Blake and the Methodists
By: Michael Farrell
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; Springer
Published: 2014
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 259
ISBN-13: 9781137455499
Subjects: Criticism and interpretation; Religion; Methodism in literature; LITERARY CRITICISM / European / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh; LITERARY CRITICISM / Poetry
Description: "Blake and the Methodists explores the work of the poet and painter William Blake (1757-1827) within the context of Methodism - the largest 'dissenting' religious group during his lifetime - and contributes to ongoing critical debates surrounding Blake's religious affinities by suggesting that, contrary to previous thinking, Blake held sympathies with certain aspects of Methodism, particularly as it was preached by its founder-member, John Wesley. Farrell suggests that Blake's theology is essentially eclectic in combining different aspects of doctrine and practice from diverse religious and mystical traditions, and argues for a less radicalised perception of the writer's theological outlook than has previously been surmised by scholars"--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 229-250) and index.
Table of contents: title: Machine generated contents note:; title: Acknowledgements; title: Bibliographical Note; title: List of Abbreviations; title: Introduction; title: 1. Blake and Methodism in Context; title: 2. The Moravians; title: 3. Blake, Wesley and Theology; title: 4. Literary Culture; title: 5. Hymnody; title: 6. Night Thoughts; title: 7. Blake, Wesley and Milton; title: 8. The New Birth; title: Conclusion Bibliography; title: Index.