Title: The Spectator Vol. 1,2 and 2 by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele: No 62

Subject: The Spectator Vol. 1,2 and 2 by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele: No 412

Date:

<aside> 💡 Key Points:

• Main Ideas
• Key words
  • Plebs-Commons
  • Wit
• Questions that connect points
  • Like Moses’ serpent
• Important points

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<aside> ✏️ Notes:

Main lecture notes; Joseph Addison (pages 32-34)

• Addison highlights the greatnes of literature.
• His literary criticism first appeared in the newspaper.
• He made the language of philosophy for the common people.
• He wrote, the past critics have already said all there is to say, and to write after them is to expound upon and justify their past criticism.
• Philosophy was the elegant common sense apt to humankind”
• He known as British Virgil and the suave and homely Marcus Aurelius
• He brought philosophy out of closets and libraries to dwell in clumbs and assemblies at tea tables and coffee houses.
• He avoided lofty or pious language in his criticism. His literary goal was “to endeavor to enliven moralty with wit and to temper wit with morality”
• For him greatness in literature iis not mechanical superiority but the prowess to display the immensity of life in a way that transcends imagination.
• Sublime comes from great ideas and vehement passions.
• His critic writings touched on politics, sciences, arts, society and any other concert pertinent to humanity.
• He aimed to enlighten common British citizens by giving to them the writings of the classical authors presenten in simple, cleat prose that could be discussed in the coffee houses.

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<aside> 📎 Summary:

A brief summary and conclusion about the notes/lecture

• No. 62: In this essay, Addison introduces the concept of the sublime, which he defines as “an Idea of great Dimensions” that fills the mind with wonder and delight. He distinguishes the sublime from the beautiful, which he says is “an Idea of small Dimensions” that produces pleasure and satisfaction. He also explains that the sublime can be derived from three sources: greatness, uncommonness, and beauty. He gives examples of each source, such as the vastness of the universe, the rarity of a comet, and the splendor of a rainbow. He argues that the sublime is a powerful and noble pleasure that elevates the soul and expands the imagination.

• No. 412: In this essay, Addison continues his discussion of the sublime, and focuses on how it is produced by the works of art and nature. He compares the effects of poetry, painting, architecture, and gardening on the imagination, and shows how they can create sublime scenes by using proper figures, colours, proportions, and designs. He also praises the ancient and modern masters of each art, and gives examples of their sublime creations, such as Homer’s description of the shield of Achilles, Raphael’s painting of the transfiguration, the dome of St. Peter’s, and the gardens of Versailles. He concludes that the sublime is a result of the harmony and order of the parts that compose a whole, and that it reflects the wisdom and power of the Creator.

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Joseph Addison: The Sublime in Literature and the Power of Criticism

Joseph Addison, known as the British Virgil and the suave and homely Marcus Aurelius, was a prominent figure in the realm of literature. His literary criticism, which first appeared in newspapers, highlighted the greatness of literature and aimed to make the language of philosophy accessible to the common people.

Addison believed that the past critics had already said all there was to say, and to write after them was to expound upon and justify their past criticism. He viewed philosophy as the elegant common sense apt to humankind and brought it out of closets and libraries to dwell in clubs and assemblies at tea tables and coffee houses. In his criticism, Addison avoided lofty or pious language. His literary goal was “to endeavor to enliven morality with wit and to temper wit with morality.” For him, greatness in literature was not mechanical superiority but the prowess to display the immensity of life in a way that transcends imagination. Addison introduced the concept of the sublime, which he defined as “an Idea of great Dimensions” that fills the mind with wonder and delight. He distinguished the sublime from the beautiful, which he said is “an Idea of small Dimensions” that produces pleasure and satisfaction. He explained that the sublime could be derived from three sources: greatness, uncommonness, and beauty. He gave examples of each source, such as the vastness of the universe, the rarity of a comet, and the splendor of a rainbow. He argued that the sublime is a powerful and noble pleasure that elevates the soul and expands the imagination.

In his essay No. 412, Addison continued his discussion of the sublime, focusing on how it is produced by the works of art and nature. He compared the effects of poetry, painting, architecture, and gardening on the imagination, showing how they can create sublime scenes by using proper figures, colors, proportions, and designs. He praised the ancient and modern masters of each art, giving examples of their sublime creations, such as Homer’s description of the shield of Achilles, Raphael’s painting of the transfiguration, the dome of St. Peter’s, and the gardens of Versailles. He concluded that the sublime is a result of the harmony and order of the parts that compose a whole, and that it reflects the wisdom and power of the Creator. Addison’s critical writings touched on politics, sciences, arts, society, and any other concert pertinent to humanity. He aimed to enlighten common British citizens by giving them the writings of the classical authors presented in simple, clear prose that could be discussed in the coffee houses.

In conclusion, Joseph Addison’s contributions to literature and literary criticism were profound and far-reaching. His exploration of the sublime in literature and his advocacy for the power of criticism have left an indelible mark on the field of literary studies. His work continues to inspire and inform scholars and readers alike, underscoring the enduring relevance and vitality of his insights.