Souls on Wing

Souls on wing, whether as bird or butterfly, occur with conspicuous frequency in nineteenth-century poetry. This article suggests that the phenomenon stems from the secularization of the concept "soul" as it moved from philosophy into psychology and was liberated for use as a poetic image....

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Ziolkowski, Theodore 1932-2020 (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Oxford University Press [2016]
In: Literature and theology
Year: 2016, Volume: 30, Issue: 3, Pages: 330-342
IxTheo Classification:CD Christianity and Culture
KAH Church history 1648-1913; modern history
VA Philosophy
ZD Psychology
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
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Summary:Souls on wing, whether as bird or butterfly, occur with conspicuous frequency in nineteenth-century poetry. This article suggests that the phenomenon stems from the secularization of the concept "soul" as it moved from philosophy into psychology and was liberated for use as a poetic image. The wings were borrowed from sources in world folklore, classical philosophy (notably Plato), and medieval religion (notably saints' lives). Poets were attracted to the winged soul as an image for the romantic imagination freed from the constraints of rationalism.
ISSN:1477-4623
Contains:Enthalten in: Literature and theology
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1093/litthe/frv009