Night Poetry As A Mean Of Literary Fiction
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55640/eijps-06-01-16Keywords:
Edward Young, Night Thoughts, eighteenth-century poetryAbstract
This article examines Night Thoughts by Edward Young as a major work of English literature distinguished by its philosophical depth, emotional intensity, and innovative poetic method. It explores the poem’s structure as a sequence of nocturnal meditations, the thematic unity of the first four Nights, and the moral and spiritual vision that underlies Young’s reflections on life, death, immortality, and eternity. Particular attention is given to the poem’s experiential origin in personal loss, its rejection of superficial melancholy in favor of hope and renewal, and its symbolic treatment of detachment from worldly illusion. The article also considers the significance of key figures such as Narcissa, the historical reception of the poem, and its gradual decline into obscurity despite early acclaim. Ultimately, the study argues for Night Thoughts as a work that transforms private grief into a universal meditation on moral reformation and enduring human concerns.
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References
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Young, Edward. With the Life of the Author. Illustrations by Thomas Stothard. London, 1798. Printed by C. Whittingham for T. Heptinstall.
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