Sage writing facts for kids

Sage writing was a popular type of creative nonfiction during the Victorian era (the time when Queen Victoria ruled Britain, from 1837 to 1901). It's like a special kind of wisdom literature. The idea of 'sage writing' comes from a book by John Holloway in 1953 called The Victorian Sage: Studies in Argument.

In sage writing, the author acts like a wise teacher. They gently scold or instruct readers about important social problems of their time. They often use ideas from philosophy (thinking about life), history (past events), politics (how society is governed), and economics (how money and resources work). They explain these big ideas in ways that are easy for everyone to understand. Famous sage writers include Thomas Carlyle, Matthew Arnold, John Ruskin, and Henry David Thoreau. Some writers from the 1900s, like Joan Didion and New Journalists such as Norman Mailer and Tom Wolfe, have also been called sage writers.

What Makes Sage Writing Special?

John Holloway created the idea of sage writing to help people see the value in Victorian writers again. Many people in the early 1900s thought these writers were too wordy and preachy. Holloway believed they deserved respect and attention.

Holloway thought Thomas Carlyle started this style of writing. But he also saw its roots in earlier writers like Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Carlyle wanted to share a "Life-Philosophy" that could truly change how people think. He set up a way for writers to discuss social issues using both modern knowledge and old wisdom.

How is it Different from Old Wisdom?

George Landow, who studied Holloway's ideas, explained how sage writing is different from older wisdom literature. Traditional wisdom literature shares ideas that everyone already accepts. But sage writers, like ancient Old Testament prophets, believe their important messages have been forgotten or are being ignored by society.

Landow says sage writers use a four-part plan, similar to ancient prophets:

• They explain what's happening.
• They criticize the audience or those in power.
• They give a warning about what might happen.
• They offer a vision or promise for a better future.

Where Did Sage Writing Get Its Ideas?

Sage writing grew out of wisdom literature. It got a lot of its style and energy from the Old Testament prophets, like Jeremiah and Isaiah. For example, the sage writer Matthew Arnold was once called an "Elegant Jeremiah" because of his style.

Landow also points out other things that influenced sage writing:

• Sermons: These are speeches given in religious services, often teaching moral lessons.
• Satire: This is writing that uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize people's mistakes or foolishness.
• Romantic poetry: This style of poetry, popular in Britain and Germany, focused on emotions, nature, and individual experience.

Famous Sage Texts

Here are some important works by sage writers:

• Thomas Carlyle
  • "Signs of the Times" (1829)
  • Past and Present (1843)
  • Latter-Day Pamphlets (1850)
• Matthew Arnold
  • Culture and Anarchy (1869)
• John Ruskin
  • The Stones of Venice (1851–1853)
  • Unto this Last (1860)
• Henry David Thoreau
  • "Life Without Principle" (1854)
  • "Slavery in Massachusetts" (1854)
  • "A Plea for Captain John Brown" (1859)
• Norman Mailer
  • The Armies of the Night (1968)
• Joan Didion
  • Slouching Towards Bethlehem (1968)