Egotistical Sublime

Literary/ Cultural Context Note

Litencyc Editors (Independent Scholar - Europe)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.06: English Writing and Culture of the Romantic Period, 1789-1837.
Vol. editors: Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Daniel Robinson (Widener University)

Domains

Literary Concept

Dates

Date of occurrence 1818-10-27

Places

United Kingdom (Location)

Genres and Modes

Poetry (any)

The phrase is first used by Keats in a letter to Richard Woodhouse, dated 27 Oct. 1818: “As to the poetical Character itself (I mean that sort of which, if I am any thing, I am a Member; that sort distinguished from the Wordsworthian or egotistical sublime; which is a thing per se and stands alone) it is not itself — it has no self — it is every thing and nothing —It has no character— it enjoys light and shade; it lives in gusto, be it foul or fair, high or low, rich or poor, mean or elevated — It has as much delight in conceiving an Iago as an Imogen.” Keats defines his own poetic identity as a “chameleon poet” in direct contrast to Wordsworth whom he characterises as monumental and fixed, opposed to the labile. …

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166 words

Citation: Editors, Litencyc. "Egotistical Sublime". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 25 May 2006 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=315, accessed 23 November 2024.]

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