Arthur Symons, The Symbolist Movement in Literature

James Dowthwaite (Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena)

Ed. by Andrew Radford, University of Glasgow
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.08: English Writing and Culture of the early Twentieth Century , 1900-1945.
Vol. editors: Chris Baldick (Goldsmiths College, University of London), Peter Childs (Birmingham Newman University), Atasoy Emrah (University of Warwick), Louise McDonald (Birmingham Newman University), Andrew Radford (University of Glasgow)

Dates

First circulation or publication Mar 1900

Places

England (Publication/ performance)

Genres and Modes

Non-Fiction
- Commentary / Criticism (literary)

Resources

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It would not be an exaggeration to describe Arthur Symons as the mediator of Francophone symbolism for the English speakers of his generation, and the generation that followed him.

The Symbolist Movement in Literature

is the central reason for this reputation

Edmond Gosse called it “the finest product of pure criticism which has been seen in England in years” and hailed Symons as “the best English critic since Pater” (Gosse, in Symons,

Letters

147). Twenty years later, T. S. Eliot would describe his first encounter with it as “an introduction to wholly new feelings, as a revelation”. Despite certain demerits in individual interpretations, Eliot considered him the central introduction to French symbolism (Eliot,

The Sacred Wood

5). Aside from his writing on the topic, Symons…

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4113 words

Citation: Dowthwaite, James. "The Symbolist Movement in Literature". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 06 October 2023 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=39161, accessed 17 May 2024.]

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