Literary Likings

ters ? Shakespeare, Dante, Cervantes? are in many ways creatures of their epoch, moulded by its ideals, expressing the intellectual and spiritual standards of their land and period. General propositions are dangerous; but I believe it will be found of the majority of leading literary figures of history that, rather than lead their day, they have expressed it, and, moreover, have changed with its change. Possibly it would be more philosophic to say that the age changes with them and because ofthem; but analysis reveals the fact that, as a rule, expansion of thought and broadening of knowledge come from a field lying outside of literature; namely, from science. It is the business of literature to reflect this growth. The great creative writers take over this knowledge into the imaginative domain, and make use of it in art. In this sense they are the children of the Time-spirit. This thesis is illustrated by the literary work of three men, Bjdrnson, Daudet, and James, all of whom occupy commanding positions in the letters of their respective lands. It is well to select writers of ripe maturity, since otherwise their careers would not extend through years sufficient to bring them under the altered ideals I have in mind. The present literary standard and temper are expressed by the convenient, though hackneyed, word realism. Whatever its origin, however justifiable as a revolt from narrow and sentimental untruth in literary art, realism has brought in its train t...