2006 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
The Influence of the Oxford Movement on English Literature
| Project/Area Number |
16520151
|
|---|
| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
|
| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
|---|
| Section | 一般 |
|---|
| Research Field |
ヨーロッパ語系文学
|
|---|
| Research Institution | Kobe University |
|---|
Principal Investigator |
NOTANI Keiji Kobe University, Faculty of Cross-Cultural Studies, Professor, 国際文化学部, 教授 (80164698)
|
|---|
| Project Period (FY) |
2004 – 2006
|
| Keywords | Oxford Movement / J.H. Newman / J.H. Shorthouse / T.S. Eliot |
|---|
| Research Abstract |
The Oxford Movement has been traditionally thought to begin when John Keble delivered the assize sermon at St Mary's, Oxford, in 1833. This view is based upon the remark of John Henry Newman's expressed in his Apologia Pro Vita Sua. The spirit of the movement can be succinctly described as the sanctification of not only the established Church of England, but also of life in general. The early nineteenth century England saw the advancement, or rather onslaught to churchmen, of liberalism in theology as well as in political philosophy. The movement aimed at blocking this evil trend. The leaders of the Oxford Movement upheld the idea of the Apostolic succession as the authority of their church's holy origin and constitution.
In the background of this primarily religious movement were the Romantic movement and medievalism. It is well known that Walter Scott was greatly admired by the followers of the movement, and together with followers of the Gothic Revival and other aesthetic trends, they represented anti-modern feelings prevalent in the industrialized society of the Victorian age.
This religious movement exerted an undeniable influence on English literature, starting with John Keble's The Christian Year and J. H. Newman's novel Loss and Gain. The effect is observable in the latter half of the 19th century particularly in J. H. Shorthouse's influential John Inglesant and G. M. Hopkins' poetry, and even in the 20th century authors like T. S. Eliot.
|
