William Hazlitt: Selected Essays Literary Elements

Essay

19th century England

Hazlitt is the author himself and the essays are written in first person.

Critical, direct, discursive, contemplative

The essayist is the protagonist. Antagonist N/A

In "On Going a Journey" the major conflict is between the author's personal views regarding going on a vacation and the taste of his fellow friends.

At the climax of his essay, Hazlitt says, "I should on this account like well enough to spend the whole of my life in traveling abroad, if I could anywhere borrow another life to spend afterwards at home!"

Hazlitt foreshadows his liking of lonely travelling from the beginning of his essay. He says, "I can enjoy society in a room; but out of doors, Nature is company enough for me. I am then never less alone than when alone."

Hazlitt understates his views on going on a vacation to emphasize the drawbacks of travelling in a group.

Hazlitt alludes to Fletcher's "Faithful Shepherdess" in one of his essays.

Hazlitt provides a graphical description of "Llangollen Valley" in one of his essays. He portrays the place in such a manner that it helps the readers to imagine it vividly.

Hazlitt paradoxically remarks, "Things near us are seen at the size of life; things at a distance are diminished to the size of the understanding. We measure the universe by ourselves, and even comprehend the texture of our own being only peace-meal." In this way he presents our perception about distant lands and how we perceive a place on map.

While appreciating the natural beauty of the woods of All-Foxden, Hazlitt's thoughts parallel the idea used in pastoral poems. He expresses his longing to have such poetic skills to versify his feelings after visiting All-Foxden.

"Swelling theme" is a metonym for poetry.

"the river Dee babbling over its strong bed in the midst of them"
"a budding ash-tree dipped its tender branches in the chiding stream."