Romanticism Comes of Age
77
Romanticism Comes of Age
Barfield's examination of Romanticism is less about dissecting verse and more about charting a course through the shifting landscape of human consciousness. He positions the Romantic poets not merely as artists but as prophets of a nascent subjectivity, individuals whose linguistic innovations were symptomatic of a profound change in how reality was perceived. The book's strength lies in its intellectual rigor, tracing the lineage of ideas from the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason to the Romantic era's embrace of imagination and feeling. A notable challenge for the reader is Barfield's dense prose, which demands sustained attention; concepts like "idolatry of the eye" require careful unpacking. The exploration of how Coleridge's philosophical ideas influenced his poetry, moving beyond simple biographical links, offers a compelling perspective on the period's intellectual ferment. Ultimately, "Romanticism Comes of Age" offers a unique, philosophically charged lens through which to view a foundational period in Western thought.
📝 Description
77
Owen Barfield's 1986 book analyzes Romanticism as a turning point in consciousness.
Published in 1986, Owen Barfield's "Romanticism Comes of Age" examines the Romantic movement not as a literary style, but as a significant shift in human consciousness and perception. Barfield, known for his association with the Inklings, applies his theories on semantic change and the history of thought to the poets and philosophers of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He investigates how thinkers like William Blake and Samuel Taylor Coleridge grappled with imagination, nature, and the divine, reflecting a changing view of reality.
The book is for readers interested in the philosophical roots of literary movements and the evolution of human thought. Those familiar with Barfield's earlier works, such as "Poetic Diction" and "Saving the Appearances," will find a continuation of his ideas. Students of philosophy, literature, and the history of ideas will find value in its analysis of the origins of modern subjective experience. Barfield's work engages with the intellectual currents of the post-war era, reassessing the Enlightenment and the role of language and consciousness.
Owen Barfield's work on consciousness and language connects to traditions that see human perception as historically conditioned and capable of transformation. His focus on the 'idolatry of the eye' and the move from a mythopoeic worldview to one dominated by empirical observation echoes anthroposophical ideas concerning the development of the human mind and its relationship to the spiritual world. Barfield's analysis of Romanticism as a crucial stage in this development aligns with esoteric thought that views historical epochs as significant moments in the unfolding of human awareness and its potential for spiritual insight.
💡 Why Read This Book?
• Gain insight into Barfield's concept of "evolution of consciousness," understanding how human perception has historically transformed, particularly through the lens of the Romantic movement. • Grasp the significance of "idolatry of the eye" and how Barfield argues Romantic poets resisted this trend, offering a new synthesis of subjective and objective experience. • Appreciate the philosophical context of figures like Samuel Taylor Coleridge, moving beyond literary analysis to understand their role in shaping modern subjective experience.
⭐ Reader Reviews
Honest opinions from readers who have explored this book.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is Owen Barfield's core argument in "Romanticism Comes of Age"?
Barfield argues that the Romantic movement represented a crucial stage in the evolution of human consciousness, a transition from a more objective, mythopoeic worldview to one increasingly shaped by individual subjectivity and imagination.
When was "Romanticism Comes of Age" first published?
The book was first published in 1986, many years after the Romantic era itself, allowing Barfield to analyze its long-term impact on consciousness and culture.
How does Barfield connect Romanticism to language?
He explores how Romantic poets, through their innovative use of language and metaphor, began to articulate new ways of experiencing and understanding the world, reflecting and shaping the evolving consciousness of their time.
Who were some key figures Barfield discusses in relation to Romantic consciousness?
Barfield engages with the ideas and works of prominent Romantic figures, including William Blake, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and William Wordsworth, examining their contributions to the development of subjective experience.
What is "idolatry of the eye" according to Barfield?
Barfield uses this term to describe a worldview that overly prioritizes empirical observation and sensory data, potentially neglecting the role of imagination and inner experience. He sees Romanticism as a reaction against this.
Is this book a typical literary history of Romanticism?
No, "Romanticism Comes of Age" is more of a philosophical inquiry into the history of consciousness, using Romanticism as a case study rather than a standard literary survey.
🔮 Key Themes & Symbolism
Evolution of Consciousness
Barfield posits that human consciousness is not static but evolves historically. "Romanticism Comes of Age" traces a critical juncture in this evolution, arguing that the Romantic movement marked a significant shift in how individuals perceived reality, moving from a collective, mythic understanding to a more individualized, imaginative apprehension. This concept is central to understanding Barfield's approach to literature and philosophy, viewing artistic and intellectual movements as manifestations of deeper psychic transformations within humanity.
Idolatry of the Eye
This concept refers to an over-reliance on empirical observation and sensory input, potentially leading to a diminished capacity for imaginative participation in reality. Barfield suggests that the Enlightenment fostered this tendency. He views the Romantic poets as actively resisting the "idolatry of the eye" by championing imagination, intuition, and subjective experience as vital tools for understanding the world, thereby re-enchanting reality.
The Role of Imagination and Metaphor
Barfield emphasizes how imagination and the creative use of metaphor were central to the Romantic project of redefining human consciousness. He analyzes how poets like Coleridge used figurative language not merely for decoration but as a means to access deeper truths and to reintegrate the self with the cosmos. This linguistic innovation, for Barfield, was a key indicator of the evolving consciousness he seeks to chart.
Pre- and Post-Enlightenment Worldviews
The book contrasts the worldview prevalent before the Enlightenment, characterized by a more direct, participatory experience of nature and myth, with the increasingly analytical and detached perspective that followed. Romanticism, in Barfield's view, represented a conscious effort to bridge this gap, re-establishing a connection between the inner world of the human spirit and the outer world of nature.
💬 Memorable Quotes
Direct passages from the work, attributed to the author.
“Consciousness evolves; it is not a fixed entity.”
— This expresses Barfield's dynamic view of human awareness, suggesting that our ways of knowing and experiencing the world have changed throughout history, with specific movements like Romanticism marking significant developmental stages.
“The danger of relying solely on sensory perception.”
— This refers to Barfield's critique of "idolatry of the eye," suggesting that a purely empirical approach can limit our understanding and disconnect us from deeper, imaginative, or spiritual dimensions of existence.
“Imagination as a faculty for knowing, not just creating.”
— Barfield elevates imagination beyond mere fancy, positioning it as a vital cognitive tool capable of revealing truths about reality that are inaccessible through reason or empirical observation alone.
“The shift from collective myth to individual subjective experience.”
— This concept describes the historical transition Barfield observes, where cultural understanding moved from shared, ancient narratives to a greater emphasis on personal feeling, perception, and individual insight during the Romantic era.
💡 Key Ideas
Editorial paraphrase of the work's core concepts — not direct quotes.
The Romantic poets began to reintegrate the human mind with the world.
This paraphrased concept highlights Barfield's central thesis: that Romanticism was not just an artistic style but a philosophical and psychological turning point, seeking to mend a perceived fracture between human perception and external reality.
🌙 Esoteric Significance
Tradition
Barfield's work draws heavily from a lineage of esoteric thought that views consciousness as evolving and that emphasizes the power of imagination and inner experience. While not strictly adhering to a single tradition like Hermeticism or Theosophy, his ideas resonate with anthroposophy (developed by Rudolf Steiner, whom Barfield knew) and the broader spiritual-philosophical inquiries into the nature of reality and human perception that characterize much Western esotericism.
Symbolism
A key symbolic motif Barfield explores is the transformation of the relationship between humanity and nature. Nature, in pre-Romantic thought, was often perceived as imbued with spirit or myth. The "idolatry of the eye" leads to nature becoming a mere object of scientific study. Romanticism, for Barfield, represented an attempt to symbolically re-enchant nature through imagination, seeing it again as a mirror of the human soul and a source of spiritual insight.
Modern Relevance
Barfield's concept of the evolution of consciousness and his critique of "idolatry of the eye" remain highly relevant. Contemporary thinkers and practitioners in fields ranging from consciousness studies and integral theory to ecopsychology and even certain strands of post-Jungian psychology echo his concerns about the fragmentation of experience and the need to reintegrate subjective and objective realities. His work provides a philosophical foundation for understanding the development of modern subjectivity.
👥 Who Should Read This Book
• Students of Western esotericism and the history of consciousness seeking to understand the philosophical underpinnings of major cultural movements like Romanticism. • Readers interested in Owen Barfield's intellectual contributions, particularly his theories on language, imagination, and the evolution of human perception, who want to see them applied to a specific historical period. • Philosophers and literary critics seeking to move beyond conventional analysis and explore the deeper psychological and spiritual dimensions of literary and cultural history.
📜 Historical Context
Published in 1986, "Romanticism Comes of Age" engaged with the intellectual currents of the mid-to-late 20th century, which saw a resurgence of interest in the philosophical implications of language and consciousness, partly as a reaction against positivism. Barfield's work stood apart from standard literary criticism of the Romantic period (c. 1780-1850), which often focused on biographical details or formal analysis. His approach was deeply influenced by his own philosophical development, particularly his earlier work on "Poetic Diction" (1928) and his association with the Inklings, including C.S. Lewis, who himself wrote extensively on myth and imagination. While Barfield's ideas about consciousness evolution had roots in earlier thinkers like Goethe, his specific articulation offered a unique perspective on how the Romantic era laid the groundwork for modern subjective experience, a topic also explored by continental philosophers like Martin Heidegger and Maurice Merleau-Ponty, though with different methodologies.
📔 Journal Prompts
The Romantic poets' resistance to the "idolatry of the eye".
The concept of "evolution of consciousness" in relation to your own perception.
Imagination's role in bridging subjective and objective experience.
How language shapes our understanding of reality, as seen in Romantic poetry.
The reintegration of the human mind with the world.
🗂️ Glossary
Evolution of Consciousness
Barfield's theory that human consciousness has developed historically, undergoing qualitative shifts in perception, understanding, and relationship to the world over time.
Idolatry of the Eye
A term coined by Barfield referring to the tendency to value only what can be perceived through the senses and empirical observation, neglecting imagination and inner experience.
Romanticism
A broad artistic, literary, musical, and intellectual movement that originated in Europe toward the end of the 18th century, emphasizing emotion, individualism, and glorification of the past and nature.
Poetic Diction
The specific language, style, and vocabulary used in poetry, which Barfield analyzes as a key indicator of shifts in consciousness and worldview.
Subjectivity
The quality of existing in someone's mind rather than the external world; emphasis on personal experience, feelings, and perceptions.
Metaphor
A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable, used by Barfield to explore how language reflects consciousness.
Anthroposophy
A spiritual philosophy founded by Rudolf Steiner, concerning knowledge of the human being and the wider universe, with which Barfield was closely associated.
🔮 Readers Also Liked
Browse all →
More Free Occult Philosophy Books
View all →
