...'/The^business of a poett said Imlac, is to examine, not the individual, but the species ; te-refflarE "general properties and large appearances : /he does not number the streaks of the 1-1 TOttp~,"or describe the different shades in the verdure of the forest. /He is to exhibit in his...

...the language of poetry should be vague. Dr. Johnson said that it was not the business of the poet to "number the streaks of the tulip, or describe the different shades in the verdure of the forest." 20 Although his Imlac was speaking mainly of the subject-matter of poetry here, the writers of the...

...critique on ancient epic practice. Likewise, Imlac's Neo-classic statement that "the business of a poet is to examine not the individual but the species; to remark general properties and large appearances"67 is strongly reminiscent of the constant asseveration of the novelists that they sought...

...critique on ancient epic practice. Likewise, Imlac's Neo-classic statement that "the business of a poet is to examine not the individual but the species; to remark general properties and large appearances"67 is strongly reminiscent of the constant asseveration of the novelists that they sought...

...quote Johnson again, 'the business of a poet ... is to examine, not the individual, but the species ... he does not number the streaks of the tulip, or describe...the different shades in the verdure of the forest'. Clare ignored this advice. He habitually counted the eggs in birds' nests and noted how 'the odd number...

...poet, how much potential poetic material he must neglect — Imlac points to the final goals of art: " 'The business of a poet,' said Imlac, 'is to examine,...the different shades in the verdure of the forest' " (R 10.28). At this point, the poet and Imlac are indistinguishable; his business is the speaker's...

...extreme linguistic peculiarities. and the lack of common expressions. For him. "The business of a poet is to examine. not the individual. but the species;...remark general properties and large appearances":' a view contrary to the direction that poetics and rhetoric are about to take iwe may add aesthetics...

...qualities. We may think of them as being like Imlac's definition of poetry in Rasselas, chapter 10: 'The business of a poet, said Imlac, is to examine, not the individual, but the species; ... he does not number the streaks of the tulip, or describe the different shades of verdure of the...

...chapter i0: 'The business of a poet, said Imlac, is to examine, not the individuaL but the species; ... he does not number the streaks of the tulip, or describe the different shades of verdure of the forest." This is, of course, not Johnson himself speaking, but his sober philosopher,...

...must be considered proper matter of poetry. Eliot quotes Imlac in Rasselas: "The business of a poet is to examine, not the individual, but the species;...the different shades in the verdure of the forest ..." (179) Interestingly, Eliot's sympathetic quotation of these lines coincides historically with...