- "This was always followed by Collins's Ode on the Passions, wherein I particularly venerated Mr. Wopsle as Revenge, throwing his blood-stained sword in thunder down, and taking the war-denouncing trumpet with a withering look." (p. 43)
Charles Dickens alludes to the poet William Collins and his piece "Ode on the Passions." Collins published Odes on Several Descriptive and Allegorical Subjects. Collins work influenced the early Romantics. Here, Mr. Wopsle narrates the sixth stanza of the poem, where he plays the part of "Revenge." -- "
And longer had she sung, but with a frown. Revenge impatient rose; He threw his blood-stain'd sword in thunder down. And with a with'ring look. The war-denouncing trumpet took..."
Work Cited:
"William Collins."
Net Poets. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://www.netpoets.com/classic/biographies/017000.htm.
"Great Expectations."
Google Books. Web. 3 Jan. 2010.
Why incorporate this particular piece? What might Dickens be saying here? Why associate Wopsle with this piece? Is there a social commentary in here somewhere that he wants us to see?
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