George Crabbe (1754-1832) belongs to the neoclassical tradition, as far as his diction is concerned. In his masterpiece The Village, which is mostly descriptive of the miseries of the poor villagers, Crabbe is an uncompromising realist. He asserted
I paint the Cot
As Truth will paint it, and as Bards will not.
He shows much concern for the humble humanity living in the lap of nature, but it was left for Wordsworth to glorify their simplicity and humility. Crabbe’s excessive boldness as a realist differentiates him from the neoclassical school’s artificiality. By his plain and realistic portrayal of village life, he served to focus attention on their miseries. He occupies an important place in the romantic reaction against the Pope and his school.
WORKS CITED
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/george-crabbe
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/jun/14/britten-george-crabbe-drowned-voice
Dr Aswathy Aravindakshan is a teacher, bilingual writer and artist with over two decades of experience in teaching English language and literature. She currently serves as Assistant Professor of English at NSS College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Her blog, ashlit.in brings together academic resources, creative writing in Malayalam and English, and visual art. The platform features lecture notes, study materials, poems, reflections, short prose, and a curated collection of her paintings. Through this space, she seeks to foster learning, creativity, and meaningful engagement with literature and the arts.
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