Impulses behind Literature Reading Resource

 Welcome Readers,

                           William Henry Hudson identifies four primary impulses behind the creation of literature. These impulses reflect fundamental human desires and interests that drive the production and consumption of literary works. Here is a detailed explanation of each impulse: 

THE IMPULSES BEHIND LITERATURE

Reference: William Henry Hudson

 1. Desire for Self-Expression

• - Human Need: Humans have a natural desire to share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences with others. This impulse stems from our innate need for self-expression and communication.

• - Literary Forms: This impulse gives rise to literature that directly expresses the writer’s internal world, including their emotions, reflections, and personal experiences. Examples include lyric poetry, personal essays, and confessional writing.

• - Through self-expression, writers can articulate their inner lives, finding catharsis and connection with readers who resonate with their expressions.

 2. Interest in People and Their Doings

• - Human Fascination: Humans are intensely curious about the lives, motives, relationships, and actions of others. This interest drives us to understand and explore the complexities of human behavior and interactions.

• - Literary Forms: This impulse generates literature that focuses on human life and actions, including character-driven narratives, dramas, biographies, and social novels. These works explore the 

        “great drama of human life,” 

        

            depicting various facets of human nature and society.

• - By delving into human experiences and relationships, literature satisfies our curiosity about others, allowing us to empathize with different perspectives and gain insights into the human condition.

 3. Interest in the World of Reality and Imagination

• - Observation and Imagination: Humans are fascinated by the world around them and by the worlds they can imagine. This dual interest leads to a desire to describe and interpret reality as well as to create imaginative scenarios and fantasy worlds.

• - Literary Forms: This impulse results in descriptive literature, travel writing, fantastical stories, and imaginative fiction. It encompasses works that depict real-life observations as well as those that conjure up entirely new worlds.

• - Literature of description and imagination allows readers to explore new places, ideas, and possibilities. It enriches our understanding of reality and expands our imaginative horizons.

 4. Love of Form as Form

• - Aesthetic Impulse: Humans derive pleasure from the beauty and harmony of well-constructed forms. This aesthetic impulse drives the desire to shape and craft literary works into aesthetically pleasing and artistically satisfying forms.

• - Literary Forms: This impulse underlies all forms of literature, emphasizing the importance of style, structure, and artistic expression. It leads to the creation of works that are not only meaningful but also beautiful in their form and composition.

• - The love of form enhances the artistic quality of literature, ensuring that works are not only intellectually and emotionally engaging but also aesthetically pleasing. This impulse supports the creation of literature as an art form.

 Integration and Overlap of Impulses

Interconnectedness:

• - Merging Impulses: Hudson notes that these impulses often merge in both life and literature. For instance, a narrative might involve self-expression, character exploration, and descriptive elements all at once. This blending reflects the complexity of human experience.

• - Literary Overlap: As these impulses intertwine, different literary forms inevitably overlap. A novel might contain lyrical passages (self-expression), intricate character studies (interest in people), and vivid descriptions (interest in reality and imagination).

 Conclusion

                Hudson’s identification of these four impulses provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the motivations behind literary creation. These impulses collectively drive the diverse and rich production of literature. They also explain why literature resonates with us, as it reflects and fulfills our fundamental human needs and interests. By recognizing these impulses, we gain deeper insight into the nature of literature and its enduring appeal.

Reference: 

Hudson, William Henry. An introduction to the study of literature. Harrap, 1919.