Essay about Imagination and Literature - 1865 Words

Imagination and Literature The importance and influence of imagination on the creation and critique of literature varies between and within various artistic eras. Originally seen as an aberrant function of the mind, imagination was subservient to the powers of reason and order. Art involved mere replication of the real, a craft rather than an unique act of creation. Beginning as early as Aristotle, however, human imagination has been linked to the power and value of art. The ascendancy and, in some eras even superiority, of imagination as a potent mental faculty gave birth to new critical enterprises bent on articulating the manner, motivation, and merit embedded in art and the artistic process. By tracing the development of†¦show more content†¦Imagination is a natural structure of the mind which must be trained or attuned to appreciate the greatness of art, to develop a meaningful standard of taste. Where Hume addresses the critic, Johnsons attention is fixed on the writer and the duty of each writ er to increase prudence without impairing virtue (227). Imagination is both the key and the obstacle to Johnsons moral vision of art. In order to inspire an audience toward goodness, an artist must possess a fertile and ever expanding imagination. Whatever is beautiful, and whatever is dreadful, must be familiar to his [the poets] imagination... for every idea is useful for the enforcement or decoration of moral and religious truth (228). Imagination is good when its powers are given direction, moral purpose. Johnson assumes a somewhat utilitarian attitude toward imagination; the value of imagination is dependent on its usefulness in attaining or helping others to attain virtue. Unchecked, imagination promotes virtue and vice ambivalently. Imaginative freedom must only exist within the bounds of an imminently rational moral code. Romantic critics turn the Eighteenth Century division between reason and imagination to their own poetic and critical purposes, however. Percy Shelley offers a radical revision. Rather than being an aberration or inferior form of mental activity, imagination is placed over the powers of reasonShow MoreRelated Imagination, Perception and the Experience of Nature in Literature1338 Words   |  6 PagesImagination, Perception and the Experience of Nature in Literature Works Cited Missing I am a psychology student with an English minor. While the combination seems odd at first glance, the two studies actually compliment each other quite nicely. I have always been fascinated by the way in which writing can reflect the inner workings of an authors mind, by the way it effects the reader in such a profound, defamiliarizing way, as well as by the way that it can be used to explore the many facetsRead More Power of Art, Creativity, and Imagination in Children’s Literature637 Words   |  3 PagesPower of Art, Creativity, and Imagination in Children’s Literature â€Å"Imagination is the true magic carpet ride,† as Norman Vincent Peale once said. Indeed this proves to be true in Crockett Johnson’s, Harold and the Purple Crayon, when Harold, a small boy with a large imagination, creates his world using a purple crayon. Also, Leo Lionni uses a mouse named Fredrick to capture â€Å"colors† and â€Å"sunrays† in his Caldecott winning book Fredrick. However, imagination is not the only tool utilized inRead MoreLiterature is Basically a Virtual Reality Northrop Frye’s Book, The Educated Imagination516 Words   |  2 PagesWhat is the similarity between literature and reality? Is it the imaginary setting, the violent thoughts, or the manipulative conversations? According to Frye there are no differences between literature and reality. In chapter three of Northrop Frye’s The Educated Imagination, â€Å"Giants in time† he discusses how literature is universal and basically a virtual reality. Lit erature is neither real nor unreal; it is what we perceive it as from our individual point of view. In this chapter Frye distinguishedRead MoreAnalysis Of Northrop Frye s The Educated Imagination962 Words   |  4 PagesNorthrop Frye s the Educated Imagination, published in 1963, attempts to bring out the meaning and effect of possessing an educated imagination in contrast to its opposite. Dr. Frye analyses how his theory advances society’s interests and overcomes its limits through the three levels of the human mind. In his essay, the three levels are broken down in a detailed manner, which links it directly its thesis. Frye presents definitive answers to his questions in the beginning of his essay, â€Å"What goodRead MoreAnalysis Of Northrop Fryes The Educated Imagination837 Words   |  4 Pages The Educated Imagination discusses major ideas that answer the question â€Å"what good is the study of literature?†. Frye does so by discussing concepts such as the desire of humans to connect to nature, the conformity to conventions and deviation from reality in literature, and the ideal manner in which literature should be taught. Northrop Frye’s The Educated Imagination proposes the idea that through the consumption of literature, the individual is able to develop an imagination which allows himRead MoreRomanticism in The Marriage of Heaven and Hell by William Blake1393 Words   |  6 PagesBlakes Poem William Blake was a poet, painter, and a printmaker all during the period in literature known as the Romantic time period. The Romantic time period, also known in Literature as Romanticism began in Europe, mainly France and Britain around the 1800s (Barker) and it was first defined as a tool to in literature and literary criticisms (Galitz). The Romantic period did not just focus on literature, but also on the subjects of art and knowledge which was fueled by the French RevolutionRead MoreThe Importance of Literature to Humanity1298 Words   |  6 PagesThe Importance of Literature to Humanity â€Å"Literature speaks the language of the imagination, and the study of literature is supposed to train and improve the imagination† (Frye 134). According to Northrop Frye the imagination is the combination between emotions and intellect in every individual. The more an individual is exposed to literature the better that person is at expanding their imagination, which he calls the educated imagination. Having an educated imagination helps one to think for themselvesRead MoreDefining Literature Essay928 Words   |  4 Pages The definition of literature has been discussed and argued over time and there is no precise answer to be given. Any reader or author can define literature as whatever they wish it to be defined as. This is more of an opinion of how one views certain pieces of work or writings and whether or not they feel that is actually literature or not. Literature is any type of creative writing such as fiction or poetry, for example. Literature is also any form of body of written works of language, whichRead MoreRomanticism1649 Words   |  7 Pagesfollowed the era of logical, philosophical, and social movement in the 17th to 18th century. However, as the 19th century began, Romanticism came into the light with a new perspective that intrigued the people. It stressed emphasis on emotions and imagination while also helping to realize the importance of self-expression. The American Romanticism movement illustrated inspiration, bias and predominance of individuals in the nineteenth century. Romanticism has a very small amount to do with events andRead MoreCould Imagination Be More Important than Thought?643 Words   |  3 Pagesthe same knowledge but can never have the same imagination. Imagination is not only seeing pictures in the mind, it also includes smelling, feeling and tasting. According to Webster’s New World College Dictionary, imagination is, â€Å"the act of forming mental images of what is not actually present or never been actually experienced† (Agnes). Knowledge is, â€Å"the act, fact or state of knowing† (Agnes). Imagination and knowledge work hand in hand. Imagination is more important than knowledge because it leads