English help- Romantic poets- 2 questions, any help appreciated?

supergirl3386

New member
Trying to find some tips to memorize for my final, any help would be appreciated! She said she intentionally made the questions vague so we could go a bunch of ways with them but I'm finding it hard to come up with anything that seems good, just trying to look for some ideas. Don't worry- I won't use your work, can't actually, it's an in class closed note final.. just looking for some direction. Thanks in advance. (If you can only answer one question that's fine too! Thanks so much!)

1) Compare this statement from "Rasselas" to later representations of the "business of a poet" (role of a poet) in the Romantic period:

(and please give me some advice on what this excerpt is saying)
"The business of a poet," said Imlac, "is to examine, not the individual, but the species; to remark general properties and large appearances; he does not number streaks of the tulip, or describe the different shades in the verdure of the forest. He is to exhibit in his portraits of nature such prominent and striking features as recall the original to every mind, and must neglect the minuter discriminations, which one may have remarked and another have neglected, for those characteristics which are alike obvious to vigilance and carelessness."

and the second question:

2) Discuss the fate of the genre of the epic in this period (and possibly the introduction of other forms of writing) in the context of changing needs of 18th century British society.
 
Imlac is saying that it is the poet's job to examine all aspects of life and existence overall. that the poet must abandon his beliefs and opinions in order to distinguish the beauties and injustices of the world we live in. That the poet must keep a truly open mind at all times and that means thinking of nothing as taboo or "weird". Something that we as a people must learn.
 
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