Using Distributional Semantics to Trace Influence and Imitation in Romantic Orientalist Poetry

摘要

In this paper, we investigate whether textual analysis can yield evidence of shared vocabulary or formal textual characteristics in the works of 19th century poets Lord Byron and Thomas Moore in the genre of Romantic Orientalism. In particular, we identify and trace Byron's influence on Moore's writings to query whether Moore imitated Byron, as many reviewers of the time suggested. We use a Distributional Semantic Model (DSM) to analyze if there is a shared vocabulary of Romantic Orientalism, or if it is possible to characterize a literary genre in terms of vocabulary, rather than in terms of the particular plots, characters and themes. We discuss the results that DSM models are able to provide for an overview of the influence of Lord Byron's work on Thomas Moore.