Author: Joel D. S. Rasmussen File Type: pdf This book offers a novel interpretation of the relationship between religious concern and artistic creativity in the works of the self-styled Christian poet and thinker Sren Kierkegaard (1813-1855). Although Kierkegaard articulated neither a Christology in the sense that the term has for systematic theology, nor a generic theory of poetry in the sense that phrase has for literary criticism, this study makes the case that Kierkegaards writings nevertheless do advance a Christomorphic poetics, a tertium quid that resists conventional distinctions between theology and literature. Arguing that Kierkegaards poetics takes shape in conversation with many of the major themes of early German Romanticism (irony, imaginative creativity, paradox, the relativization of imitation [mimesis], and erotic love), this book offers a fresh appreciation of the depth of Kierkegaards engagement with Romanticism, and of the contours of his alternative to that literary movement.ReviewJoel Rasmussen reads Kierkegaard as a poet by distinguishing the irony of the secular (Romantic) poet, adrift in possibility, from the religious (Christian) poet, who strives to become actually the ideal he poetizes but remains midway between irony and authentic witness, so that only God, the divine poet, who creates the world and then completes the picture by painting himself into it in Christ, finally reconciles actuality and ideality. This sensitive and subtle reading is an original contribution that contests the earlier approaches of Mackey and Poole and deserves a wide audience. John D. Caputo, Watson Professor of Religion, Syracuse University (John D. Caputo)Joel Rasmussen has brought the skills of a philosopher, theologian, literary critic, and literary theorist to bear upon the development of Kierkegaards thought from its early preoccupation with criticizing Romantic ideas of irony. Thoroughly at home in the now vast English secondary literature, as well as the Danish texts of Kierkegaard, he gives a fresh and dense reading of the major writings, with helpful and surprising insights all along the way. He argues that Kierkegaards mature view is that God is the true poet in creating a vehicle for loving and being loved by all human beings in Jesus Christ. The ideal human poet, therefore, is not a Romantic creator but rather an imitator of Christ, a witness. The final irony is that no one can imitate Christ to satisfaction, as Kierkegaard judged himself at the end to be a failed poet. This book brings Kierkegaard to the attention of theologians as he has not been since the work of the early Barth. Robert Cummings Neville, Professor of Philosophy, Religion, and Theology at Boston University, and Dean of Marsh Chapel and Chaplain of the University. (Robert C. Neville)This book goes a long way towards resolving the argument over whetherKierkegaard is primarily a poet or a theologian by taking bothdimensions of his thought equally seriously and exploring in a profoundway how each of these Kierkegaardian identities contributes to theother. An excellent contribution to Kierkegaard studies. C. Stephen Evans, University Professor of Philosophy and Humanities, Baylor University (C. Stephen Evans)Rasmussen combines theological interpretation and rhetorical analysis in order to highlight and to illumine key motifs in Kierkegaards work. His book explores the relation between Kierkegaards use of poetic imagery and his Christological focus making the book valuable not only for students of Kierkegaard, but also for theologians. Well written, Rasmussen gives a fascinating exposition of Kierkegaard. Dr. Francis Schussler Fiorenza Stillman Professor of Roman Catholic Studies Harvard Divinity School (Francis Schussler Fiorenza)Between Irony and Witness is a welcome addition to the burgeoning literature on Kierkegaard and should provide the basis for many other fruitful theological studies of Kierkegaard, as it has left much room to extend its analyses. -Journal of Religion(Journal of Religion)Mention Theology Digest, Summer 2006This book goes a long way towards resolving the argument over whetherKierkegaard is primarily a poet or a theologian by taking bothdimensions of his thought equally seriously and exploring in a profoundway how each of these Kierkegaardian identities contributes to theother. An excellent contribution to Kierkegaard studies. C. Stephen Evans, University Professor of Philosophy and Humanities, Baylor University (Sanford Lakoff)Rasmussen combines theological interpretation and rhetorical analysis in order to highlight and to illumine key motifs in Kierkegaards work. His book explores the relation between Kierkegaards use of poetic imagery and his Christological focus making the book valuable not only for students of Kierkegaard, but also for theologians. Well written, Rasmussen gives a fascinating exposition of Kierkegaard. Dr. Francis Schussler Fiorenza Stillman Professor of Roman Catholic Studies Harvard Divinity School (Sanford Lakoff)Mention Theology Digest, Summer 2006 About the AuthorJoel Rasmussen is a teaching fellow in religion at Harvard University.

Author: Friedrich von Schlegel File Type: pdf Language NotesText English (translation)Original Language German From the Back CoverWhile ostensibly an examination of classical Greek poetry, Friedrich Schlegels On the Study of Greek Poetry is a signal document in the development of German Romantic aesthetics. In it, Schlegel outlines the development of classical and post-classical cultures, showing clearly that an entirely new mode of cultural production is necessary. On the Study of Greek Poetry has been at the center of the discussions of German Romanticism by German scholars such as Peter Szondi and Manfred Frank, and this translation makes an important text in the genesis of German Romanticism available for the first time in English. The book also includes a critical introduction as well as annotations that elucidate Schlegels numerous allusions.