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Platonism in English poetry of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries cover

Platonism in English poetry of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries

By John Smith Harrison
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About This Book

A critical study tracing how Platonic and Neo‑Platonic ideas, mediated through Ficino and Plotinus, shaped English non‑dramatic poetry of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Treating the period’s verse as an integrated cultural expression rather than a series of individual cases, it analyzes how Platonic notions of beauty and the soul underlie poetic formulations of holiness, temperance, chastity, heavenly and earthly love, and the nature and eternity of God and matter. Drawing on classical texts and translations, the essay offers close readings of representative poems to show how Platonic metaphysics and aesthetics were adapted to Christian moral and devotional discourse.

About the Author

Harrison, John Smith portrait

John Smith Harrison

John Smith Harrison was a scholar and literary critic known for his exploration of philosophical themes in literature. His notable work, "Platonism in English Poetry of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries," examines the influence of Platonic thought on the poetry of that era, highlighting the interplay between philosophy and artistic expression. Harrison's analysis contributes to a deeper understanding of how philosophical ideas shaped the literary landscape during a transformative period in English literature.

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