Spasmodic poets
Encyclopedia
Spasmodic is a term applied by William Edmonstoune Aytoun
to a group of British poets of the Victorian era
, with some derogatory as well as humorous intention. The epithet itself is attributed, by Thomas Carlyle
, to Lord Byron.
Spasmodic poets include George Gilfillan
, the friend and inspiration of William McGonagall. Gilfillan worked for 30 years on a long poem, but he is best known for his encouragement of the young Spasmodics in his literary reviews written under the pseudonym Apollodorus. Others associated were Sydney Thompson Dobell
, Philip James Bailey
, John Stanyan Bigg
(1826–1865), Alexander Smith
, and possibly Gerald Massey
.
The term "spasmodic" was also applied by contemporary reviewers to Elizabeth Barrett Browning
's Aurora Leigh, Tennyson
's Maud, Longfellow's
Golden Legend, and the poetry of Arthur Hugh Clough
. These poets are not generally included in the Spasmodic school by modern literary critics. Spasmodic poetry was extremely popular from the late-1840s through the 1850s when it abruptly fell out of fashion. Aytoun's parodic Firmilian: A Spasmodic Tragedy (1854) is credited with getting the verse of the Spasmodic school laughed down as bombast.
Spasmodic poetry frequently took the form of verse drama, the protagonist of which was often a poet. It was characterized by a number of features including lengthy introspective soliloquies by the protagonist, which led to the charge that the poetry was egotistical.
William Edmonstoune Aytoun
William Edmondstoune Aytoun FRSE was a Scottish lawyer and poet.Born in Edinburgh, he was the only son of Joan Keith and Roger Aytoun , a writer to the signet, and was related to Sir Robert Aytoun...
to a group of British poets of the Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
, with some derogatory as well as humorous intention. The epithet itself is attributed, by Thomas Carlyle
Thomas Carlyle
Thomas Carlyle was a Scottish satirical writer, essayist, historian and teacher during the Victorian era.He called economics "the dismal science", wrote articles for the Edinburgh Encyclopedia, and became a controversial social commentator.Coming from a strict Calvinist family, Carlyle was...
, to Lord Byron.
Spasmodic poets include George Gilfillan
George Gilfillan
George Gilfillan was a Scottish author and poet. He was one of the spasmodic poets, and an editor and commentator of earlier British poetry. He was born at Comrie, Perthshire, where his father, the Rev. Samuel Gilfillan, the author of some theological works, was for many years minister of a...
, the friend and inspiration of William McGonagall. Gilfillan worked for 30 years on a long poem, but he is best known for his encouragement of the young Spasmodics in his literary reviews written under the pseudonym Apollodorus. Others associated were Sydney Thompson Dobell
Sydney Thompson Dobell
Sydney Thompson Dobell , English poet and critic, was born at Cranbrook, Kent.His father was a wine merchant, his mother a daughter of Samuel Thompson , a London political reformer. The family moved to Cheltenham when Dobell was twelve years old. He was educated privately, and never attended either...
, Philip James Bailey
Philip James Bailey
Philip James Bailey , English poet, author of Festus, was born at Nottingham.- Life :His father, who himself published both prose and verse, owned and edited from 1845 to 1852 the Nottingham Mercury, one of the chief journals in his native town...
, John Stanyan Bigg
John Stanyan Bigg
John Stanyan Bigg was an English poet of the Spasmodic School.His major works are The Sea-King; A metrical romance, in six cantos , Night and the soul...
(1826–1865), Alexander Smith
Alexander Smith (poet)
Alexander Smith was a Scottish poet, and labelled as one of the Spasmodic School.-Life and works:...
, and possibly Gerald Massey
Gerald Massey
Gerald Massey was an English poet and self-educated Egyptologist. He was born near Tring, Hertfordshire in England.-Biography:...
.
The term "spasmodic" was also applied by contemporary reviewers to Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning was one of the most prominent poets of the Victorian era. Her poetry was widely popular in both England and the United States during her lifetime. A collection of her last poems was published by her husband, Robert Browning, shortly after her death.-Early life:Members...
's Aurora Leigh, Tennyson
Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson
Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson, FRS was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom during much of Queen Victoria's reign and remains one of the most popular poets in the English language....
's Maud, Longfellow's
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet and educator whose works include "Paul Revere's Ride", The Song of Hiawatha, and Evangeline...
Golden Legend, and the poetry of Arthur Hugh Clough
Arthur Hugh Clough
Arthur Hugh Clough was an English poet, an educationalist, and the devoted assistant to ground-breaking nurse Florence Nightingale...
. These poets are not generally included in the Spasmodic school by modern literary critics. Spasmodic poetry was extremely popular from the late-1840s through the 1850s when it abruptly fell out of fashion. Aytoun's parodic Firmilian: A Spasmodic Tragedy (1854) is credited with getting the verse of the Spasmodic school laughed down as bombast.
Spasmodic poetry frequently took the form of verse drama, the protagonist of which was often a poet. It was characterized by a number of features including lengthy introspective soliloquies by the protagonist, which led to the charge that the poetry was egotistical.