Friday, March 14, 2008

Hazlitt and "My First Acquaintance with Poets"

Alice Hang
Dis 1B Fridays 11-12pm
William Hazlitt and “My First Acquaintance with Poets”

William Hazlitt was a revolutionary thinker. He advocated liberty and equality, which were both principles behind the French Revolution. He wrote in “plain, point-blank speaking” style. His essays were concisely written. He is the model for modern essay writers.

“My First Acquaintance with Poets”

His essay was about his first acquaintance with a poet, literally. He met Samuel Coleridge. He met Coleridge after listening him lecture. Then, he invited Coleridge to his house. After that, Hazlitt visited Coleridge and met William Wordsworth. This text mentions many other distinguished writers and poets and quotes many of their works.With this essay, he showed readers that at the end of the day, poets are normal people. He did this by explaining how he was surprised by Coleridge’s physical appearance and describing Wordsworth’s unrefined manners. Hazlitt praises these poets for their genius and creativity, but he also describes them in human terms. They are just like any other person. Poets are not immortal. They disagree with each other, argue, and have strange habits. But indeed, they are masterminds.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Full information of the topic is not covered sir

Unknown said...

Not enough