PRE-RAPHAELITE POETRY
The
Pre-Raphaelite movement during the 19th Century the Victorian age was a
reaction against moralism and socialism of the contemporary poets and
novelists. During the reign of Queen Victoria, there was a general tendency in
literature that literature is a means of social reform, that literature should
try to eliminate the social evils and that the writers are the true
philosophers who should guide the nation to the moral path. The great writers
like Ruskin, Carlyle and Dickens were busy reforming their society.
But
soon there were some poets who were dissatisfied with this tendency of social
reform. These dissatisfied poets formed a group in 1848 which was known as
‘Pre-Raphaelite Group’. The group consisted of the great poets like D. C.
Rossetti, Holman Hunt William Morris and A. C. Swinburne. They focused on the
past and searched for beauty in it.
Why is it called Pre-Raphaelite Movement?
‘Originally
it was a movement of painting in Italy. In Italy, there were some poets who
were dissatisfied with the artificial loftiness and technique of the great
painter Raphael. So, they reacted against him and they tried to find real
beauty, art, nature and simplicity of expression in the predecessors of
Raphael. The painters before Raphael became their source of inspiration. Thus,
this movement was known as Pre-Raphaelite movement. But it was not a common
movement. it extended its wings in the field of poetry and sculpture also. The
English poets like Rossetti, Swinburne and Morris and refined the same spirit
in poetry and thus Pre-Raphaelite movement entered into English poetry.
Characteristics of Pre-Raphaelite Poetry:
In
the field of poetry the Pre-Raphaelite poetry did a remarkable job by bringing
a new fervor. All Pre-Raphaelite poets wrote poetry which had some common
characteristics. They are as under:
1. Reaction against
Socialism and Moralism:
The
Pre-Raphaelite poetry was a sharp reaction against socialism and moralism found
in the poetry of Tennyson. The poets like Tennyson and Byron and the novelists
like Carlyle, Ruskin and Charles Dickens used literature as a tool to reform
the society but these Pre-Raphaelite poets freed poetry from all bondages and
they brought in natural beauty and loneliness in poetry. They glorified the art
instead of social values.
2. Art for Art’s Sake:
The
Pre-Raphaelite poets were pure artists and nothing more. Legoius truly says,
‘Art was their religion’. They believed in the dictum, ‘Art for Art’s Sake.’
They worshiped the art and natural beauty. They believed that art has no
function. Art or poetry does not reform the society, it does not teach any
morals. If poetry preaches something, it is not poetry at all. Love and beauty
and the expression of these things in poetry is true art. They also aim at
perfection inform.
3. Escape to Middle Ages:
The
Pre-Raphaelite poets tried to escape from the heavy socialism of Victorian age.
They were much inspired by the good old days of Medievalism. The chivalry,
knighthood, adventure, heroism, and beauty of the middle age thrived them.
Rossetti was a master of presentation of medieval atmosphere in Poetry. His
poems ‘The Blessed Damozel’ and ‘Sister Helen’ are completely medieval in
outlook and form. The symbolism and mysticism of middle ages are reflected in
their poetry. In fact, this return to middle ages was a continuation of the Romantic
Movement started by Coleridge and Keats.
4. Pictorial Quality:
The Pre-Raphaelite Poets were primarily pictorial poets, as we discussed earlier, this movement was inspired by the Italian movement of Painting. So, the touch of painting also entered into poetry. The Pre-Raphaelite poetry was focusing on the presentation of moving colourful pictures through words. Rosseti’s poetry is quite pictorial in nature. In fact, in the matters of colour and pictorial presentation, he surpassed Keats and Tennyson. Ruskin remarked:
“Every
Pre-Raphaelite figure is a true portrait of some living person. Every minute
accessory is painted in the same manner.”
Thus, the Pre-Raphaelite poets took special care in the presentation and expression of precise details. They painted every blade of grass and every part of human body with a touch of painting. In ‘The Blessed Damozel’, Rossetti gives a detailed picture of a lady in these words:
“She cast her arms along the golden barries,
and laid her face between her hands.”
5. Melodious Quality:
The Pre-Raphaelite poetry is rich in melody. It is marked by free flowing movement of lines. Swinburne is considered as the supreme melodist among all Pre-Raphaelite poets. The flow of musical language in Swinburne’s poetry gives us a felling that we are gliding in a river of music and melody. Vowels follow vowels and consonants follow consonants. This creates great music in his poetry. His poems ‘Atlanta in Calydon’ and ‘The Pound of Spring’ are highly melodious. Here are the lines from his ‘The Pound of Spring’
"The wild wing slips with the weight of its leaves
To the limbs that glitter, the feet that scare
The wolf that follows, the fawn that flies.”
6. High Sensuousness:
The Pre-Raphaelite poetry is marked by high sensuousness and passions. But this poetry is much different from Romantic poetry. Shelley and Browning gave sensuousness to feeling, but Rossetti, and Morris gave sensuousness to thought. The Pre-Raphaelite poets focused on physical beauty and outward loveliness of nature and human body. So, their poetry was little immoral and open hearted. It is also known as ‘fleshy school of poetry.’
7. Lack of Sense:
Sometimes the Pre-Raphaelite poets sacrificed sense for the sake of sound, melody, colour and pictorial presentation. Swinburne is highly criticized for the tack of sense or meaning in his poetry. Many times, Swinburne uses some phrases or words just to create musical effect in his poetry, but these words or phrases do not bring any coherent meaning. Thus lack of sense or meaning is one major drawbacks of Pre-Raphaelite poetry.
Conclusion:
Thus, the Pre-Raphaelite poetry is not doubt, highly sensuous and sometimes touches the line of vulgarity, but in the matters of pictorial quality, high musical and melodious notes and real beauty of middle ages, it is incomparable. D. G. Rossetti, Morris, Swinburne and others brought about a great fervor in English poetry and they made poetry free from the moralistic, reformative approach of the Victorian writers. Though sometimes criticized for the lack of sense it is unassailable and unsurpassed in the field of true expression of loveliness and beauty.
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