Natural Supernaturalism: Tradition and Revolution in Romantic Literature <\/a> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=leithartcom-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0393006093\")
, M. H. Abrams notes the influence of the Bible on Romanticism: \u201cA conspicuous Romantic tendency, after the rationalism and decorum of the Enlightenment, was a reversion to the stark drama and suprarational mysteries of the Christian story and doctrines and to the violent conflicts and abrupt reversals of the Christian inner life, turning on the extremes of destruction and creation, hell and heaven, exile and reunion, death and rebirth, dejection and joy, paradise lost and paradise regained.\u201d <\/p>\n It was, however, a post-Enlightenment return to the Bible: \u201cthey undertook to save the overview of human history and destiny, the experiential paradigms, and the cardinal values of their religious heritage, by reconstituting them in a way that would make them intellectually acceptable, as well as emotionally pertinent, for the time being.\u201d <\/p>\n
In particular, it was an effort to revive ancient connections between poetry, priesthood and prophecy. \u00a0As Wordsworth said at the outset of the Prelude <\/em> , addressing Coleridge: <\/p>\n \u201cThus far, O Friend! did I, not used to make <\/p>\n
A present joy the matter of a song, <\/p>\n
Pour forth that day my soul in measured strains <\/p>\n
That would not be forgotten, and are here <\/p>\n
Recorded: to the open fields I told <\/p>\n
A prophecy: poetic numbers came <\/p>\n
Spontaneously to clothe in priestly robe <\/p>\n
A renovated spirit singled out, <\/p>\n
Such hope was mine, for holy services. <\/p>\n
My own voice cheered me, and, far more, the mind\u2019s <\/p>\n
Internal echo of the imperfect sound; <\/p>\n
To both I listened, drawing from them both <\/p>\n
A cheerful confidence in things to come.\u201d <\/p>\n
Wordsworth returns to a similar theme at the end of the poem: <\/p>\n
\u201cOh! yet a few short years of useful life, <\/p>\n
And all will be complete, thy race be run, <\/p>\n
Thy monument of glory will be raised; <\/p>\n
Then, though (too weak to tread the ways of truth) <\/p>\n
This age fall back to old idolatry, <\/p>\n
Though men return to servitude as fast <\/p>\n
As the tide ebbs, to ignominy and shame, <\/p>\n
By nations, sink together, we shall still <\/p>\n
Find solace\u2014knowing what we have learnt to know, <\/p>\n
Rich in true happiness if allowed to be <\/p>\n
Faithful alike in forwarding a day <\/p>\n
Of firmer trust, joint labourers in the work <\/p>\n
(Should Providence such grace to us vouchsafe) <\/p>\n
Of their deliverance, surely yet to come. <\/p>\n
Prophets of Nature, we to them will speak <\/p>\n
A lasting inspiration, sanctified <\/p>\n
By reason, blest by faith: what we have loved, <\/p>\n
Others will love, and we will teach them how; <\/p>\n
Instruct them how the mind of man becomes <\/p>\n
A thousand times more beautiful than the earth <\/p>\n
On which he dwells, above this frame of things <\/p>\n
(Which, \u2018mid all revolution in the hopes <\/p>\n
And fears of men, doth still remain unchanged) <\/p>\n
In beauty exalted, as it is itself <\/p>\n
Of quality and fabric more divine.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In Natural Supernaturalism: Tradition and Revolution in Romantic Literature , M. H. Abrams notes the influence of the Bible on Romanticism: \u201cA conspicuous Romantic tendency, after the rationalism and decorum of the Enlightenment, was a reversion to the stark drama and suprarational mysteries of the Christian story and doctrines and to the violent conflicts and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3021,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19078","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-literature"],"yoast_head":"\n
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