Poetic Madness and the Romantic Imagination

This book explores the interplay between inspiration and madness in Romantic literature, particularly through the lens of Poetic Madness and the Romantic Imagination.

In Poetic Madness and the Romantic Imagination, Frederick Burwick examines the historical perspective that poets, during moments of inspiration, may be considered 'out of their senses'. This exploration delves into the theoretical implications of inspiration as furor poeticus, particularly as it was understood in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. By analyzing social and medical views on madness and the concept of poetic rapture, Burwick highlights the connections between poetic madness and critical theory, as well as the representation of mad poets in literature.

The period in question was marked by a mad king ruling England, along with mad prophets and poets, which naturally influenced writers of the time. Through fiction, many authors explored the nature of madness and its implications. Burwick's discussion of the mad poet in Romantic literature includes a close examination of the portrayal and reception of the Italian poet Torquato Tasso, particularly in Goethe's works and the writings of figures like Byron, Shelley, and Hazlitt. This analysis provides insight into how madness was thematically represented and critiqued.

In the final section of Poetic Madness and the Romantic Imagination, Burwick focuses on the visual strategies employed by poets such as Hölderlin, Nerval, and Clare to convey their visionary experiences. By weaving together various narratives of madness, he presents a comprehensive view of how the concept of poetic madness shaped Romantic literature and its enduring legacy in the literary canon.