Gathering Flowers in Bloom. The Author of "The Western Canon" as an Anthologist

Abstract

The article explores the connections between the notions of canon and anthology. The organizing principles of the anthology are contrasted with the tradition of early modern poetic miscellanea. The discussion focuses on the theoretical assumptions of one of the most prominent critics of the last century, Harold Bloom, as expounded in his seminal study, The Western Canon, and his contribution as the author of many important anthologies. In particular, it points to Bloom’s ongoing preoccupation with human mortality and his belief in the salvific function of human memory.