What is the pastoral?

The 'pastoral' is a literary tradition or genre, which is commonly associated with its conventional focus on idealised country life, hailing from ideas of the Classical utopian country setting of 'Arcadia'. Inherited into Western culture, in literature its developed into a far more complex genre; notably used by reknowned writers such as Blake or Shakespeare in their poetry or as a setting in his comedies, modern and contemporary writers have used the conventions of this genre and its idealised imagining of the countryside to further explore the themes this concept provokes. These themes include man's relationship with the landscape, modern issues of climate change, the urban versus the pastoral and the reality of manual labour.

CS
Answered by Chris S. English Literature tutor

4160 Views

See similar English Literature A Level tutors

Related English Literature A Level answers

All answers ▸

Explore the way in which authors present women in Bram Stoker’s Dracula and one other key Gothic text


Explore how the theme of jealousy is portrayed in Othello


What's the best way to improve my English grade?


How does Donne use aspects of poetic form and device to advance his argument in 'The Sunne Rising'?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning