Alfred Tennyson: The Critical Legacy (Literary Criticism in Perspective, 58)

Alfred Tennyson: The Critical Legacy' explores the critics' reaction to the work of the nineteenth-century English poet most closely associated with the Victorian era. Perhaps more than any other Victorian poet, Tennyson's reputation has waxed and waned in the century since his death. He has been alternatively sanctified and vilified for his choice of subject matter, social outlook, morality, or techniques of versification. His reputation has weathered even the most vitriolic attempts to discredit both the man and his writings; and as criticism of the late twentieth century demonstrates, Tennyson's claim to pre-eminence among the Victorians is now unchallenged. Laurence Mazzeno begins this narrative analysis of Tennyson criticism with an look at how Tennyson was regarded by his contemporaries, before launching a detailed examination of twentieth-century criticism. A chapter is devoted to the period immediately following Tennyson's death, when a generation of post-Victorians reacted violently against what they considered his sappy sentimentalism, cloying moralism, and insensitive jingoism. Subsequent chapters describe how critics resurrected Tennyson, highlighting both his technical mastery and his social criticism. Special attention is given to major biographers and critics such as Harold Nicolson, the poet's grandson Sir Charles Tennyson, Jerome Buckley, R. B. Martin, Michael Thorn, and Peter Levi. A final chapter focuses on the ways Tennyson and his work have been addressed by poststructuralist critics. Throughout the study, Mazzeno demonstrates that the critics' reaction to Tennyson reveals as much about themselves and the critical prejudices of their own times as it does about the Victorian Laureate and his poetry. Laurence W. Mazzeno is president emeritus of Alvernia College, Reading, Pennsylvania Explores the critics'reaction to the pre-eminent Victorian poet from his lifetime to the present.Alfred Tennyson: The Critical Legacy explores the critics'reaction to the work of the nineteenth-century English poet most closely associated with the Victorian era. Perhaps more than any other Victorian poet, Tennyson's reputation has waxed and waned in the century since his death. He has been alternatively sanctified and vilified for his choice of subject matter, social outlook, morality, or techniques of versification. His reputation has weathered even the most vitriolic attempts to discredit both the man and his writings; and as criticism of the late twentieth century demonstrates, Tennyson's claim to pre-eminence among the Victorians is now unchallenged. Laurence Mazzeno begins this narrative analysis of Tennyson criticism with an look at how Tennyson was regarded by his contemporaries, before launching a detailed examination of twentieth-century criticism. A chapter is devoted to the period immediately following Tennyson's death, when a generation of post-Victorians reacted violently against what they considered his sappy sentimentalism, cloying moralism, and insensitive jingoism. Subsequent chapters describe how critics resurrected Tennyson, highlighting both his technical mastery and his social criticism. Special attention is given to major biographers and critics such as Harold Nicolson, the poet's grandson Sir Charles Tennyson, Jerome Buckley, R. B. Martin, Michael Thorn, and Peter Levi. A final chapter focuses on the ways Tennyson and his work have been addressed by poststructuralist critics. Throughout the study, Mazzeno demonstrates that the critics'reaction toTennyson reveals as much about themselves and the critical prejudices of their own times as it does about the Victorian Laureate and his poetry. Laurence W. Mazzeno is president emeritus of Alvernia College, Reading, Pennsylvania. Explores the critics' reaction to the pre-eminent Victorian poet from his lifetime to the present. Alfred The Critical Legacy explores the critics' reaction to the work of the nineteenth-century English poet most closely associated with the Victorian era. Perhaps more than any other Victorian poet, Tennyson's reputation has waxed and waned in the century since his death. He has been alternatively sanctified and vilified for his choice of subject matter, social outlook, morality, or techniques of versification. His reputation has weathered even the most vitriolic attempts to discredit both the man and his writings; and as criticism of the late twentieth century demonstrates, Tennyson's claim to pre-eminence among the Victorians is now unchallenged. Laurence Mazzeno begins this narrative analysis of Tennyson criticism with an look at how Tennyson was regarded by his contemporaries, before launching a detailed examination of twentieth-century criticism. A chapter is devoted to the period immediately following Tennyson's death, when a generation of post-Victorians reacted violently against what they considered his sappy sentimentalism, cloying moralism, and insensitive jingoism. Subsequent chapters describe how critics resurrected Tennyson, highlighting both his technical mastery and his social criticism. Special attention is given to major biographers and critics such as Harold Nicolson, the poet's grandson Sir Charles Tennyson, Jerome Buckley, R. B. Martin, Michael Thorn, and Peter Levi. A final chapter focuses on the ways Tennyson and his work have been addressed by poststructuralist critics. Throughout the study, Mazzeno demonstrates that the critics' reaction toTennyson reveals as much about themselves and the critical prejudices of their own times as it does about the Victorian Laureate and his poetry. Laurence W. Mazzeno is president emeritus of Alvernia College, Reading, Pennsylvania. Alfred Tennyson: The Critical Legacy Explores The Critics' Reaction To The Work Of The Nineteenth-century English Poet Most Closely Associated With The Victorian Era. Perhaps More Than Any Other Victorian Poet, Tennyson's Reputation Has Waxed And Waned In The Century Since His Death. He Has Been Alternatively Sanctified And Vilified For His Choice Of Subject Matter, Social Outlook, Morality, And Techniques Of Versification. Individual Poems Have Been At Times Celebrated As The Greatest Examples Of Their Genre Or Condemned As Contrived Tours De Force That Warrant Little Critical Attention. The Poet's Reputation Has Weathered Even The Most Vitriolic Attempts To Discredit Both The Man And His Writings; And As Criticism Of The Late Twentieth Century Demonstrates, Tennyson's Claim To Pre-eminence Among The Victorians Is Now Unchallenged. In This Narrative Analysis Of The Critical Tradition, Laurence Mazzeno Begins With An Examination Of Ways Tennyson Was Regarded By His Contemporaries, Before Launching A Detailed Examination Of Twentieth-century Criticism. A Chapter Is Devoted To The Period Immediately Following Tennyson's Death, When A Generation Of Post-victorians Reacted Violently Against What They Considered His Sappy Sentimentalism, Cloying Moralism, And Insensitive Jingoism. Subsequent Chapters Describe Ways Critics Resurrected Tennyson From The Reactionaries, Highlighting Both His Technical Mastery And His Ability To Critique The Society That Had Embraced Him So Dearly.--jacket. Tennyson Among His Contemporaries :1827-1892 -- A Mixed Legacy : 1892-1916 -- Criticism Pro And Con : 1916-1959 -- The Tennyson Revival : 1960-1969 -- The Height Of Critical Acclaim : 1970-1980 -- Tennyson Among The Poststructuralists : 1981-1989 -- Tennyson Fin-de-siècle : 1990-2000 -- A Twenty-first Century Prospectus. Laurence W. Mazzeno. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 8-10; [199]-266) And Index. Alfred Tennyson: The Critical Legacy explores the critics' reaction to the work of the nineteenth-century English poet most closely associated with the Victorian era. Perhaps more than any other Victorian poet, Tennyson's reputation has waxed and waned in the century since his death. He has been alternatively sanctified and vilified for his choice of subject matter, social outlook, morality, or techniques of versification. His reputation has weathered even the most vitriolic attempts to discredit both the man and his writings; and as criticism of the late twentieth century demonstrates, Tennyson's claim to pre-eminence among the Victorians is now unchallenged. Laurence Mazzeno begins this narrative analysis of Tennyson criticism with an look at how Tennyson was regarded by his contemporaries, before launching a detailed examination of twentieth-century criticism. A chapter is devoted to the period immediately following Tennyson's death, when a generation of post-Victorians reacted violently against what they considered his sappy sentimentalism, cloying moralism, and insensitive jingoism. Subsequent chapters describe how critics resurrected Tennyson, highlighting both his technical mastery and his social criticism. Special attention is given to major biographers and critics such as Harold Nicolson, the poet's grandson Sir Charles Tennyson, Jerome Buckley, R. B. Martin, Michael Thorn, and Peter Levi. A final chapter focuses on the ways Tennyson and his work have been addressed by poststructuralist critics. Throughout the study, Mazzeno demonstrates that the critics' reaction toTennyson reveals as much about themselves and the critical prejudices of their own times as it does about the Victorian Laureate and his poetry.

Laurence W. Mazzeno is president emeritus of Alvernia College, Reading, Pennsylvania. "Alfred Tennyson: The Critical Legacy explores the critics' reaction to the work of the nineteenth-century English poet most closely associated with the Victorian era. Perhaps more than any other Victorian poet, Tennyson's reputation has waxed and waned in the century since his death. He has been alternatively sanctified and vilified for his choice of subject matter, social outlook, morality, and techniques of versification. Individual poems have been at times celebrated as the greatest examples of their genre or condemned as contrived tours de force that warrant little critical attention. The poet's reputation has weathered even the most vitriolic attempts to discredit both the man and his writings; and as criticism of the late twentieth century demonstrates, Tennyson's claim to pre-eminence among the Victorians is now unchallenged." "In this narrative analysis of the critical tradition, Laurence Mazzeno begins with an examination of ways Tennyson was regarded by his contemporaries, before launching a detailed examination of twentieth-century criticism. A chapter is devoted to the period immediately following Tennyson's death, when a generation of post-Victorians reacted violently against what they considered his sappy sentimentalism, cloying moralism, and insensitive jingoism. Subsequent chapters describe ways critics resurrected Tennyson from the reactionaries, highlighting both his technical mastery and his ability to critique the society that had embraced him so dearly."--BOOK JACKET. CONTENTS ......Page 6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......Page 8 INTRODUCTION ......Page 10 1: Tennyson Among His Contemporaries: 1827–1892......Page 20 2: A Mixed Legacy: 1892–1916......Page 40 3: Criticism Pro and Con: 1916–1959......Page 74 4: The Tennyson Revival: 1960–1969......Page 113 5: The Height of Critical Acclaim: 1970–1980......Page 136 6: Tennyson Among the Poststructuralists: 1981–1989......Page 158 7: Tennyson Fin-de-Siècle: 1990–2000......Page 184 8: A Twenty-First Century Prospectus......Page 203 WORKS BY ALFRED TENNYSON ......Page 206 WORKS CITED ......Page 208 INDEX ......Page 236