Literature Network » Samuel Johnson

"The most fatal of all faults": Samuel Johnson on Prior's Solomon and the need for variety; Matthew Prior's "Solomon on the Vanity of the World."

Content courtesy of

From: Papers on Language & Literature
Date: 19970922
Author:Davis, Matthew M.

Examining the work of literary critic Samuel Johnson reveals that, contrary to some scholar's opinions, Johnson is consistent in his method of critiquing others' work. The key to success for Johnson is not merely conforming to ideological principles but to create a work that contains diversity. The worst thing an author can do is be repetitive, monotonous. Mixing dialogue with description and narrative keeps readers from growing weary.

As literary critics we are always tempted to blur the categories of instruction and pleasure, to conclude that a work of literature is aesthetically ...

Read the rest of this article with a Free Trial at HighBeam Research.

Other Articles on Samuel Johnson

About Our Articles: We've partnered with Highbeam Research to provide these article excerpts for your research needs. However, due to copyright laws, we cannot publish the whole article. To view these articles in full length you'll need to use the link above to access the free trial at Highbeam.