A discussion of the figure of John Ruskin in British and American poetry. While John Ruskin’s theories on art, architecture and social life may have had an immediate and noticeable impact in his own day, they did not in fact alter the general trends in these fields. Ruskin seems destined to have made his mark – in literature, at any rate – more as a picturesque character than as the oracular prophet he deemed himself to be. This is particularly true with regard to his presence in literature on Venice, the city with which he is most indelibly associated. The essay considers a number of poems, from Clough onwards, in which the figure of Ruskin appears, almost as a “ghost of the lagoon”. Although many of the poems (by such writers as Daniel Abse and Richard Howard) focus on biographical aspects, in a manner that is often close to gossip, there is no doubt that the essential lesson of Ruskin’s teachings did leave its mark on some of the best writers: the importance of looking – and looking – and looking – and describing what was to be seen without being distracted by pre-existing descriptions. Such poets as Anthony Hecht and Charles Tomlinson pay tribute to this lesson in the vitality of their own descriptions of nature.

"Immortal Passion": sull'eredità di Ruskin

DOWLING, Gregory
2009-01-01

Abstract

A discussion of the figure of John Ruskin in British and American poetry. While John Ruskin’s theories on art, architecture and social life may have had an immediate and noticeable impact in his own day, they did not in fact alter the general trends in these fields. Ruskin seems destined to have made his mark – in literature, at any rate – more as a picturesque character than as the oracular prophet he deemed himself to be. This is particularly true with regard to his presence in literature on Venice, the city with which he is most indelibly associated. The essay considers a number of poems, from Clough onwards, in which the figure of Ruskin appears, almost as a “ghost of the lagoon”. Although many of the poems (by such writers as Daniel Abse and Richard Howard) focus on biographical aspects, in a manner that is often close to gossip, there is no doubt that the essential lesson of Ruskin’s teachings did leave its mark on some of the best writers: the importance of looking – and looking – and looking – and describing what was to be seen without being distracted by pre-existing descriptions. Such poets as Anthony Hecht and Charles Tomlinson pay tribute to this lesson in the vitality of their own descriptions of nature.
2009
VENEZIA E LE ALTRE
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10278/4259
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