Francis Jeffrey

Definition

Francis Jeffrey was a prominent Scottish critic, journalist, and editor during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, best known for his role in shaping literary criticism in the Romantic period. He co-founded the influential Edinburgh Review, which provided a platform for new ideas and showcased works of emerging writers, thereby having a significant impact on Romantic poetry and criticism.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Francis Jeffrey was a strong advocate for the new generation of poets, such as Wordsworth and Coleridge, who were pivotal in the shift towards Romantic poetry.
2. He emphasized the importance of emotional expression and individual perspective in poetry, contrasting with the more rigid forms of earlier literature.
3. As an editor of the Edinburgh Review, Jeffrey played a key role in promoting literary works that reflected the values of Romanticism, helping to establish critical standards for evaluating poetry.
4. Jeffrey's essays often critiqued both established writers and contemporaries, influencing public opinion about literature and its evolving forms during his time.
5. His work contributed to the professionalization of literary criticism, setting precedents for future critics and shaping how literature would be analyzed in academic settings.

Review Questions

• How did Francis Jeffrey's editorial choices influence the perception of Romantic poetry during its emergence?
  • Francis Jeffrey's editorial choices at the Edinburgh Review had a profound impact on how Romantic poetry was perceived. By championing poets like Wordsworth and Coleridge, he highlighted their innovative styles that emphasized emotion and nature. His critiques provided a platform for these new ideas to reach a wider audience, ultimately helping to validate Romantic poetry as a significant literary movement.
• In what ways did Francis Jeffrey's approach to literary criticism differ from earlier forms of criticism?
  • Francis Jeffrey's approach to literary criticism marked a departure from earlier forms by prioritizing emotional expression and individualism over strict adherence to classical standards. He focused on how literature could reflect personal experience and societal change, rather than merely following established forms. This shift not only encouraged new writers but also redefined what constituted good literature in the eyes of critics and readers alike.
• Evaluate the lasting impact of Francis Jeffrey's contributions to literary criticism on modern understandings of Romantic literature.
  • Francis Jeffrey's contributions to literary criticism laid essential groundwork for modern understandings of Romantic literature. By advocating for emotional depth and subjective experience in poetry, he helped shape critical frameworks that still influence how we analyze literature today. His emphasis on individual perspective aligns with contemporary literary theories that explore diverse voices and interpretations, demonstrating his enduring relevance in the field of literary studies.

Related terms

Edinburgh Review: A literary magazine founded in 1802 by Francis Jeffrey and others that became a leading platform for literary criticism and discussion in Britain, particularly influential during the Romantic period.

Romanticism: An artistic and intellectual movement that emerged in the late 18th century, emphasizing emotion, nature, individualism, and a break from classical forms, significantly influencing literature, art, and philosophy.

Literary Criticism: The study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature that encompasses various approaches and methods to assess works and their contexts, playing a crucial role in shaping public perceptions of literature.