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以柏拉图为代表的古希腊哲学家对诗和诗人的批评由来已久,诗与哲学之争遂成为西方文学批评的一个焦点。无独有偶,我国宋代也出现过类似柏拉图那种以哲学否定诗的理论。英国诗人锡德尼和雪莱各自写了一篇《为诗辩护》,从大的学术背景看,他们的文章便是对这一论战的有力回答。雪莱的论文明显借鉴了锡德尼的一些主张,而两位诗人由于所处的时代不同,又各自面临新的问题。锡德尼之所以写《为诗辩护》,主要是针对极端的清教徒作家对诗歌的肆意诬蔑。而雪莱的辩论对手已从哲学变成科学。雪莱凭借诗人敏锐的洞察力,预示人类在享受科技文明的同时可能付出高昂的代价,而诗歌却可以使人摆脱过分商业化、机械化、物质化的窘境,进而保持自然快乐的天性。由此看来,雪莱为这场古老的论战注入了新的活力。
The ancient Greek philosophers, represented by Plato, have been criticizing poems and poets for a long time, and the dispute between poetry and philosophy has become a focus of western literary criticism. Coincidentally, China’s Song Dynasty also appeared similar to Plato that kind of philosophy to reject the theory of poetry. British poets Sidney and Shelley each wrote a “defense of poetry,” from a large academic background, their article is a powerful answer to this controversy. Shelley’s essay draws heavily on some of Sidney’s claims, and the two poets are each facing new problems because of their different times. The reason why Sidney wrote “defense of poetry” is mainly aimed at the wanton slander of poetry by extreme Puritan writers. Shelley’s opponents of the debate have changed from philosophy to science. Shelley’s poetic keen insight indicates that human beings may have to pay a high price while enjoying the civilization of science and technology. However, poetry can make people free themselves from the predicament of over-commercialization, mechanization and materialization, and thus maintain the natural and happy nature. From this, Shelley has breathed new life into this ancient controversy.