Reconstructing Literature in an Ideological Age: A Biblical Poetics and Literary Studies from Milton to BurkeWhile many literary scholars consider feminism, deconstruction, and multiculturalism new avenues to truth, other readers find that such prior ideological commitments distort literature. In Reconstructing Literature in an Ideological Age, Daniel E. Ritchie offers a "biblical poetics" as an alternative approach to ideological criticism, exploring how the Bible's own negotiations with language affect our view of literature, specifically with respect to older texts, gender issues, ethnic diversity, and the apparent arbitrariness of language itself. Focusing here on Restoration and eighteenth-century literature, Ritchie examines how a biblical poetics provides a basis for literary study in the texts of Jonathan Swift, Samuel Johnson, John Milton, Edmund Burke, and Alexander Pope, and he contrasts it to recent ideological approaches to these texts. Ritchie's biblical treatment of particular literary issues provides the basis for original historical research or literary interpretation often sharply at odds with current critical theories. |
Contents
Why Cant Gulliver Learn? | 21 |
Johnson Reading Literature | 71 |
Blessing and Naming in Genesis and Paradise Lost | 119 |
Copyright | |
4 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
acceptance achievements Adam allusions ancients apocalyptic approach attempt authority begins believe Bible biblical blessing book of Revelation Burke called Calvin canon chapter Christ Christian church comes common contrast creation criticism culture deconstruction described Dulness Dunciad English especially explain faith fall feminist figure final follow Genesis give God's Gulliver Gulliver's human ideological important India instance interpretation John Johnson knowledge language learning lines literary literature meaning Milton mind moral multiculturalism nature Old Testament oppression original Paradise Lost parallel particular past pleasure poem poetics poetry political Pope Pope's position present Press questions reader reason refers regard Revelation satire says Scripture sense significance similar social structure suggests Swift takes Testament texts theory thought tradition true truth turn ultimate understanding University wisdom writings