Ad Maiora - English Literature

The development of the novel took place in the 18th century in England, as a result of a social and historical background which changed the country into a Parliamentary Monarchy and an industrial power during and after the so-called Stuart Era.The new values of the middle class are opposite to the main features of the previous romance, which is compared to the modern novel in terms of characters, plot, language and setting.Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe is considered a new pattern for the development of the novel.

William Shakespeare's works offer an incredible amount of perspectives we can get beyond his biography and the mere description of his plots, which most of the times represent just a limited intruduction to his genius.In this video I explain one of the most fascinating interpretations of Shakespeare's theatre and poetry: the relationship between the balance/disbalance of the individual as a microcosm and the universe as a macrocosm.The elements of disorders often happen to be unconventional women who overcome the stereotype of the "lady" as an angel, which belonged to the previous centuries, and display much more depth and strength in a complex personality, which is probably inspired by Elizabeth I Tudor. Shakespeare lived in fact during the Golden Age, when the "Virgin Queen" offered a flourishing period to her kingdom, together with a new balance and a completely new feminine image, independent and iconic.Some of the main works by Shakespeare are mentioned to explain the whole concept, as well as sonnets, which are mentioned and briefly analyzed in their structure and content.Shakespeare is also described as one of the fathers of the Modern English and his perspective is proved to be still extremely up to date.

Mary Shelley conveyed through her masterpiece "Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus" a very strong message about the responsibility of science and society. Her gothic novel, written for a contest among intellectuals during a rainy summer at Lord Byron's mansion, represents now one of the deepest and most insightful analysis of the human being, his fears, his relationship with society and his inner dualism.I'd like to leave behind all the images and reinterpetations of the subject that we have known through movies, theatre and even cartoons, in order to rediscover the true meaning of this classic work.

Also called the "Age of Revolutions", the Romantic period (19th century) was deeply infuenced by political, social and economical events (American and French Revolution, Industrial Revolution,Agricultural and Transport Revolution, social unrests, Adam Smith's work, Rousseau's philosophy...), developing a large and multifaceted movement, whose currences involved Literature and Arts throughout Europe.In this video the main concepts and the most important features of the movement are displayed in a large resume that includes the main theme of Nature as a source of inspiration for the Poet whoapproaches it as an "organic living whole". The independence of the artist is also explained, together with the image of the "poet prophet", whose perspective was based on imagination,subjectivity and symbolism.Burke's idea of "beautiful" and "sublime" is associated with some of the poets of the first generation (Blake, Wordsworth, Coleridge) and of the second generation (Lord Byron, P.B. Shelley, Keats), while their works are also considered in connection with a social attitude of criticism towords the Industrial Revolution and its negative consequences on nature and on the human being..Fiction is also mentioned, together with the new image of the writer as a professional who needs to "sell" a new product, thus a new debate about "good and bad literature" has been developed throughout the centuries.Some important novelists of the time are briefly introduced, like for example Ann Radcliffe with her Gothic works, Jane Austen with her Novel of Manners and Mary Shelley with her Science Fiction.

William Wordsworth is considered as one of the most representative Romantic Poets of the first generation. Together with S.T. Coleridge he wrote the Lyrical Ballads, in which it is possible to find some of his main themes, together with a Preface where Wordswoth expresses his point of view about the concept of Poet Prophet, of Language and of topics that should be treated by poetry.This video also gives a special insight into some interpretations of Wordsworth's poems (f.i. I wandered lonely as a Cloud or The Daffodils) concerning the use of colours and the concept of Nature as an active force, an organic living whole that can be considered as a source of inspiration and joy for the artist. The different "levels" of the Universe belong together in a pantheistic world of spirituality, in which the humblest elements are meant to convey the highest truths.

S.T. Coleridge is considered one of the most popular artist in the First Generation of Romantic Poets, especially for his collaboration with Wiliam Wordsworth in writing the Lyrical Ballads. The two authors and friends were two sides of the same coin: they represented an opposite perspective towards poetry and Nature (beautiful vs sublime) but they both shared a pantheistic view, which considers Nature as an organic living whole that the human being should respect.In Coleridge's masterpiece "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" the message of love and respect for Nature and for the spiritual truth that permeats it is conveyed througha complex language and an elaborated symbolism. The Ballad, mostly belonging to the traditional pattern but also unconventional in his exceptions, is divided into seven parts with a little summary about the plot. It's the highest expression of Coleridge "poetic faith" and the highest representation of him as a poet prophet.

William Blake is considered one of the major Romantic Poets of the first generation.His "prophetic books", together with his engraving and painting, are amongst the greatest representations of the Romantic attitude towards nature, and also towards the negative effects of Industrial Revolution, such as urbanization, corruption and a physical as well as a metaphorical "pollution" of cities and souls.The Lamb (from Songs of Innocence) displays the condition of Nature in the Garden of Eden, before the Fall. The Lamb is a symbol of purity and innocence, of childhood and generosity, as well as a symbol of Christ.The Christian interpretation of Blake's symbolism is very strong and complememtary with a more pantheistic view of Nature as an organic living whole. The poet prophet emphasizes a dual vision of God, who was able to create the Lamb but also the Tyger (from Songs of Experience), which is the expression of the so-called "sublime": majestic, fearful and fascinating perfection. The power and the frightening symbol of the Tyger seems to be a challange for God Himself and it's a juxtaposition between the beautiful and idyllic Lamb and the potentially fatal power of the scaring creature of darkness that may eventually claim to be created by the same God. Lamb and Tyger are two sides of the same coin, as well ad Songs of Innocence and of Experience, which represent Blake's insight into the Universe.- William Blake (Part 1 of 2): The Lamb (Songs of Innocence) concernes an introduction of the Poet and his main themes, ad well as a detailed analysis of "The Lamb"https://youtu.be/r81D5HvUhls- William Blake (Part 2 of 2): The Tyger (Songs of Experience) concernes a detailed analysis of "The Tyger" and an explanation of "London" and "The Chimney Sweeper"https://youtu.be/fs5QVHcyRDs

William Blake is considered one of the major Romantic Poets of the first generation.His "prophetic books", together with his engraving and painting, are amongst the greatest representations of the Romantic attitude towards nature, and also towards the negative effects of Industrial Revolution, such as urbanization, corruption and a physical as well as a metaphorical "pollution" of cities and souls.The Lamb (from Songs of Innocence) displays the condition of Nature in the Garden of Eden, before the Fall. The Lamb is a symbol of purity and innocence, of childhood and generosity, as well as a symbol of Christ.The Christian interpretation of Blake's symbolism is very strong and complememtary with a more pantheistic view of Nature as an organic living whole. The poet prophet emphasizes a dual vision of God, who was able to create the Lamb but also the Tyger (from Songs of Experience), which is the expression of the so-called "sublime": majestic, fearful and fascinating perfection. The power and the frightening symbol of the Tyger seems to be a challange for God Himself and it's a juxtaposition between the beautiful and idyllic Lamb and the potentially fatal power of the scaring creature of darkness that may eventually claim to be created by the same God. Lamb and Tyger are two sides of the same coin, as well ad Songs of Innocence and of Experience, which represent Blake's insight into the Universe.- William Blake (Part 1 of 2): The Lamb (Songs of Innocence) concernes an introduction of the Poet and his main themes, ad well as a detailed analysis of "The Lamb"https://youtu.be/r81D5HvUhls- William Blake (Part 2 of 2): The Tyger (Songs of Experience) concernes a detailed analysis of "The Tyger" and an explanation of "London" and "The Chimney Sweeper"https://youtu.be/fs5QVHcyRDs

The major Romantic Poets are often divided into two groups: the first and the second generation.William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Blake and Sir Walter Scott belong tp the first one, while Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley and John Keats are identified with the second one.In this video I'm Going to explain the differences between thetwo groups and the common aspects, as far as language, style, attitude and biography are concenrned.Further videos about Romantic Poets:Romanticism: https://youtu.be/WOr3uzhOK7oWilliam Blake 1: https://youtu.be/r81D5HvUhlsWilliam Blake 2: https://youtu.be/fs5QVHcyRDsWilliam Wordsworth: https://youtu.be/WOr3uzhOK7oSamuel Taylor Coleridge: https://youtu.be/WOr3uzhOK7o

The Victorian Age, also called "Age of Empire" is considered one of the most flourishing periods in English Literature, besides being a time of change as far as politics, society and economics are concerned. The Industrial Revolution influences urbanization as well as Agricultural/Transport Revolution and it causes social unrests and reforms. The main cell of the Victorian patriarchal society is a stereotype of family ased on hard work, conventions, a strict moral code and the values of the rising middle-class.

Charles Dickens is considered one of the universal and highest talents of English Literature. His novels are a dramatic and ironic portrait of the Victorian Society, analyzed and criticized through the use of flat characters and a reinterpretation of realistic environments.Some of his main themes are the exploitation of children's labour, the awful conditions of workers in factories, the alienation of industrial cities, the injustice of the penal code and the selfishness and greed of the upper middle class.

Robert Louis Stevenson is considered one of the most talented storytellers of the Victorian era. Among his most famous works there is "The strange case of dr Jekyll and mr Hyde", an exploration of the dual nature of the indiviual, which is compared in this video to the main themes of Freud's psychoanalysis.

Modernism is a cultural, phylosophical and artistic movement that develops in the first half of the 20th century. It is influenced by an historical, political and econpmical background that shatters the certainties of the human being: the two World Wars, the rise of totalitarianisms, the depression and the increasing unemployment are only some of the major dramatic events of the time.While Ireland and suffragettes fought for their rights, intellectuals suffer from an existencial disorientation, the disgrefation of their identity and an individual alienation.Literarure is obviously influenced by this crisis and develops new "interior plots", focused on the psychological side of the human being, instead of "exterior plots", based on action. New techniques like the stream of consciousness, the free association and the interior monologue are used by the authors of the time, like James Joyce and Virginia Woolf.

James Joyce is the most representative author of English Modernism.The Irish writer used new narrative techniques in order to properly display the individual crisis, the disgregation of identity and the disorientation of the human being.He developed the concept of "anti hero" that was displayed in a interior plot, completely different from the traditional external plot based on action.Some of the new techniques he used were the stream of consciousness, the interior monologue, the random association and he chose a broken syntax to mirror the unconscious shifts of human thoughts and emotions.In the video I analyse especially "Eveline" and "The Dead" (from the "Dubliners") and Joyce's most famous work "Ulysses".

Virgina Woolf wan't just one of the most representative writers of Modernism, but also one of the most complex, unconventional, sensitive and courageous personalities of the time.She has changed the literary pattern of her time, using new techniques (like Stream of Consciousness, Random association and interior plot) and expressing a new point of view about the human being. Her revolutionary perspective concerned also the role of women in society: Virginia was a feminist who fought for the independence of women and their right to express themselves.The works I mention in the video are : To the Lighthouse, Mrs Dalloway, Jacob's Room, A Room of one's own, Three Guineas.

Jane Austen is considered one of the major Romantic writers. Her novels are often focused on romance and marriage, but the background of her fictional works describes the "small world" in which she lived: the conventions of her social class (the gentry) are displayed and also criticized with elegant irony and a smart insight into the mechanisms of her time. For this reasons her works are also defined ad "Novel of Manners" and her six major works are: Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park, Persuasion.

T.S. Eliot is the avantgarde poet of English Moderism who invented the "objective correlative" and who was able to create a web of references in his works, in order to link tradition and experientation, mythology and modern elements, realistic and classic aspects.One of his main works in "The Waste Land", which can be read on many different levels.

George Orwell believed in literature as an instrument to tech and to let people become more aware about society. Using dystopia and science fiction, he warned his readers against totalitarianism with its techniques such as propaganda, brain washing, manipulation of the language and suppression of memory.His most popular novels are Animal Farm and 1984.

An introduction to Charlotte Brontë and a detailed analysis of her masterpiece, Jane Eyre, which can be considered one of the most representative novels of the 19th century.The work gives a special interpretation of Romantic and Gothic elements and it represents an important step in the development of the Victorian novel. in "Jane Eyre", the writer expresses her passionate nature and her point of view as far as reality is concerned.In the meantimen she talks about human and personal feelings, autobiographical experiences and imaginary worlds.

Genius and originality characterize Emily Brontë as a woman and as a writer. Her most famous novel, Wuthering Heights, was at first rejected because it was considered immoral, morbid and violent. The true meaning of this innovative and unconventional work has been appreciated throughout the centuries and it is now one of the most representative and powerful symbols of the English Literature. It partially belongs to Romanticism, partially to the Gothic currence, but, first of all, it belongs to the passionate nature of the human being.