Pauline Hortolland

Please tell us about your research project.
I am writing a PhD thesis entitled “Percy Shelley and the Event of Poetry: Mediation, Virtuality and Poetic Efficacy” under the joint supervision of Pr Jean-Marie Fournier (Paris Cité University) and Sophie Laniel-Musitelli (University of Lille). Relying on a mainly formalist yet rigorously historically informed, media studies-derived approach, my thesis analyzes the implications of Shelley’s choice of the poem as a medium to fight in the cultural war of the post-Waterloo era. I am also currently working on a new project which examines the connection between the culture of war and the alleged withdrawal of poetry during the Romantic period, provisionally entitled “Poetic Warfare: Romantic Poetry, Mediation, and the Culture of War, 1785-1824”.
 

Could you please tell us a bit more about your scholarship/exchange programme?
I was awarded a monthly scholarship at the MFO, which enabled me to consult the most recent scholarship in the field of Romantic studies and to examine the manuscripts and facsimiles of Shelley’s poems at the Bodleian Libraries. I am very grateful to the MFO for supporting my research and for giving me access to these invaluable resources.
 

First impressions of Oxford/the University?
It was a great honour to be welcomed in such a historical and picturesque city – although the month of April was very rainy, walking in the historical centre often felt like strolling in a painting by Turner. One of the highlights of my stay was my visit to University College, where Percy Shelley studied for two terms before getting expelled in March 1811 (I am very grateful to the scholar who showed me around the college). I was also amazed by the collection of paintings on display at the Ashmolean, where I spent two delightful afternoons.