One of the students in my American Literature discussion group says he doesn’t understand most poetry, especially modern poetry. It seems meaningless to him, words strung together with little or nothing that makes sense. This complaint is not uncommon, and some of the problem is laziness, I’m sure. I find myself trying to explain the particular poem we are studying and what it means. But to some extent this explanation process leaves some of the meaning out of the poem. There is so much more there than I am able to explain in my own prose. So the student comes away with a poem partially explained and no experience of the poetry itself. Suggestions?
6 thoughts on “Explaining Away the Poetry”
Well… I don’t have a suggestion, but I have the same complaint. The most beautiful prose and poetry to me is found in Scripture from Job – Song of Solomon. It is clear, readable, and can be understood by children.
Modern poetry is not exactly what the average reader would call lucid (look at two famous examples from the 20th century e.e. cummings and Robert Penn Warren), and it often requires being “in the know”. Now, I don’t know exactly what time period you are studying with your students, but much of what I have read that was produced in the last half-century-century has been seemingly aimed away from general acceptance and understanding.
For all I know, it may very well be the poet’s intent to be reaching to a literary elite. But good-great poetry shouldn’t leave us scratching our heads in a vain attempt to figure it out. And difficulty reading it should not be chalked up to laziness.
The test of time will determine whether this poetry is the type to be “experienced”. I am of a personal opinion that most of it will fall far short.
The Road goes ever on and on,
now far ahead the Road has gone.
And I must follow if I can,
pursuing it with eager feet.
Where other paths and errand meet,
and whither then, I cannot say?
Still round the corner, I shall meet,
another friend, a hidden gate.
And though I oft have passed them by,
a day at last will come when I,
Shall take the hidden paths that run,
west of moon, and east of sun.
JRR Tolkien
Well… I don’t have a suggestion, but I have the same complaint. The most beautiful prose and poetry to me is found in Scripture from Job – Song of Solomon. It is clear, readable, and can be understood by children.
Modern poetry is not exactly what the average reader would call lucid (look at two famous examples from the 20th century e.e. cummings and Robert Penn Warren), and it often requires being “in the know”. Now, I don’t know exactly what time period you are studying with your students, but much of what I have read that was produced in the last half-century-century has been seemingly aimed away from general acceptance and understanding.
For all I know, it may very well be the poet’s intent to be reaching to a literary elite. But good-great poetry shouldn’t leave us scratching our heads in a vain attempt to figure it out. And difficulty reading it should not be chalked up to laziness.
The test of time will determine whether this poetry is the type to be “experienced”. I am of a personal opinion that most of it will fall far short.
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The Road goes ever on and on,
now far ahead the Road has gone.
And I must follow if I can,
pursuing it with eager feet.
Where other paths and errand meet,
and whither then, I cannot say?
Still round the corner, I shall meet,
another friend, a hidden gate.
And though I oft have passed them by,
a day at last will come when I,
Shall take the hidden paths that run,
west of moon, and east of sun.
JRR Tolkien