What did Thomas Carlyle mean by \Close thy Byron; open thy Goethe\ ?
Correct answer: C. Abandon the introspection of the Romantics and turn to the higher moral purpose found in Goethe.
- A. Britain's preeminence as a global power will depend on mastery of foreign languages.
- B. Even a foreign author is better than a homegrown scoundrel.
- C. Abandon the introspection of the Romantics and turn to the higher moral purpose found in Goethe.
- D. In a carefully veiled critique of the monarchy, Byron and Goethe stand in symbolically for Queen Victoria and Charles Darwin respectively.
Explanation
Carlyle contrasts Byron’s Romantic introspection and rebellious self-expression with Goethe’s disciplined, constructive and morally purposeful outlook. Thus, the phrase urges readers to turn from Byron’s inward passion to Goethe’s higher cultural ideal.
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