How does F. R. Leavis evaluate the Queen Anne period?
Literature and Society is a notable literary work by F. R. Leavis. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, to various questions of Literature and Society.
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Question: How does F. R. Leavis evaluate the Queen Anne period?
In his essay “Literature and Society” (1937), F. R. Leavis (1895-1978) offers a critical evaluation of the Queen Anne period. This emphasizes its cultural impact and its importance for literature and society. Leavis discusses the Augustan tradition, which flourished during the Queen Anne period. He highlights both its strengths and its limitations. Here are key points from Leavis’s evaluation:
Cultural Belief and Social Integration: Leavis acknowledges the cultural enthusiasm of the Queen Anne period, noting that it was,
A period very confident of its flourishing cultural health.
He observes that during this time, there was a strong emphasis on social integration and conformity to established norms. Leavis writes,
An age in which such a tradition gets itself established is clearly an age in which the writer feels himself very much at one with society.
Limitations on Individual Creativity: Despite its cultural vitality, Leavis suggests that the Augustan tradition imposed limitations on individual creativity. He argues that the emphasis on social conformity stifled the deeper sources of originality in creative minds.
Reaction against Tradition: Leavis highlights the inevitable reaction against the Augustan tradition. His creative mind seeks to break free from its constraints. He notes that the stifling effect of social conformity led to a movement of protest among individuals with creative potential.
Emergence of Alternative Voices: Despite the dominance of the Augustan tradition, Leavis recognizes the emergence of alternative voices seeking to challenge its authority. He cites William Blake as an example of an artist who rebelled against the prevailing norms of his time. Leavis writes,
Blake uses the English language, and not one of his own invention; and to say that he uses it is not to say that it is for him a mere instrument.
In termination, Leavis evaluates the Queen Anne period as a time of cultural belief and social integration. He also highlights its limitations in promoting individual creativity. He emphasizes the inevitable reaction against tradition and the emergence of alternative voices challenging established norms.