English literature

Music and Creation

• Nature of Music

  • Music is described as having a divine power, possibly equated with God.

  • Represents a harmonious order responding to divine voice.

  • The sequence of elements in creation: cold, hot, moist, dry leading to harmony.

  • The concept of God's voice catalyzing the universe into organized form.

• Diocesan Reference

  • Refers to an organ’s stock that produces the largest sound.

  • Symbolizes the grand creation where man, as the highest creation, makes the most significant noise.

  • Suggests the importance of music in representing the divine act of creation.

Human Music Emergence

• Power of Music

  • Explores the emotional impacts of music on human experience.

  • Quote: "What passion cannot music raise and quell?"

  • Introduces Jubal, the first to create a musical instrument from a shell that was revered as godlike.

• Examples of Music's Emotional Range

  • Trumpet: Inspires war and courage.

    • Lyrics reflect a call to arms, provoking thoughts of soldiers and battle.

  • Drum: Represents urgency and the charge into battle.

    • Sets the tone for the battle cry, indicates the loss of retreat.

  • Flute: Reflects sorrow in love and relationships.

    • Described as "soft complaining flute" that whispers woes of hopeless lovers.

  • Violence and Emotions:

    • Captures feelings of jealousy, desperation, and fury.

    • Relates this conflict to human relationships and emotional turmoil.

The Sacred and the Art of Music

• Organ as Sacred Instrument

  • The organ represents religious music, associated with worship.

  • Lyrics suggest music has a higher calling and spiritual ability.

• Orpheus Reference

  • Orpheus is capable of even moving nature with his music.

  • Comparison with Saint Cecilia, who outshines him, inspiring angels.

• Conclusion: Music’s potential is outlined as a divine connection, creating universal harmony through sacred songs.

Poetry: "Ode on Solitude" by Alexander Pope

• Characteristics of a Good Life

  • Reflects on simplicity and pastoral life.

  • A few paternal acres signify contentment with one's roots.

• Life on the Farm

  • Provides self-sufficiency: food, fuel, and shelter.

  • Highlights peaceful existence, healthy body, and intellectual richness.

• Themes in the Poem

  • Happiness Without Riches: Emphasizes quiet living, absence of fame, and connection to nature.

  • Desire for Obscurity: The protagonist wishes for an anonymous death, highlighting contentment in privacy.

Literary Overview: Samuel Johnson and Neoclassicism

• Samuel Johnson's Contribution

  • Major writer in the second half of the eighteenth century, contrasting with earlier neoclassic elements.

  • Significant influence on English literature, contributing to dictionaries and literary criticism.

• Fiction and Realism

  • Emphasizes realistic fiction as reflective of true life.

  • Advocates for literature to be didactic, especially for young and impressionable readers.

• Critical Approach to Novels

  • Novels should follow rules of poetry; literature must educate and reflect reality.

  • Highlights the responsibility of authors in shaping readers' morals and behaviors through their narratives.