A Fable for Critics

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lowell, James Russell, 1819-1891

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"A Fable for Critics" by James Russell Lowell is a satirical poem written in the mid-19th century. This work critiques American poets and writers of his time, offering humorous and poignant commentary on their strengths and weaknesses through the device of a fable. The poem features a variety of literary figures, examining their styles and impact on literature, revealing Lowell's own perspectives and biases as a critic. The opening portion of the poem introduces Apollo, the Greek god of poetry, who is reflecting on the state of contemporary American literature while seeking inspiration. He expresses frustration with poets and critics alike, lamenting the challenges they present to genuine creativity. As he muses, he encounters various characters who embody different aspects of the literary landscape. Throughout this introductory section, Lowell sets a playful tone and establishes his purpose: to provide a candid and often entertaining evaluation of the artistic efforts of his fellow writers. This blend of humor and incisive critique suggests a work that invites readers to reflect on the nature of literature itself. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Charlene Taylor, Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)

Notes:

Reading ease score: 49.0 (College-level). Difficult to read.

Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Fable_for_Critics

Release date is 2021-09-03