Question

The critic who opposed Eliot's theory of dissociation of sensibility:

• A. C.S. Lewis
• B. E.M.W. Tillyard
• C. E.V. Lucas
• D. David Lodge

Answer 1

Answer:

B. E.M.W. Tillyard

Key Points on E.M.W. Tillyard and the Dissociation of Sensibility:

• E.M.W. Tillyard (1897-1962) was a prominent British literary critic and historian, particularly known for his work on the Elizabethan era.
• He directly challenged T.S. Eliot's concept of the 'dissociation of sensibility'.
• Eliot's Theory: T.S. Eliot, in his influential essay 'The Metaphysical Poets' (1921), argued that poetry in the 17th century, particularly after John Donne, underwent a 'dissociation of sensibility.' He posited that poets lost the ability to fuse intellectual thought with emotional experience, leading to a decline in poetic quality.
• Tillyard's Counter-Argument: Tillyard, in works like The Elizabethan World Picture (1943) and Poetry and its Contemporaries: A Review of English Poetry from Donne to the Present Day (1944), contended that this dissociation was not as abrupt or complete as Eliot suggested.
• Focus on Elizabethan Unity: Tillyard emphasized the intellectual and emotional coherence present in Elizabethan and Jacobean poetry, arguing against a clear break in sensibility. He believed poets of that era, like Shakespeare, were capable of integrating thought and feeling effectively.
• Historical Context: Tillyard's work often focused on the historical and cultural context of the periods he studied, seeking to understand literature within its broader societal framework. This approach contrasts with Eliot's more impressionistic and aesthetic criticism.
• Impact on Criticism: The debate between Eliot and Tillyard highlighted differing approaches to understanding literary history and poetic development, influencing subsequent critical discussions on 17th-century poetry.