John cam Hobhouse's Illustrations: A guide to explicating canto IV of Byron's Childe Harold's pilgrimage

Date

1990-05

Authors

Hefley, Margie R.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

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Publisher

Texas Tech University

Abstract

Canto IV of Childe Harold' s PiIgrimage resulted from a collaborative effort of Lord Byron and John Cam Hobhouse wher Hobhouse resolved to duplicate their joint project for Canto I and II. He spent a year and half in Italy occupied with viewing ruins, monuments, and statues; tediously researching historical and ecclesiastical sources in private and Vatican libraries; and compiling explanatory materials on Italian history, art and archaeology for Canto IV. Although Byron denied that he would resume the poem, Hobhouse influenced hin to write the longest canto of the series, and to include specific subject matter relative to his own researched notes. This interdependent subject matter appeared in the canto, in the attached historical notes, and in a separate text accompanying the poem.

This dissertation used the 1818 editions of both Canto IV and Hi stori cal Illustrati ons to elucidate the canto by analytically comparing the texts. Chapter one summarily identifies the relationship between the two writers and details the purpose of illuminating elusive poetic references and allusions through comparative analysis. The seconc and third chapters summarize reviews by nineteenth and twentieth century critics. A comprehensive survey of critical ma terial revealed three facts: the lack of recognition for Hobhouse's influence on the poem; a negation of the benefits from examining the canto in company with the text meant to elucidate its poetic allusions or literary and historical figures; and a general illiteracy about the history of the composition of Canto IV. Chapters four and five summarily recount Hobhouse's material contribution to understanding Byron's expressions. Chapter six assesses the lack of critical recognition for Hobhouse's influence on the subject matter and format of the canto, and recounts some benefits of Historical Illustrations to the modern reader of Canto IV.

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Keywords

Byron, George Gordon Byron, Baron, 1788-1824. Childe Harold’s pilgrimage, Broughton, John Cam Hobhouse, Baron, 1786-1869. Historical illustrations of the fourth canto of Childe Harold

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