Originally, English was not considered a serious subject for elite universities like Oxford and Cambridge, which favored the "manly" rigors of the Classics (Greek and Latin).
While "The Rise of English" is a cornerstone of cultural studies, it is not without critics.
Poet and critic Matthew Arnold believed that "Culture" was the ultimate antidote to "Anarchy." He argued that exposure to the "best which has been thought and said" would humanize the masses and prevent class warfare. F.R. Leavis and Scrutiny Terry eagleton the rise of english pdf
Eagleton also challenges the notion of literature as a neutral, autonomous sphere, arguing that literary texts are always embedded in specific historical, social, and cultural contexts. He advocates for a more nuanced and contextualized approach to literary analysis, one that takes account of the complex power dynamics and social relations that shape literary production and reception.
"English" stepped in to fill this gap. It was designed to provide a secular, unifying "culture" that could promote a sense of national identity, duty, and social harmony, often distracting from the material inequalities of capitalism. 2. Key Figures in the Rise of English Originally, English was not considered a serious subject
Decades after its publication, Eagleton’s critique feels remarkably prescient. The culture wars surrounding university curricula, discussions about decolonizing the canon, and debates over the utility of the humanities in a corporate-driven world all echo the points Eagleton raised in 1983. By exposing the political architecture behind the study of books, "The Rise of English" ensures that readers can never look at a syllabus, a library, or a literary masterpiece as entirely neutral objects ever again.
A major focus of Eagleton’s critique is the "Scrutiny" movement, led by the influential Cambridge critic F.R. Leavis. While Leavis and his followers saw themselves as guardians of a "great tradition" of moral and aesthetic value, fighting against the corrupting influence of mass culture, Eagleton viewed them in a different light. In his analysis, the Leavisite project was a last-ditch effort by a beleaguered, elitist minority to use English literature as a tool for "social and political change". However, because their focus was on preserving an idealized version of a pre-industrial, organic community, they were ultimately an impotent force for genuine political change. Their project was, in Eagleton’s view, reactionary rather than revolutionary. "English" stepped in to fill this gap
Eagleton, a Marxist literary theorist, argues that "literature" is not a natural category, but a "production" that changes over time. The chapter argues that the study of English was designed to civilize, unify, and control the population, serving as a substitute for religion in a secularizing society. 2. Main Arguments of "The Rise of English"