What is meant by genteel tradition?

What is meant by genteel tradition?

The term “genteel tradition” was coined by George Santayana (1863–1952) in 1911 in reference to an attempt by a group of refined New England intellectuals—poets, academics, editors, critics, and publishers—to control literary and moral standards, maintain social hierarchies, and encourage conservative political reform.

What was George Santayana known for?

George Santayana was a Spanish-born American philosopher who is regarded as one of the most important thinkers of the first half of the 20th century, and one of the most prominent champions of critical realism. He was also a critic, dramatist, educator, essayist, novelist, and poet.

Which of the following is the view of George Santayana?

Santayana’s philosophy rests on his naturalism and on his humane and sympathetic appreciation for the excellence of each life. But from the perspective of autobiography, Santayana’s clear notion of self-knowledge, in the sense of the Greeks, is his most distinguishing mark.

Who among the following poets was influenced by William James and George Santayana?

Eliot, Robert Frost, Gertrude Stein, Horace Kallen, Walter Lippmann, W. E. B. Du Bois, Conrad Aiken, Van Wyck Brooks, Felix Frankfurter, Max Eastman, Wallace Stevens. Stevens was especially influenced by Santayana’s aesthetics and became a friend even though Stevens did not take courses taught by Santayana.

What is the moral lesson of the poem Sonnet 29 by George Santayana?

In this sonnet, Santayana is challenging the assumptions people make in every day life when assigning emotions or categories to other people. The first line questions what you have that makes you “rich”. When you label someone as “poor”, then such a comparison must be made against some level of monetary value.

Why did George Santayana say Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it?

Georges Santayana says this line in the closing section of Volume I of his book. He basically argues that, if our world is ever going to make progress, it needs to remember what it’s learned from the past. After all, change isn’t the same thing as progress.

What lessons can we learn from the poem?

Although we commit mistakes and face failures there is always a hope for a next chance in our lives. We must have a strong desire to try and make our life and our world better.

Who is George Santayana and what did he do?

Philosopher, poet, literary and cultural critic, George Santayana is a principal figure in Classical American Philosophy. His naturalism and emphasis on creative imagination were harbingers of important intellectual turns on both sides of the Atlantic.

What was the purpose of the genteel tradition?

The term “genteel tradition” was coined by George Santayana (1863–1952) in 1911 in reference to an attempt by a group of refined New England intellectuals—poets, academics, editors, critics, and publishers—to control literary and moral standards, maintain social hierarchies, and encourage conservative political reform.

Who are some famous people from the genteel tradition?

The most significant genteel poets included George Henry Boker (1823–1890), Richard Henry Stoddard (1825–1903), Bayard Taylor (1825–1878), Edmund Clarence Stedman (1833–1908), and the Harvard School of George Cabot Lodge (1873–1909), William Vaughn Moody (1869–1910), George Santayana, and Trumbull Stickney (1874–1904).

What did the genteel intellectuals suppress in their time?

The genteel intellectuals suppressed any literature they deemed inappropriate for the refinement and uplift of American readers.