University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-05-21

English literature may be divided
Ipoetry. These two forms are, as a
matter of fact, not always mutually ex.
elusive. Yet they have distinct func.
. tiOns. The function OF prose is to
communicate thought, to give express
sion to ideas. to convey knowledge
Prose belongs to what is called the
Literature of knowledge. 1t makes
its appeal chiefly to the intellect, not
to feeling. With poetry the case is
different. Poetry begins and ends in
feeling. Often, like prose, poetry COM
municates thought, but the thought is
accompanied by emotion. All the
lgreatest poetry makes an appeal to
the intellect, but the appeal is either
made through feeling or results in feel
ling. Poetry belongs to the literature
lof power. Its end or function is not
ldirectly to instruct men, but, by arous-
ing their higher emotions, to move
them.
As the functions of prose and poetry
differ, SO the reasons for the study
of the two differ. In the case of prose
the reasons are obvious. Since prose
is the accepted medium of communi-
cating thought, it is evident that no
one can become wen informed ip any
important branch OF knowledge, such
as science, history. and philosophy,
without studying prose; he must study
| it in order to become acquainted with
the ideas of other men. 1t is likewise
lapparent that no one can ever attain
a high degree of efficiency in giving
expression to his thoughts without
|studying prose; he must study it in
order to see how other men have sue
lceeded in giving effective expression |
to their ideas. In the one case he |
studies prose for its content; in the |
other for its form.
But the reasons for studying poetry |
are, unfortunately, not so obvious.
Many men go through life and never
feel the need of poetry or desire the
pleasure and profit which it affords.
Often these people are estimable cit
izens; occasionally they are men even
of genius. Still, | believe it must
be said that the nature of these men
is stunted and limited in some of its
nOblest capacities; such men cannot
be accepted as types of human perfec-
ton. How shall people OF this kind be
led to believe that the pleasure and /;
profit from poetry are something truly I
worth making the effort 10 attain?
Or what reasons for studying poetry {
shall be set forth TO one who is honest L
enough to acknowledge that he cares
little or nothing about poetry and
finds no pleasure in it? II
In the last analysis, all the reasons (
why one should study poetry are con-
tanned, not in some end that can be K
stated, but in the refined pleasure {
which poetry itself affords. The value Il
Of no art, indeed, can be expressed by j
reference to any outside standard. II
When, therefore, We say that there Ie
Ire certain reasons why one should i
:tudy poetry, we are merely taking
,its of a total experience which we II
inOw as a refined pleasure and setting t
hnr h L. |
aimed through poetry. The justifica- t
ion of stating the reasons is that a
he statement may lead to the search h
or the pleasure. S
One of these reasons is the moral h
orce that poetry eXerts. Clean its s.
nOral epigrams, you rob poetry of its o.
1ost popular means of appeal. Many o
eople gather little else from poetry Il
he felicity of expression, if not the 81
uperior elevation of the moral idea. al
hrases the epigram into the mind Ol
18th strong sense of value. This is "
ood. In the moral epigrams of poetry sc
re to be found some of the highest vi
of conduct. But the deeper az
lOral effect exerted by poetry is not W
} obvious. For the finest influences SC
lat men derive from poetry slip into tn
lie mind while they are thinking of fu
0 such matter. To set the moral ma NJ
Ire vibrating in response to heroic 1t
eeds, the fine sentiments, the noble dc
laracters, the human sorrow and hui be
an guilt represented by the great In
pets. is unconsciously to repel vulgar sa
I'd commonplace views, to exclude 1t
| that is ignoble and degrading, to of
'eak down narrow moral prejudices, ma
purge the eye so that it may see 70
ith understanding and sympathy into i'm
e lives of men of diverse capacities by
Id temperaments. II religion reveals Al
e duty of man to God, poetry reveals to
e duty of man TO man. Moral in an
ructiOn may be drawn from other Sc
urces than poetry; but the morality gr