Date of Award

6-1927

Degree Type

Bachelors Essay

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Department

English

First Advisor

Thomas P. Whelan

Second Advisor

William M. Magee

Abstract

Every writer, whether immortal or unknown, whether philosopher or humorist, ones his style or at least its foundation to some earlier writer. Though conscious or unconscious, there is always a trace of another's influence. In the works of some writers we behold a conscious modeling. They have studied sane chosen paragon- analyzed him and made him a part of themselves. They imitate and try to perfect him. They copy and improve upon his genius. In others we find an influence which may have been wholly indeliberate. Satis­faction and keen appreciation have led the author to bestow his attention upon some seemingly worthy object. He reads his works, studies his life and influences and then delves a step deeper. He analyzes the pieces and again their separate parts. Then he traces them to their sources and ascertains to what period of the author's life they belong and how the happenings of that period influenced his productions. Thus, quite unknowingly, he has made the author a part of himself. As Osgood said of Milton, a true student of Greek literature and art, he "sympathized with Greek imagination until he imagines in part as a Greek."

Comments

A Thesis Submitted in Partial Requirement For The Degree Of Bachelor of Arts

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