Who wrote 'A Defence of Poetry', and what primary event directly prompted its composition?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: Percy Bysshe Shelley; a reply to Thomas Love Peacock's 'The Four Ages of Poetry'
Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote 'A Defence of Poetry' in 1821 as a direct rebuttal to his friend Thomas Love Peacock's essay, 'The Four Ages of Poetry'. Peacock had jokingly argued that poetry was becoming obsolete in an age of science, utility, and technology. Shelley took the claim seriously, crafting an eloquent philosophical justification for the vital role of the poet in society.
Keep practicing
More A Defence of Poetry questions
- In 'A Defence of Poetry', how does Shelley define the difference between 'Reason' and 'Imagination' at the very beginning of the essay?
- How does Shelley characterize the relationship between language and the imagination?
- How does Shelley respond to the Utilitarian argument that science and political economy are more useful to society than poetry?
- In 'A Defence of Poetry', what does Shelley claim is the secret of moral goodness?
- According to Shelley, can an individual simply decide to write great poetry through conscious willpower and effort?
- What distinction does Shelley make between a 'story' (like a historical account) and a 'poem'?