Platonic Philosophy in the Poetry of Kathleen Raine.docVIP

Platonic Philosophy in the Poetry of Kathleen Raine 　　Shadi Mohyeddin Ghomshei1,* 　　1 M.A in English Language and Literature. Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch, Iran. 　　Email: shadi_m_ghomshei@ 　　* Corresponding author. 　　 　　Received 8 December 2011; accepted 19 February 2012. 　　Abstract 　　This study aims at introducing Kathleen Raine, one of the lesser known English poets of the 20th century, and her poetry in the light of Platonism. Alongside her contemporary, the philosopher Iris Murdoch, Kathleen Raine is regarded as one of the greatest modern exponents of Plato and his sublime philosophy. In this study, the researcher has traced and discussed the Platonic doctrines of recollection and immortality of the soul as they appear in the poetry of Raine. This study endeavors to show the basic views that Raine shares with Plato and demonstrate how Raine has succeeded to revive the spiritual teachings and enlightenments of Plato to enhance the cause of spiritual ideals at a time when such ideals are losing color and tending to perish for good. The researcher believes that the poet has followed the same path as the philosopher though her approach is more imaginative and romantic. 　　Key words: Kathleen Raine; Platonism; Plato; Philosophy; Recollection; Immortality of the Soul 　　Shadi Mohyeddin Ghomshei (2012). Platonic Philosophy in the Poetry of Kathleen Raine. Studies in Literature and Language, 4(1), -0. Available from: URL: /index.php/sll/article/view/j.sll.1923156320120401.1890 DOI: /10.3968/j.sll.1923156320120401.1890 　　INTRODUCTION 　　In this study, among all the twelve volumes of Raine’s poetry, only four pieces have been chosen to represent the Platonic theory of recollection and immortality of the soul. What we know and how we know is one of the fundamental questions Plato has posed, on which Raine has concentrated in various poems. Raine’s preoccupation with this theory of learning is easily traceable; yet it is presented in a new for