Giuran, Mihai-Ion; (1991) Mihail Eminescu, an exponent of Romanian Romanticism. Masters thesis (M.Phil), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

The first chapter deals with a general view of Romanticism, its origin and contents. It shows the critics' ceaseless but unsuccessful struggle to give a more comprehensive definition of the term and the difficulty in describing this complex phenomenon emerging in opposition to Classicism in the last decades of the 18th century in the most advanced literatures of Europe. The following chapter Romanian Enlightenment - illustrates the development of the Romanian language and literature in the period leading to the appearance of Eminescu's Romantic work. At the same time it explains why Romanian Romanticism acquired a strong national character. The description of Romanian pre-Romanticism and the beginning of Romanian Romanticism emphasises that, unlike Romanticism in other European countries, Romanian Romanticism went hand in hand with Classicism, which survived and played an important role in the progress of the Romanian language and culture. After a short presentation of Eminescu's life, with biographical data, the character and formation of the poet's personality, as well as his environment and circumstances, there follows a detailed analysis of Eminescu's Romantic work, with an assessment of the - 3 - constituent elements of his poetry and prose and of his achievements. Among the Romantic themes and motifs that dominate Eminescu's works, Love and Nature are the most significant. Love and sorrow are two constant dimensions of his life which are reflected in his writings. For Eminescu, love is the triumph of feelings over reason. Fabulousness, dreams, passion, titanism and myth are the elements of Romantic style most frequently found in his works. His masterpiece 'The Evening Star' is the archetypal image of the poet which reveals the quintessence of his poetical creativity. The allegory of 'The Evening Star' is the drama of the genius who is not understood by terrestrial beings, but who is conscious of his immortalization through the force of his ideas, feelings and supreme achievements. Eminescu's art of poetry and the influences in his work form another important part of this thesis. Among them history, the beauties of the poet's motherland, everyday life, the past, folklore and works by Romanian and foreign writers are the most conspicuous. Eminescu is not only a great national poet. He is one of the great Romantic poets of the world. The art and beauty of his works establish his place among them, and 'The Evening Star' bears comparison with the best Romantic poems that exist.

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