Borrow it
Coverart for item
The Resource The Promethean politics of Milton, Blake, and Shelley, Linda M. Lewis

The Promethean politics of Milton, Blake, and Shelley, Linda M. Lewis

Creator
Contributor
Summary
For more than two millennia, the myth of Prometheus has fascinated writers and artists. The complex and resonant story of the rebellious Titan who stole fire from the Olympic gods to bestow it upon humanity has remained the prototypical commentary on tyranny and rebellion. Examining the political core of this myth as presented in the poetic tradition, Linda M. Lewis traces Promethean figures and imagery in the major poetry of Milton, Blake, and Shelley. Although the significance of the myth in Western literature has often been noted, Lewis's study is unique in recognizing an ambiguity in Promethean depictions that persists from Greek drama through the English Romantics. While Prometheus is a benefactor and savior, he also takes the role of sophist and trickster. Lewis convincingly articulates this tension and relates it to the ambiguous political relationship between ruler and subject. Drawing primarily upon Paradise Lost, Lewis shows how Milton's use of Prometheus is significant not only because of Milton's undisputed influence on the Romantics, but also because his Promethean figures reflect the myth in all of its facets, from the traitorous Satan and disobedient Adam to the Son in his salvational role. Blake's responses to Milton and to Dante are closely related to his recasting of the Prometheus myth in his prophetic works, particularly through the revolutions associated with his fiery character Orc. Lewis concludes with a chapter on Shelley, focusing on Prometheus Unbound, but also providing a fascinating look at Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, which was subtitled The Modern Prometheus. An afterword extends this insightful analysis of Promethean icons by examining those used by such late eighteenth-century and nineteenth-century women writers as Charlotte and Emily Bronte, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. This volume will be of special interest to students and teachers of seventeenth-century studies and English Romantic poetry, in addition to those interested in myth, iconography, and semiotics
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Extent
xii, 223 pages
Contents
  • 5.
  • Tyrant and Rebel in Shelley's Prometheus Unbound
  • 1.
  • Aeschylus's Prometheus and Titan Iconography
  • 2.
  • Titanism and Dantesque Revolt
  • 3.
  • Prometheus as Icon in Milton's Paradise Lost
  • 4.
  • Blake's Orc as Promethean Rebel, Los as Promethean Imagination
Isbn
9780826208057
Instance
Label
The Promethean politics of Milton, Blake, and Shelley
Title
The Promethean politics of Milton, Blake, and Shelley
Statement of responsibility
Linda M. Lewis
Creator
Contributor
Subject
Language
eng
Summary
For more than two millennia, the myth of Prometheus has fascinated writers and artists. The complex and resonant story of the rebellious Titan who stole fire from the Olympic gods to bestow it upon humanity has remained the prototypical commentary on tyranny and rebellion. Examining the political core of this myth as presented in the poetic tradition, Linda M. Lewis traces Promethean figures and imagery in the major poetry of Milton, Blake, and Shelley. Although the significance of the myth in Western literature has often been noted, Lewis's study is unique in recognizing an ambiguity in Promethean depictions that persists from Greek drama through the English Romantics. While Prometheus is a benefactor and savior, he also takes the role of sophist and trickster. Lewis convincingly articulates this tension and relates it to the ambiguous political relationship between ruler and subject. Drawing primarily upon Paradise Lost, Lewis shows how Milton's use of Prometheus is significant not only because of Milton's undisputed influence on the Romantics, but also because his Promethean figures reflect the myth in all of its facets, from the traitorous Satan and disobedient Adam to the Son in his salvational role. Blake's responses to Milton and to Dante are closely related to his recasting of the Prometheus myth in his prophetic works, particularly through the revolutions associated with his fiery character Orc. Lewis concludes with a chapter on Shelley, focusing on Prometheus Unbound, but also providing a fascinating look at Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, which was subtitled The Modern Prometheus. An afterword extends this insightful analysis of Promethean icons by examining those used by such late eighteenth-century and nineteenth-century women writers as Charlotte and Emily Bronte, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. This volume will be of special interest to students and teachers of seventeenth-century studies and English Romantic poetry, in addition to those interested in myth, iconography, and semiotics
Cataloging source
DLC
http://library.link/vocab/creatorDate
1942-
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Lewis, Linda M.
Dewey number
821.009/358
Government publication
government publication of a state province territory dependency etc
Illustrations
illustrations
Index
index present
LC call number
PR508.H5
LC item number
L49 1992
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
bibliography
http://library.link/vocab/relatedWorkOrContributorName
University of Missouri Press
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Prometheus
  • Shelley, Percy Bysshe
  • Blake, William
  • Milton, John
  • Aeschylus
  • Political poetry, English
  • Politics and literature
  • English poetry
  • Classicism
Label
The Promethean politics of Milton, Blake, and Shelley, Linda M. Lewis
Instantiates
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 203-214) and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
  • 5.
  • Tyrant and Rebel in Shelley's Prometheus Unbound
  • 1.
  • Aeschylus's Prometheus and Titan Iconography
  • 2.
  • Titanism and Dantesque Revolt
  • 3.
  • Prometheus as Icon in Milton's Paradise Lost
  • 4.
  • Blake's Orc as Promethean Rebel, Los as Promethean Imagination
Control code
24870736
Dimensions
24 cm
Extent
xii, 223 pages
Isbn
9780826208057
Isbn Type
(alk. paper)
Lccn
91041390
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
Other physical details
illustrations
System control number
(WaOLN)1418547
Label
The Promethean politics of Milton, Blake, and Shelley, Linda M. Lewis
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 203-214) and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
  • 5.
  • Tyrant and Rebel in Shelley's Prometheus Unbound
  • 1.
  • Aeschylus's Prometheus and Titan Iconography
  • 2.
  • Titanism and Dantesque Revolt
  • 3.
  • Prometheus as Icon in Milton's Paradise Lost
  • 4.
  • Blake's Orc as Promethean Rebel, Los as Promethean Imagination
Control code
24870736
Dimensions
24 cm
Extent
xii, 223 pages
Isbn
9780826208057
Isbn Type
(alk. paper)
Lccn
91041390
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
Other physical details
illustrations
System control number
(WaOLN)1418547

Subject

Library Locations

    • Ellis LibraryBorrow it
      1020 Lowry Street, Columbia, MO, 65201, US
      38.944491 -92.326012

Library Links

Structured data from the Bibframe namespace is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by University of Missouri Libraries. Additional terms may apply to data associated with third party namespaces.
Processing Feedback ...