Wordsworth's Biblical Ghosts

257 Pages·2001·0.88 MB·English

by  Deeanne Westbrook

Wordsworth’s Biblical Ghosts
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Wordsworth’s Biblical Ghosts
Deeanne Westbrook
WORDSWORTH’SBIBLICALGHOSTS
Copyright © Deeanne Westbrook, 2001
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in
any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of
brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
First published 2001 by PALGRAVETM
175 Fifth Avenue New York, N.Y.10010 and
Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS.
Companies and representatives throughout the world
PALGRAVE is the new global publishing imprint of St. Martin ‘s Press
LLC Scholarly and Reference Division and Palgrave Publishers Ltd
(formerly Macmillan Press Ltd).
ISBN 0-312-24014-7 hardback
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Westbrook, Deeanne
Wordsworth’s Biblical ghosts / Deeanne Westbrook.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0–312–24014–7
1. Wordsworth, William, 1770–1850—Religion. 2. Religion and
literature—England—History—19th century. 3. Religious poetry,
English—History and criticism. 4. Bible—In literature. I. Title.
PR5892.R4 W47 2001
821’.7—dc21
2001021320
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Design by Letra Libre, Inc.
First edition: September, 2001
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in the United States of America.
For Andy
Andrew Westbrook
1964–1997
. . . impatient as the wind
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Contents
Acknowledgements ix
Abbreviations xi
Preface 1
Chapter 1 Introduction:Poet in a Destitute Time 5
Chapter 2 The Word as Borderer:
Incarnational Poetics—The Theory 27
Chapter 3 The Word as Borderer:
Of Clothing and Incarnation—The Practice 49
Chapter 4 How Awesome Is This Place!
Wordsworth’s Poems on the Naming of Places 79
Chapter 5 Wordsworth’s Prodigal Son:
Michael as Parable and as Metaparable 99
Chapter 6 Wordsworth’s Song of Songs:
“Nutting”as Mystical Allegory 123
Chapter 7 Wordsworthian Apocalyptics:
Definitions and Biblical Intertexts 145
Chapter 8 Wordsworthian Apocalyptics
in Which Nothing Is Revealed 177
Notes 209
Works Cited 233
Index 239
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Acknowledgements
My research for this book has validated and deepened my respect
for the community of Wordsworthian scholars, with several of
whom I have carried on an interior and lopsided dialogue over
the last several years. Their scholarship has furnished a foundation for
my work, and their informed and thoughtful texts enter my analyses at
every turn. I am grateful to my generous colleague, Carol Franks, who
read and helped edit the chapters as they were emerging, and to the fine
editors at Palgrave, Kristi Long and her staff. Finally, my mentor in this
endeavor has been Romantics scholar, editor, and generous lady, Marilyn
Gaull, whose encouragement and support I treasure.