Pastoral Revolutions

My thesis will investigate the history of English pastoral poetry, in particular examining the ways in which it has radically reinvented itself in the course of its evolution. The critical project will explore three principal themes: firstly, modernity’s effect on the pastoral tradition; secondly, the use of satire as a critical device for poets throughout the ages; and, finally, the importance of pastoral ‘authority’. I will report on the current state of twentieth-century pastoral by engaging with a suitable selection of poets who are currently in the process of reinvigorating the literary form in new and interesting ways. The creative part of the thesis will be a collection of poetry that contextualises itself with the contemporary pastoral in mind, drawing on all three of the areas mentioned (modernity, satire and authority) while functioning as a radical work in its own right.