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The Exemplary Seamus Heaney
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Abstract
Chapter 2 assesses the longstanding critical controversies surrounding Heaney’s negotiation of the concepts of public and private, political and aesthetic, community and autonomy. A new way into these ongoing controversies can be found, the chapter argues, by reading Heaney’s poetry through the lens of his interest in literary exemplarity. The chapter’s close readings show that Heaney had an ongoing preoccupation with exemplars, paradigms, and ideals. Through these readings I argue that the concept of the example was a key mode through which he negotiated the tension between political engagement and aesthetic autonomy which was present throughout his life.
Oxford University PressOxford
Title: The Exemplary Seamus Heaney
Description:
Abstract
Chapter 2 assesses the longstanding critical controversies surrounding Heaney’s negotiation of the concepts of public and private, political and aesthetic, community and autonomy.
A new way into these ongoing controversies can be found, the chapter argues, by reading Heaney’s poetry through the lens of his interest in literary exemplarity.
The chapter’s close readings show that Heaney had an ongoing preoccupation with exemplars, paradigms, and ideals.
Through these readings I argue that the concept of the example was a key mode through which he negotiated the tension between political engagement and aesthetic autonomy which was present throughout his life.
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