Model Questions on P.B. Shelley's A Defence of Poetry

• Broad Questions

1. How does Shelley differentiate between Reason and Imagination?

2. Examine A Defence of Poetry as an instance of Romantic literary criticism.

3. “Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world” – Examine the validity of the statement with reference.

4. Would you agree with the view that in A Defence of Poetry Shelley emphasizes the social aspect of poetry?

• Short Questions

1. Why does Shelley consider Plato to be essentially a poet?

2. To what according to Shelley is the difference between a story and a poem?

3. How is a poet different from an Aeolian lyre?

4. Why a man cannot say “I will compose poetry”?

5. “Poetry is the record of the best and happiest moments of the happiest and best minds” – Explain.

6. What does Shelley mean by his distinction of measured and unmeasured language?

7. What is Shelley’s opinion of Dante?

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