Correct option is A
"The Anatomy of Melancholy" (B) by Thomas Browne (1621): Thomas Browne's work is a complex and wide-ranging examination of human melancholy and its various causes. It's known for its intricate prose and explorations of psychological and philosophical themes.
"Leviathan" (C) by Thomas Hobbes (1651): Thomas Hobbes's "Leviathan" is a foundational work in political philosophy. It discusses the social contract, the nature of sovereignty, and the need for a strong central authority to maintain social order.
"Defense of Poesie" (E) by P.B. Shelley (1821): This essay by Percy Bysshe Shelley defends the value and significance of poetry as a form of imaginative expression. Shelley argues that poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world and explores the moral and social impact of poetry.
"Culture and Anarchy" (A) by Matthew Arnold (1869): Matthew Arnold's work examines the role of culture in society and advocates for the pursuit of "sweetness and light" as a means to counter anarchy and chaos. It addresses the cultural and intellectual development of society during the Victorian era.
"Studies in the History of the Renaissance" (D) by Walter Pater (1873): Walter Pater's work is a collection of essays that explore the artistic and intellectual achievements of the Renaissance. It emphasizes the aesthetic experience and individual sensibility in appreciating art and culture.
This sequence reflects the publication dates of these works and provides insight into the development of thought and literature from the 17th century to the 19th century, spanning topics such as melancholy, political philosophy, poetry, culture, and the Renaissance.
Information Booster:
The Anatomy of Melancholy: Extensive study of melancholy as a medical, psychological, and philosophical condition; explores causes, symptoms, and cures.
Themes: Human psychology, philosophy, medicine, religion, and literature as means of understanding emotional states.
Leviathan: Foundational text in political philosophy; introduces the social contract theory and the concept of a sovereign authority to prevent chaos.
Ideas: Life in the state of nature as “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”; need for centralized power.
Defence of Poesie: Argument for the moral, social, and imaginative power of poetry; poets as “unacknowledged legislators.”
Concepts: Poetry as a transformative cultural force; its role in moral education and shaping society.
Culture and Anarchy: Victorian call for balance between culture (“sweetness and light”) and social order; critique of materialism and Philistinism.
Studies in the History of the Renaissance: Celebration of aesthetic experience; emphasis on individual perception in art appreciation.
Ideas: “Art for art’s sake”; focus on beauty, form, and artistic genius over moral or utilitarian purposes.
Additional Knowledge:
The Anatomy of Melancholy reflects Renaissance humanist learning and is notable for its encyclopedic scope and digressive style.
Leviathan influenced later political thinkers like John Locke (who challenged Hobbes’s absolutism) and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
Defence of Poesie draws from classical rhetorical traditions (e.g., Sidney’s Apology for Poetry), blending Romantic ideals with philosophical argument.
Culture and Anarchy engages with the 19th-century debate between liberal reformers and conservatives over the direction of English society.
Studies in the History of the Renaissance heavily influenced the Aesthetic Movement and writers like Oscar Wilde.
Chronological order:
The Anatomy of Melancholy – 1621
Leviathan – 1651
Defence of Poesie – 1821
Culture and Anarchy – 1869
Studies in the History of the Renaissance – 1873
English
10 Questions
20 Marks
12 Mins
