Did the Romantic poets actually invent our modern understanding of childhood?
In short: Jonathan Bate examines how Romantic-era writers fundamentally reshaped the concept of childhood. This lecture explores the pivotal influence of William Blake and William Wordsworth, revealing how their focus on early life experiences birthed both a new cultural ideal and the genre of poetic autobiography.
In this lecture recorded on November 20, 2018, Professor Jonathan Bate investigates the rhetoric of Romanticism. He argues that the Romantics were responsible for creating the modern perception of childhood, moving beyond mere historical observation to establish a lasting cultural framework.
Bate highlights how William Wordsworth utilized his own childhood memories to pioneer the art of poetic autobiography. By analyzing the works of both Wordsworth and William Blake, the lecture demonstrates how these poets elevated the child's perspective, permanently altering the trajectory of literature and personal narrative.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Romantic Child - Jonathan Bate
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