What is a Pastoral?
A genre of literature, art, and music that portrays rural life and landscapes in an idyllic and poetic way.
Pastoral: The Idyllic Depiction of Rural Life in Arts and Literature
Pastoral is a genre of literature, art, and music that portrays rural life and landscapes in an idyllic and poetic way. The term 'pastoral' originally comes from the Latin word 'pastoralis' which means 'of or pertaining to shepherds.'
In pastoral literature, the countryside is often idealized as a peaceful and harmonious place, where characters live in harmony with nature. This genre often features shepherds, farmers, or other rural characters living simple, rustic lives, and is characterized by a romantic and nostalgic view of the countryside. The idyllic landscapes and natural beauty of the countryside are often central to the plot and themes of pastoral works.
Pastoral can be found across all art forms, from literature to visual arts to music. Some famous examples of pastoral literature include Shakespeare's play 'As You Like It', and Virgil's 'Eclogues'. In art, pastoral scenes often depict idealized rural landscapes, such as Nicolas Poussin's 'Et in Arcadia Ego'. In music, pastoralism can be heard in works such as Beethoven's 'Sixth Symphony' and Vivaldi's 'The Four Seasons.'
Pastoral has played a significant role in literature for centuries, with poets, playwrights, and novelists depicting the natural world in all its beauty and simplicity. Here are two examples of how pastoralism serves a vital purpose in literature.
In Shakespeare's play, 'As You Like It', the characters escape to the Forest of Arden, a peaceful pastoral enclave, where they are able to find refuge from the political machinations of court.
The pastoral world of the forest is presented as idyllic and innocent, with shepherds, wandering minstrels, and young lovers living in blissful harmony.
Thomas Hardy's novel, 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles', is a tragic tale of lost love and missed opportunity, set against the backdrop of the idyllic English countryside.
Here, the rural landscape is presented as a place of beauty and purity, a world apart from the harshness of urban life. But as the novel progresses, this pastoral paradise slowly reveals itself to be a place of hidden dangers and dark secrets.