A. C. Bradley

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born: died: occupation: genre: influences:
26-Mar-1851 02-Sep-1935 Literary Critic, Philosopher, Professor of Poetry Literary Criticism, Philosophy William Shakespeare, Robert Browning, Victorian Literature.

Introduction:

Andrew Cecil Bradley, born on March 26, 1851, was a prominent British literary critic and Shakespearean scholar. He is best known for his influential works on Shakespeare, particularly his book "Shakespearean Tragedy," which has had a lasting impact on the study of Shakespearean drama.

Early Life and Education:

A. C. Bradley was born in Cheltenham, England. He attended Balliol College, Oxford, where he developed a passion for literature and philosophy. Bradley later became a fellow at Merton College, Oxford.

Academic Career:

Bradley had a distinguished academic career and served as a professor of poetry at the University of Oxford. His lectures and writings on Shakespearean drama earned him recognition as a leading authority on the subject.

Major Works:

"Shakespearean Tragedy" (1904): Bradley's most significant work, "Shakespearean Tragedy," is considered a classic in Shakespearean criticism. In this book, he explores the psychological depth and complexity of Shakespeare's tragic characters, examining themes of character, fate, and moral order.

"Oxford Lectures on Poetry" (1909): This collection of lectures covers various poets and poetic themes, showcasing Bradley's insights into the nature and significance of poetry.

Legacy:

A. C. Bradley's legacy lies in his profound impact on Shakespearean scholarship. His approach to analyzing Shakespeare's characters and themes through a psychological lens has influenced generations of scholars and readers.

Quotes.Network's Collection of Bradley's Wisdom:

While A. C. Bradley may not have a traditional collection of quotes, his wisdom is embedded in his writings, particularly "Shakespearean Tragedy." Exploring his analyses of Shakespeare's works provides a deeper understanding of the complexities and timeless themes present in the Bard's plays.


 

" The suffering and calamity are, moreover, exceptional. They befall a conspicuous person. They are themselves of some striking kind. They are also, as a rule, unexpected, and contrasted with previous happiness or glory. A tale, for example, of a man slowly worn to death by disease, poverty, little cares, sordid vices, petty persecutions, however piteous or dreadful it might be, would not be tragic in the Shakespearean sense. "
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A. C. Bradley
Suffering , Men , Vices
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" Such exceptional suffering and calamity, then, affecting the hero, and-we must now add-generally extending far and wide beyond him, so as to make the whole scene a scene of woe, are an essential ingredient in tragedy and a chief source of the tragic emotions, and especially of pity. But the proportions of this ingredient, and the direction taken by tragic pity, will naturally vary greatly. "
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A. C. Bradley
Suffering , Taken , Hero
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" Research, though toilsome, is easy; imagination, though delightful, is difficult. "
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A. C. Bradley
Imagination , Research , Easy
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