An Essay on the Writings and Genius of Shakespear Compared with the Greek and French Dramatic Poets: With Some Remarks Upon the Misrepresentations of Mons. de Voltaire |
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Page 14
ject of confideration , if we do not remember the different circumstances under
which these writings were composed . Shakespear's plays were to be acted in a
paltry tavern , to an unlettered audience , just emerging from barbarity : the Greek
...
ject of confideration , if we do not remember the different circumstances under
which these writings were composed . Shakespear's plays were to be acted in a
paltry tavern , to an unlettered audience , just emerging from barbarity : the Greek
...
Page 20
who affects an impartial and philosophic spirit , should not rather speak with
admiration , than contempt , of an author , who by the force of genius rose so
much above the age and circumstances in which he was born , and who , even
when he ...
who affects an impartial and philosophic spirit , should not rather speak with
admiration , than contempt , of an author , who by the force of genius rose so
much above the age and circumstances in which he was born , and who , even
when he ...
Page 62
... other species of Tragedy , where , if not very short , they teaze the spectator ,
whose mind is intent upon , and impatient for the catastrophe ; and unless they
arise necessarily out of the circumstances the person is in , they appear
unnatural .
... other species of Tragedy , where , if not very short , they teaze the spectator ,
whose mind is intent upon , and impatient for the catastrophe ; and unless they
arise necessarily out of the circumstances the person is in , they appear
unnatural .
Page 67
In these characters the rudest peasant read the sad history of his country : while
the better sort were informed of the most minute circumstances by our chronicles .
The tragedians who took their subjects from Homer , had all the advantage a ...
In these characters the rudest peasant read the sad history of his country : while
the better sort were informed of the most minute circumstances by our chronicles .
The tragedians who took their subjects from Homer , had all the advantage a ...
Page 78
With Some Remarks Upon the Misrepresentations of Mons. de Voltaire Mrs.
Montagu (Elizabeth). grow mad , thus very naturally , in the general calamity of
the storm , recurs to his own particular circumstances . LEAR . Spit fire , spout rain
; Nor ...
With Some Remarks Upon the Misrepresentations of Mons. de Voltaire Mrs.
Montagu (Elizabeth). grow mad , thus very naturally , in the general calamity of
the storm , recurs to his own particular circumstances . LEAR . Spit fire , spout rain
; Nor ...
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User Review - JamesBoswell - LibraryThingThe admirers of this Essay may be offended at the slighting manner in which Johnson spoke of it; but let it be remembered, that he gave his honest opinion unbiassed by any prejudice, or any proud ... Read full review
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Common terms and phrases
action admired affected againſt allowed ancient ANTONY appears attention Auguſtus blood Brutus Cæfar Cæſar cauſe character Cinna circumſtances common conduct Corneille critics death drama exhibited eyes fable fall fear firſt force French friends genius ghoſt give grace hath hear heart Henry hero himſelf hiſtory honour human imagination imitation intereſt judgment juſt kind king language learned leſs living lover Macbeth manners means mind moral moſt murder muſt nature never noble object obſerved original paſſion perfect perhaps perſon piece play pleaſe Poet Poetry preſent Prince reaſon rendered repreſented Roman Rome rules ſame ſays ſcene ſeems ſentiments ſet Shakeſpear ſhall ſhe ſhould ſome ſpeak ſpectator ſpeech ſpirit ſtage ſtate ſtill ſubject ſuch taſte tell thee theſe thing thoſe thou thought tion tragedy tranſlation turn uſe Voltaire whole whoſe writers