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.
Last updated
Practise Prose and Essayists
202 free Prose and Essayists MCQs from English Literature, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.
Exams that ask English Literature questions like this
English Literature is on 2 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.
Related questions
A diary of someone's day by day account of events_______________?
A person who writes about his own life writes ______________?
According to Dante, when is it most appropriate to use Latin ?
According to John Milton, political offices were to be filled by______________?
According to Pizan, what is the most important element in a woman's quest for equality ?