Some Aspects of the Intellectual Poise of George Robert Gissing

Authors

Glenn Orville Kelley, University of Nebraska

Date of this Version

7-2-1927

Document Type

Thesis

Citation

A thesis presented to the faculty of the Graduate College in the University of Nebraska in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Master of Arts

Department of English

Lincoln, Nebraska, July 2, 1927

Abstract

Thls study, Some Aspects of the Intellectual Poise of George Robert Gising, had its inception in a course in The Novel, an Intepretation of Life, offered by Doctor Frederick A. Stuff in the summer session of the University of Nebraska in 1926. More narrowly, it began with that part of the course treating of the mode in literature known as realism. In one reference, Wilson Follett's The Modern Novel, was found the following statement relative to the novels of George Gissing, an author of whom the writer of this thesis had not previously heard.

"Hardly any parallel could show more succinctly the penalty which fiction has to pay for intellectual poise, when that poise is so sustained as to resemble indifference" (Follett, 1925).

The purpose of this thesis is to discuss the nature of "intellectual poise" in the novels of George Robert Gissing and to show how his manner of living contributed to the develeopment of that characteristic of his writing.

George Robert Gissing (1857-1903): "No novel can be pronounced even excellent in its degree if it lacks the quality of 'authenticity.' Whatever apects the novelist may choose to write about, he should write of the with the grasp and throroughness of which can be secured only by familiarity with his material" (Hudson, 1921).