raises a fundamental question: how do literary texts represent nature, environmental crises, and human responsibility toward the natural world? Emerging prominently in the late...

Romanticism in English Literature Table of Contents I. Introduction II. Historical and Intellectual Background III. Salient Features of Romanticism IV. Major Romantic Poets V. Romantic Prose Writers VI. Romanticism in Fiction VII. MCQ: Romanticism Answer Key I. Introduction Romanticism in English literature was a powerful literary and intellectual movement that emerged in the late eighteenth century as a reaction against the rigid rules, rationalism, and formality of Neoclassicism. It emphasized emotion, imagination, and individual experience over reason and tradition. The movement is generally considered to have begun in 1798 with the publication of Lyrical Ballads by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge and lasted until about 1837. The Romantic writers sought inspiration from nature, rural life, and the inner world of human feelings. They rejected artificial poetic diction and preferred simple language drawn from common speech. Nature...