Praeterita by John Ruskin

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Introductions and extended discussions

• Introduction
• “Ruskin interpreting Ruskin” (chapter in the Oxford "Past Masters" volume on Ruskin
• “The Structure of Ruskin's Praeterita (Helsinger)”
• “Ruskin's Praeterita: The Attempt at Deconstruction” (chapter in Peterson, Victorian Autobiography: The Tradition of Self-Interpretation

Biographical contexts

• A Ruskin Chronology
• Ruskin's home's: Herne Hill, Denmark Hill, and Brantwood on Lake Coniston (15 views, some accompanied by text from Praeterita)
• Ruskin's passion for traveling and collecting
• Ruskin and Lake Como

Ruskin's Childhood and His Lifelong Relationship with his Parents

• Ruskin's Childhood
• Ruskin's tortured relationship with his father
• Ruskin's and his parents
• Ruskin's Madness
• Ignores letters from parents

Narrative and Structure

• The Structure of Ruskin's Praeterita
• Dominant Patterns and Structure
• Against critics who belief Ruskin follows traditions of spiritual autobiography
• Importance to Ruskin's narrative stance in Praeterita
• Byron's influence led him into hermeneutic ambivalence in Praeterita
• Ruskin's silent response to the Carthusian monk

Religion

• Early religious training and belief
• Loss of belief
• Return to belief

Image, symbol, and motif

• Uses allusions to the Exodus to deny their hermeneuric validity

Brief Observations and Discussion Questions

• Ruskin: Writing about Himself Writing about Himself

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Last modified 9 February 2014