Correct option is A
Explanation:
Philip Sidney wrote An Apology for Poetry in 1595, a seminal work defending the role of poetry. Sidney contended that poetry holds a unique place in human society because it can teach virtue through both pleasure and moral example, countering Plato's criticism that poetry misrepresents reality and corrupts the soul.
P.B. Shelley, in A Defence of Poetry (1821), argued that poetry is an essential and transformative force that transcends the limitations of logic and philosophy. He believed that poetry is capable of providing an emotional and intellectual truth that reason alone cannot achieve. Shelley defied Plato's view of poetry as harmful and argued instead that it had a vital role in moral and political change.
Information Booster:
Philip Sidney (1554-1586) was an English Renaissance poet, playwright, and soldier. His most famous prose work, An Apology for Poetry, is a defense of the artistic, moral, and educational value of poetry. Sidney's argument directly addresses the criticism of poetry by Plato, who had condemned it in The Republic. Sidney contended that poetry teaches by example, inspiring people to live virtuously by portraying ideal models of behavior, which is why it is more influential than philosophy or history. Sidney's own poetic works include Astrophel and Stella, a sequence of sonnets, and the prose romance The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia.
P.B. Shelley (1792-1822), an iconic figure of the Romantic movement, is best known for his passionate and idealistic poetry. In A Defence of Poetry, Shelley defends the art form as a means of communicating truths about the world, transcending the limitations of rational discourse. Shelley was particularly concerned with how poetry shapes and informs human thought, and he argued that poets, through their visions, act as "the unacknowledged legislators of the world." Shelley's works, such as Prometheus Unbound and Ode to the West Wind, reflect his belief in the transformative power of the poet and the role of poetry in effecting social and political change.
Plato’s view, expressed in The Republic, regarded poetry as an imitation of reality, which could mislead the soul by stirring up emotions. He believed that poetry, particularly epic poetry, was dangerous because it presented false images of the world, often glorifying vice over virtue. However, the defense of poetry by writers like Sidney and Shelley shifted the view from poetry being a mere imitation to being a crucial expression of human experience and moral vision.
Both Sidney and Shelley share the common theme of asserting poetry’s value as a truth-telling art. While Sidney emphasizes poetry’s moral and educational utility, Shelley focuses on its transformative power to inspire change and shape the human imagination. Their writings mark important milestones in the history of literary criticism, especially in relation to the defense of poetry as an essential cultural practice.
Additional Knowledge:
John Dryden (1631–1700) and T.S. Eliot (1888–1965) did not directly defend poetry against Plato’s criticism. While both are major figures in the history of literature, their works don’t directly engage with Plato's argument about the harm of poetry.
John Dryden, an English poet and playwright, was a leading literary figure of the Restoration. Although Dryden wrote extensively on poetry in works such as An Essay of Dramatic Poesy (1668), his focus was more on classical notions of literature and drama rather than a defense of poetry against Plato's philosophical views.
T.S. Eliot, an influential modernist poet, critic, and essayist, discussed poetry in a more 20th-century context, notably through works like The Sacred Wood and The Waste Land. While Eliot revolutionized poetic form and criticism, his work does not directly address Plato’s argument against poetry. Eliot was more concerned with the evolution of poetic technique and the relationship between tradition and innovation in the modern era.
English
10 Questions
20 Marks
12 Mins
