Parodies of Ballad Criticism (1711-1787) by William Wagstaffe and George Canning

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About this eBook

Author Wagstaffe, William, 1685-1725
Author Canning, George, 1770-1827
Editor Wimsatt, William K. (William Kurtz), 1907-1975
LoC No. 57001876
Title Parodies of Ballad Criticism (1711-1787)
A Comment Upon the History of Tom Thumb, 1711, by William
Wagstaffe; The Knave of Hearts, 1787, by George Canning
Note Reading ease score: 54.6 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.
Credits Produced by Louise Hope, David Starner and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Summary "Parodies of Ballad Criticism (1711-1787)" by William Wagstaffe and George Canning is a collection of satirical critiques written during the early 18th century. This work explores the realm of ballad poetry, specifically mocking the criticism that emerged around this genre in a period marked by a transition from classical to emerging Romantic aesthetics. The book serves as a commentary on the reception and valuation of ballads within the literary community of its time. The collection includes Wagstaffe’s "A Comment Upon the History of Tom Thumb" and Canning’s "The Knave of Hearts," offering a humorous take on serious literary criticisms. Wagstaffe’s piece humorously elevates the nursery tale of Tom Thumb, suggesting its merit as a great literary work, while lampooning the pretentiousness of contemporary literary criticism. Canning follows with a mock epic critique of "The Knave of Hearts," systematically adhering to epic conventions to humorously validate the simple ballad’s status as high art. Collectively, these pieces reveal the cultural tensions surrounding literary form, taste, and the ongoing dialogue between traditional ballads and more sophisticated poetry at the time. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class PR: Language and Literatures: English literature
Subject Parodies
Subject Ballads, English -- England -- History and criticism
Category Text
EBook-No. 22081
Release Date
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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