"The true Sovereign of the world," says Carlyle, "who molds the world, like soft wax, according to his pleasure, is he who lovingly sees into the world; the inspired Thinker whom in these days we name Poet." 12 12 Miscellaneous Essays, Vol. I, p. 152. CHAPTER II SOCIAL CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND IN THE TIME OF TENNYSON We are now to study somewhat in detail the application of the principles enunciated in the preceding chapter to the work of Alfred Tennyson. The poems of Tennyson would certainly not be selected first, if we were to choose volumes of nineteenth-century poetry in the order of their social significance; and some have gone so far as to say that the poems of the great laureate have no social importance at all. That this latter view is completely mistaken it will not, I think, be difficult to show. Because Tennyson was supremely the artist of his century, and one of the greatest artists of any century, the social value of his work as the mirror of his age has been ignored or positively denied; but we have seen that the social value of a literary product is not opposed to, but, in a sense, is dependent upon, its artistic quality. Artistic perfection does not of itself give assurance that any work will be of social service; but if a novel or poem which might otherwise possess "The true Sovereign of the world," says Carlyle, "who molds the world, like soft wax, according to his pleasure, is he who lovingly sees into the world; the inspired Thinker whom in these days we name Poet." 12 CHAPTER II SOCIAL CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND IN THE TIME OF TENNYSON We are now to study somewhat in detail the application of the principles enunciated in the preceding chapter to the work of Alfred Tennyson. The poems of Tennyson would certainly not be selected first, if we were to choose volumes of nineteenth-century poetry in the order of their social significance; and some have gone so far as to say that the poems of the great laureate have no social importance at all. That this latter view is completely mistaken it will not, I think, be difficult to show. Because Tennyson was supremely the artist of his century, and one of the greatest artists of any century, the social value of his work as the mirror of his age has been ignored or positively denied; but we have seen that the social value of a literary product is not opposed to, but, in a sense, is dependent upon, its artistic quality. Artistic perfection does not of itself give assurance that any work will be of social service; but if a novel or poem which might otherwise possess |