English Literature, 20th cent. to the Present

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Enquiry into the Present State of Polite Learning, An

The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature | 2003 | | Copyright

Enquiry into the Present State of Polite Learning, An, a treatise by Goldsmith, published 1759.

Goldsmith examines the causes of the decline of ‘polite learning’ from ancient times, through the dark ages, to its present state in Italy, Germany, Holland, France, and England, with perfunctory references to Spain and the Scandinavian countries. He attributes the alleged decay in England to the low status of the writer, driven to hack-work for the booksellers through lack of patronage—‘We keep him poor, and yet revile his poverty’; also to the ‘disgusting solemnity’ and lack of comic spirit among poets, the restrictive conditions of the theatre, and the carping of critics.

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MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Enquiry into the Present State of Polite Learning, An." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Enquiry into the Present State of Polite Learning, An." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-EnqryntthPrsntSttfPltLrnn.html

MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Enquiry into the Present State of Polite Learning, An." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-EnqryntthPrsntSttfPltLrnn.html

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Polite Learning, An Enquiry into the Present State of

The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature | 2003 | | Copyright

Polite Learning, An Enquiry into the Present State of, see Enquiry into the Present State of Polite Learning.

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Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

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MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Polite Learning, An Enquiry into the Present State of." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Polite Learning, An Enquiry into the Present State of." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-PltLrnngnnqryntthPrsntStt.html

MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Polite Learning, An Enquiry into the Present State of." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-PltLrnngnnqryntthPrsntStt.html

Learn more about citation styles