Highways of Canadian LiteratureLogan, J. D. (John Daniel)
History
Highways of Canadian Literature
Logan, J. D. (John Daniel)
Canadian literature -- History and criticism
Another poet who rightfully belongs to the Systematic School and Period
of Canadian Literature is Frederick George Scott. In 1888, or in the
year following the publication of Roberts’ _In Divers Tones_ (1887),
Canon Scott published his first book of verse, _The Soul’s Quest and
Other Poems_. This volume was succeeded by five other volumes of verse,
up to 1907, in which year he published _The Key of Life: A Mystery
Play_. In 1910 appeared his _Collected Poems_. During the World War he
published a booklet of war verse, _In the Battle Silences_ (1916).
The forms and qualities of Canon Scott’s poetry were determined by his
own moral personality and by his conception of the ‘end’ of poetry. It
is a fact that in no other verse written by a Canadian is there such an
absolute identification of the man and the poet as in the poetry of
Canon Scott. The poetry reflects the whole personality of the man. In
the world, Canon Scott is a distinguished example of the ‘Christian
gentleman’—‘a man of liberal culture and wide sympathies whose life has
thrilled with the larger life, political, social, and religious, a man
of strong courage born of reverent unquestioning faith.’ To Canon Scott,
therefore, the aim of poetry is not ‘art for art’s sake,’ but the
inspiration and consolation of the people in their hour of doubt or
darkness. His conception of the ‘end’ determined the forms and manner of
Canon Scott’s poetry. For if, like the ancient Hebraic poets, he was to
inspire and console his people, he must present his thoughts in simple
forms and in diction and imagery readily understood by the people.
Canon Scott stands out from the rest of the members of the Systematic
School and Period as _par excellence_ the Poet of the Spirit; and his
verse is distinguished from the bulk of the verse of his colleagues in
the Systematic School as the Poetry of Faith and Consolation. There is
nothing original and distinctive in his forms: they are traditional and
simple. There is nothing original and distinctive in his message: it,
too, is traditional and simple—a message of faith and courage and of
joy in existence. His distinction is in his ‘art,’ his power to convey
beautifully, sweetly—and above all, convincingly—to the human soul
noble or profound thoughts for its sustenance, refreshment, and
consolation. But while the ethical and spiritual ‘notes’—which must be
distinguished from didacticism—are supreme in his poetry, Canon Scott
is also solicitous about the craftsmanship in his verse. Though his
verse forms are thoroughly socialized and though he never aims to be a
‘word virtuoso,’ nevertheless he is always the ‘artist’ in verse
technique.
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