Book Description

In her introduction the author states the criteria governing her analysis and it is seen that these differ only in nuance from those that would be accepted by any critic. For in many ways Christian poetry is no different from other kinds of verse; if it is good, this is not because it is Christian but because it is fine poetry. In earlier times, poets wrote naturally from a background of unquestioned Christianity. Subsequently, the spirit of unrest entered into poetic expression so that its statement became more personal and less indebted to Christian dogma for its inspiration. Subject-matter diversified and thus poetry, in retaining the integrity it has to have it if is to be of its age, became less recognizably Christian. Today, the poet who is a practising Christian will be informed in his work by the spirit of Christianity, but he will not necessarily confine himself to expressions of faith or religious experience. It is in this sense that the author examines Christianity in English-language poetry.