Week 4
Thread of Narrative
Narrative vs. Lyric Poetry: Keller emphasizes that while lyric poetry can be summarized in specific sections, it should focus on historical and novel uses.
Narrative's Influence: Keller argues that narratives are how we process information. People interpret lyrics through familiar narrative frameworks found in novels and movies, making lyric poetry relatable.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Keller's Approach
Strengths:
Offers solutions to problems presented in the poetry, displaying a passion for the topics.
Weaknesses:
The breadth of topics can feel overwhelming; pacing may be too fast for thorough understanding.
Examples from Poetry
Graceland Spring Pool: Not among the primary readings, yet illustrates a unique interpretation compared to previous discussions of speaker and listener roles.
Lyric as Performance: Emphasizes the immediate experience of the speaker as a performer, distinctly separating it from the role of a narrator.
Nature of Lyric Poetry
Immediacy and Performance: The essence of lyric lies in performance; this contrasts with dramatic monologues where character depth is explored. Lyric focuses on emotion and sound rather than character background.
Representation of Characters: In lyrics, while characters exist, they often lack extensive backstories compared to figures in narrative poetry.
Framework for Understanding Poetry
Genres of Literature: Literature can largely be divided into narrative, drama, and poetry. Within poetry, sub-genres like narrative and dramatic poetry emerge, but lyric remains predominant.
Core Idea: In lyric poetry, the narrative is overshadowed by the sounds and feelings conveyed.
Comparative Analysis of Poems
Cosmic vs. Personal Narratives: Paradise Lost offers a grand, cosmic exploration through Satan's character, juxtaposed against smaller, personal narratives like that of the snake poem.
Society's Influence on Natural Instincts
Natural Connection vs. Education: The speaker grapples with societal teachings that conflict with instinctual reactions towards potentially harmful creatures. This struggle highlights humanity's cumbersome relationship with nature.
Themes of Control and Power
Possession and Agency: The speaker’s need to control their environment, symbolized through the act of killing the snake, alludes to greater themes of ownership over nature and self.