Comments on: 20th Century Epics And Carrying The Torch Of Tradition

By: Billy The Blogging Poet

Billy The Blogging Poet — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:59:07 +0000

As a fan and writer of epics I'm enjoying this series greatly. Thanks Billy The Blogging Poets last blog post..Poetry's Lost Soul

By: G.M. Palmer

G.M. Palmer — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:38:11 +0000

Allen,

I had to do an academic paper as a part of my MFA poetry thesis. It was on the 20th century epic. Email me if you’d like a crack at it.

G.M. Palmers last blog post..Refutation

By: the poet

the poet — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:20:47 +0000

@ Jeannine, good point: Your last statement sums up my point with this post, though the classification of epic in the 20th century is problematic because of the stark change in poetics. A long narrative may not necessarily be an epic. I am being rather loose with the word. BTW, someone else recommended that I add Helen of Egypt to the list of 20th century epics. Note, of course, that I wasn't attempting to be exhaustive, but HD deserves a mention. @ Jim, you hit one of my faves. I didn't mention Coleridge in this at all and probably should have, though I prefer Kubla Khan to The Rime (still good, however).

By: Jim Murdoch

Jim Murdoch — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:36:16 +0000

The first epic poem I came across, living in Burns country, was 'Tam o'Shanter' followed a few years later by the 'Rime of the Ancient Mariner'. I got both of them and never took issue with their length but I've never managed that with the modern pieces you mentioned. I love Williams' work for example and yet I've never read more than a few excerpts of Paterson. I did listen to Tony Harrison's 'V' when it was shown on TV – a rare thing for a poet – but its length bored me. It's partly an attention span thing. The older poems were just stories that rhymed but the modern epic isn't like that and I tire because I can't maintain the concentration level they require. Don't expect me to rush out and buy a copy of Silliman's The Alphabet any day soon. Jim Murdochs last blog post..An interview with Adrian Graham

By: Jeannine Hall Gailey

Jeannine Hall Gailey — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 01:44:25 +0000

So, I would argue that Paterson, the Cantos, and The Wasteland all represent not epic poetry, but the first of a new generation of long fragmented poems – HD’s Helen In Egypt might be closer to an epic, actually. These long fragments gave birth to the “obfuscation” in poetry today – the writers mean to communicate in so fragmented away that you pretty much have to make up meaning or sense.

Jeannine Hall Gaileys last blog post..