“Oh to Be Twenty-one, Reading Greats at Oxford!”: What Happens in Tom Stoppard’s <i>The Invention of Love</i>

Abstract Tom Stoppard’s play The Invention of Love stages the classical scholar and poet A.E. Housman at point death, as, in role “AEH,” he recalls his younger self, “Housman.” “Housman” is seen as an Oxford undergraduate; a brilliant classicist, driven by ambition to purge ancient texts from corrupt readings; also fired love for male fellow-student, Jackson, vision Classical studies fostering awareness virtue shown athletic prowess comradely self-sacrifice. His milieu offers ambiguous support this combination ideals; clerical worker London, fulfils academic ambitions but forces upon himself Jackson recognition that not reciprocated, and, any case, could safely be given public expression or acknowledgement. sense nostalgia which quest recover resurrect former increasingly led confront love, own life poetic has worked, invention – precarious perhaps unsustainable balance between coherence breakdown, stoical embrace modernity passionately modern turn receding past.