TNTL 111

Joris van Eijnatten

Het Stamhuis van Oranje en de komst van het vrederijk. Illuminisme en literaire topoi in Bilderdijks vroege politieke gedichten, 1787-1793

Abstract - The later poetry and thought of Willem Bilderdijk (1756-1831) shows a predilection for literary and philosophical themes and ideas which could well be qualified as 'romantic'. In this article several themes and ideas are examined with respect to a number of politically-oriented poems stemming from the period 1789-1793, a little-known and comparatively early phase in Bilderdijk's career. In particular the influence is discussed of 'illuminist' ideas culled from, among others, the Swedish visionary Emanuel Swedenborg. In addition, the role in Bilderdijk's poetry is explored of several traditional literary topics derived from sources as diverse as Virgil, Vondel and Voltaire.