The functional use of digressions in "eighteenth century" English literature
Access full-text files
Date
1951
Authors
Watson, Eugene Payne, 1911-
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Department
Description
This purports to be a study of the functional use of digressions in prose and poetry, with a special emphasis upon the use of digressions in epic poetry. Since digressions vary in length from those that consist of a single word to those which embrace fifty or more pages, a general analysis of the uses of all the numerous types could not well be included within the scope of a study such as this; therefore, I have eliminated from our survey all of the 'asides' and other very short types of digressions, and have limited our study to a consideration (with a very few exceptions) of what may be termed 'major digressions,' consisting of at least eight or ten lines.