The Writer's Thesaurus
By Dr Oliver Tearle
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) is one of the most influential writers of the nineteenth century. He had a hand in the development of the detective story and science fiction, both genres which were in their infancy during his lifetime. And he also, of course, made an indelible mark on Gothic horror literature, as well as pioneering the new form of the short story. Continue reading “19 of the Most Curious and Interesting Facts about Edgar Allan Poe”
By Dr Oliver Tearle
‘Cold Pastoral’ is a phrase from one of John Keats’s best-known poems. But the meaning of this two-word phrase is somewhat enigmatic, so we need to look more closely at the poem, and the relevant stanza containing this expression, to understand its meaning fully. Continue reading “The Meaning of Keats’s ‘Cold Pastoral’”
By Dr Oliver Tearle
‘Negative Capability’ is one of the key ideas associated with the Romantic poet John Keats (1795-1821). But what exactly did Keats mean by ‘Negative Capability’? Let’s take a closer look at this theory, which made its first appearance in a letter Keats wrote to his brothers. Continue reading “The Meaning of John Keats’s ‘Negative Capability’”