He is sometimes called Thomas Warton the younger to distinguish him from his father who had the same name. His most famous poem is The Pleasures of Melancholy, a representative work of the Graveyard poets.
Warton was born in Basingstoke, Hampshire, the son of poet Thomas Warton, the Elder, and younger brother of Joseph Warton and Jane Warton. As a youngster, Warton demonstrated a strong predilection toward writing poetry, a skill he would continue to develop all of his life.[1] In fact, Warton translated one of Martial's epigrams at nine, and wrote The Pleasures of Melancholy at seventeen.[2]
His early education was given to him by his father at home. In March 1744, aged 16, he entered Trinity College, Oxford. He graduated from Oxford in 1747, where he subsequently became a Fellow. Warton was selected as Poet Laureate of Oxford in 1747 and again in 1748. His duty in this post was to write a poem about a selected patroness of the university, which would be read to her on a specially appointed day.[1]
Among other important contributions, Warton, along with his brother, was among the first to argue that Sir Thopas, by Geoffrey Chaucer, was a parody. Warton contributed to the general project of the ballad revival. He was a general supporter of the poetry of Thomas Gray—a fact that Johnson satirized in his parody "Hermit hoar, in solemn cell." Among his minor works were an edition of Theocritus, a selection of Latin and Greek inscriptions, the humorous Oxford Companion to the Guide and Guide to the Companion (1762); lives of Sir Thomas Pope and Ralph Bathurst; and an Inquiry into the Authenticity of the Poems attributed to Thomas Rowley (1782).[2]
Warton gave little attention to his clerical duties, and Oxford always remained his home. He was known as a very easy and convivial as well as a very learned don, with a taste for taverns and crowds as well as dim aisles and romances.
Poetry, criticism and historical works
In a poem written in 1745 he shows the delight in Gothic churches and ruined castles which inspired much of his subsequent work in romantic revival. Most of Warton's poetry was written before the age of twenty-three, when he took his M.A. degree.[2] In 1749, he penned The Triumph of Isis, a poem in praise of Oxford and the many students who had received their education there. Published anonymously, The Triumph of Isis rebutted William Mason's Isis, an Elegy published the previous year, which was anything but flattering to Oxford.[1]
Following the success of The Triumph of Isis, Warton wrote Newmarket, a Satire, which was followed by a collection of verses. His complete poetical works were included in an anthology that was published in 1853.[5]
Although he continued to write poetry, Warton's main energies were turned to poetical reading and criticism.[2] His first major academic work was Observations on the Faerie Queene of Spenser, published in 1754. He is, however, best known for the three-volume The History of English Poetry (1774–81), which covered the poetry of the 11th through the 16th centuries. Although the work was criticized for its many inaccuracies, it is nonetheless considered a highly important and influential historical tome.[citation needed]
In 1782, he wrote The History and Antiquities of Kiddington, an early example of English local history.[6]
Various works
The Pleasures of Melancholy.
Observations on the Faerie Queene of Spenser. 1754.
The Oxford Sausage. 1764. – an anthology of verse and Oxford wit
Inquiry into the Authenticity of the Rowley Poems. 1770.
In 1910, Frida Mond endowed the British Academy with a fund to establish an annual Shakespeare oration or lecture, as well as an annual lecture on English poetry to be called the Warton Lecture, as a tribute to the memory of Thomas Warton as a historian of English poetry. The inaugural lectures in these series were delivered in 1911 and 1910, respectively.[7][8]
References
^ abcLife of Thomas Warton, the Younger 14 March 2006 at the Wayback Machine
^ abcdOne or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Warton, Thomas". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 337.
^'A literary party at Sir Joshua Reynolds's, D. George Thompson, published by Owen Bailey, after James William Edmund Doyle, published 1 October 1851
^"He was ordained and eventually served as professor of poetry at Oxford from 1757 to 1767." Warton, Thomas, 1728–90, English poet and literary historian, Bartleby.com. Accessed 9 December 2022.
^Willmott, Robert Aris, ed. (1853). The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray, Thomas Parnell, William Collins, Matthew Green, and Thomas Warton. London: Routledge.
^Warton, T. The History and Antiquities of Kiddington. 3rd edition (1815) in Google Books. Accessed 9 December 2022.
^"Frida Mond: A good friend to the British Academy". The British Academy.
^"Warton Lectures on English Poetry". The British Academy.
External links
Wikisource has original works by or about: Thomas Warton
Wikiquote has quotations related to Thomas Warton.
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For other people named Thomas Wharton see Thomas Wharton disambiguation Thomas Warton 9 January 1728 21 May 1790 was an English literary historian critic and poet He was appointed Poet Laureate in 1785 following the death of William Whitehead Thomas WartonPoet Laureate of the United KingdomIn office 20 April 1785 21 May 1790MonarchGeorge IIIPreceded byWilliam WhiteheadSucceeded byHenry James PyePersonal detailsBorn 1728 01 09 9 January 1728Basingstoke Hampshire EnglandDied21 May 1790 1790 05 21 aged 62 Oxford EnglandParentThomas Warton father Alma materTrinity College OxfordOccupationLiterary historian critic and poetHe is sometimes called Thomas Warton the younger to distinguish him from his father who had the same name His most famous poem is The Pleasures of Melancholy a representative work of the Graveyard poets Contents 1 Life 2 Poetry criticism and historical works 3 Various works 4 Warton Lectures 5 References 6 External linksLife EditWarton was born in Basingstoke Hampshire the son of poet Thomas Warton the Elder and younger brother of Joseph Warton and Jane Warton As a youngster Warton demonstrated a strong predilection toward writing poetry a skill he would continue to develop all of his life 1 In fact Warton translated one of Martial s epigrams at nine and wrote The Pleasures of Melancholy at seventeen 2 His early education was given to him by his father at home In March 1744 aged 16 he entered Trinity College Oxford He graduated from Oxford in 1747 where he subsequently became a Fellow Warton was selected as Poet Laureate of Oxford in 1747 and again in 1748 His duty in this post was to write a poem about a selected patroness of the university which would be read to her on a specially appointed day 1 A literary party at Sir Joshua Reynolds s 3 Left to right James Boswell Samuel Johnson Joshua Reynolds David Garrick Edmund Burke Pasquale Paoli Charles Burney a servant possibly Francis Barber Thomas Warton Oliver Goldsmith select a detail of the image for more information Warton was appointed Professor of Poetry at the university in 1757 a post that he held for ten years 4 In 1771 he was appointed rector of Kiddington in Oxfordshire a post he held until his death In 1785 he was appointed Camden Professor of History as well as Poet Laureate Among other important contributions Warton along with his brother was among the first to argue that Sir Thopas by Geoffrey Chaucer was a parody Warton contributed to the general project of the ballad revival He was a general supporter of the poetry of Thomas Gray a fact that Johnson satirized in his parody Hermit hoar in solemn cell Among his minor works were an edition of Theocritus a selection of Latin and Greek inscriptions the humorous Oxford Companion to the Guide and Guide to the Companion 1762 lives of Sir Thomas Pope and Ralph Bathurst and an Inquiry into the Authenticity of the Poems attributed to Thomas Rowley 1782 2 Warton gave little attention to his clerical duties and Oxford always remained his home He was known as a very easy and convivial as well as a very learned don with a taste for taverns and crowds as well as dim aisles and romances Poetry criticism and historical works EditIn a poem written in 1745 he shows the delight in Gothic churches and ruined castles which inspired much of his subsequent work in romantic revival Most of Warton s poetry was written before the age of twenty three when he took his M A degree 2 In 1749 he penned The Triumph of Isis a poem in praise of Oxford and the many students who had received their education there Published anonymously The Triumph of Isis rebutted William Mason s Isis an Elegy published the previous year which was anything but flattering to Oxford 1 Following the success of The Triumph of Isis Warton wrote Newmarket a Satire which was followed by a collection of verses His complete poetical works were included in an anthology that was published in 1853 5 Although he continued to write poetry Warton s main energies were turned to poetical reading and criticism 2 His first major academic work was Observations on the Faerie Queene of Spenser published in 1754 He is however best known for the three volume The History of English Poetry 1774 81 which covered the poetry of the 11th through the 16th centuries Although the work was criticized for its many inaccuracies it is nonetheless considered a highly important and influential historical tome citation needed In 1782 he wrote The History and Antiquities of Kiddington an early example of English local history 6 Various works EditThe Pleasures of Melancholy Observations on the Faerie Queene of Spenser 1754 The Oxford Sausage 1764 an anthology of verse and Oxford wit Inquiry into the Authenticity of the Rowley Poems 1770 History of English Poetry 1774 1781 The History and Antiquities of Kiddington 1782 Warton Lectures EditIn 1910 Frida Mond endowed the British Academy with a fund to establish an annual Shakespeare oration or lecture as well as an annual lecture on English poetry to be called the Warton Lecture as a tribute to the memory of Thomas Warton as a historian of English poetry The inaugural lectures in these series were delivered in 1911 and 1910 respectively 7 8 References Edit a b c Life of Thomas Warton the Younger Archived 14 March 2006 at the Wayback Machine a b c d One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Warton Thomas Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 28 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 337 A literary party at Sir Joshua Reynolds s D George Thompson published by Owen Bailey after James William Edmund Doyle published 1 October 1851 He was ordained and eventually served as professor of poetry at Oxford from 1757 to 1767 Warton Thomas 1728 90 English poet and literary historian Bartleby com Accessed 9 December 2022 Willmott Robert Aris ed 1853 The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray Thomas Parnell William Collins Matthew Green and Thomas Warton London Routledge Warton T The History and Antiquities of Kiddington 3rd edition 1815 in Google Books Accessed 9 December 2022 Frida Mond A good friend to the British Academy The British Academy Warton Lectures on English Poetry The British Academy External links Edit Wikisource has original works by or about Thomas Warton Wikiquote has quotations related to Thomas Warton Lee Sidney 1899 Warton Thomas 1728 1790 In Lee Sidney ed Dictionary of National Biography Vol 59 London Smith Elder amp Co pp 432 436 Thomas Warton at the Eighteenth Century Poetry Archive ECPA Works by Thomas Warton at Project Gutenberg Works by or about Thomas Warton at Internet Archive Works by Thomas Warton at LibriVox public domain audiobooks Court officesPreceded byWilliam Whitehead British Poet Laureate1785 1790 Succeeded byHenry James Pye Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Warton amp oldid 1126565936, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
