Literature has a lengthy history of odds and ends that get categorized by critics as unworthy of widespread study, yet some are the most brilliant statements of their time. W. H. Auden’s book-length poem The Age of Anxiety won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1948. It, along with Allen Ginsberg’s poem Howl, are diamonds that are often disregarded by literary critics and the public as worthless rough. Each piece was a major breakthrough in its time. Auden and Ginsberg both attempted to define the period of time and turmoil that they lived in as members of “the other” in their respective societies. Both make booming battle cries for a generation, fit well into places of deserved canonical respect, and receive influence from political and personal …show more content…
Undoubtedly, W. H. Auden’s Pulitzer Prize winning poem holds up to the work of Ginsberg, which is included in the anthology that is used in many college English courses. Age of Anxiety is a poem set in a bar with four vague characters: Malin, Quant, Rosetta, and Emble. Howl is a fight song clearly sung against society of the day and for a friend of Ginsberg’s. Numerous similarities exist in the reasoning behind the works and the lives and beliefs of their authors. First of all, both authors lived during times of war: Auden published Age of Anxiety during the post-war stress in America after WWII, and Ginsberg’s Howl was a result of the Cold War as it was published in 1955. World War II caused overwhelming anxiety for all American citizens because of changes in gender roles, economy, values, etc. Auden was led to name that generation. People had become used to the wartime way of living. Peace was not a part of their repertoire, so the changing times led to unsurety on all sides. Then, almost ten years pass, the Soviet Union rises to power, and development of nuclear weapons is rapid and threatening to the safety of the globe. Yet another season of malaise hits the country with the Cold War, …show more content…
Its worth is hotly debated. W. B. Yeats and T. S. Eliot were contemporaries of Auden’s, and being a part of that legendary group is close to an automatic deservance of being a canonical poet. Alternate views from critics either list him as the worst of the three, yet others argue strongly that Auden was the greatest poet of the entire 20th century for what he could do with words and form. Content in the book-length poem speak volumes of the talent that the American immigrant had. He created something that is hotly debated as both a failure and his greatest accomplishment, and uncertainty in making that decision make it all the more worthy to be in the canon. His uncertainty is the only real part of the poem as Auden’s character laments that “The less I feel/The more I mind” (commentary mag). The best works are pieces that make one think about their worth. Characters that seem to mean little actually have a lot to say with what they do as well as their words. Little happens, but the characters’ actions comment on major themes of the human being. Halting speeches and words take the reader inside of the mind as frailties become clear. What this poem has to say is vastly important once one gets past the errors in form. Psychological and social problems are concerns that Age of Anxiety covers. “Verse should be neither too free nor too formed, as human experience is also neither: breath and
The study of any poem often begins with its imagery. Being the centralized idea behind the power of poetry, imagery isn’t always there to just give a mental picture when reading the poem, but has other purposes. Imagery can speak to the five senses using figurative language as well as help create a specific emotion that the author is trying to infuse within the poem. It helps convey a complete human experience a very minimal amount of words. In this group of poems the author uses imagery to show that humanity is characterized as lost, sorrowful and regretful, but nature is untainted by being free of mistakes and flaws and by taking time to take in its attributes it can help humans have a sense of peace, purity, and joy, as well as a sense of
The unhealthy rigidity of his Persona is painfully apparent throughout the entire poem - it paralyses him completely in social situations, leading to intense insecurity ('And how should I presume') and shyness ('Do I dare?'). On the other hand, his Shadow urges and strains to do far, far more ('Shall I...', 'Should I...'), but, restrained by the Persona, manages to only express itself in fantasy.
Century apart, Allen Ginsberg and Walt Whitman share similar cultural, political and moral values, which they express in their literary work. Whitman’s writing is considered controversial for the eighteen hundreds. He sets the stage for generations to come breaking way from the strict Victorian poetic tradition by writing in free verse. Ginsberg follows his footsteps when composing his poem “Howl” by writing in long lines almost resembling prose and subdividing the poem into several parts. Likewise, he uses numerous repetitions to achieve rhythmicity of his verse. Ginsberg’s poem is heavily influenced by Whitman’s philosophy. The works “Song of myself” and “Howl” are similar in ideas, structure and underling themes. The two authors protest against old traditions imposed on the individual by corrupt society, stand against conformity and put emphasis on the need for change. They identify with their generation and dwell on themes such as sexuality, religion and the state of American society.
The use of free verse in the poem can be interpreted as the narrator’s internal misery that displays itself as amiability and composure on the
Although often associated with two completely different eras in American history, both Allen Ginsberg and Walt Whitman share a great deal in common as two of America’s most famous poets. When it comes to the craft of poetry, both men grew to become extremely influencing figures both within the field and within American society. For example, as mentioned in his biography by Ed Folsom and Kenneth Price, Whitman has had such an influence on others that, “Poetic responses to Whitman sometimes fall into his cadences and in other ways mimic his style” (Folsom and Price). Additionally, Whitman has also influenced, “fiction, film, architecture, music, painting, dance, and other arts” (Folsom and Price) and is known world-wide. Likewise, Ginsberg influenced poetry, for “the Beats”, “encouraged a break from traditional values, supporting drug-use as a means of enlightenment”
By using his “sunken feelings” from his past and present, his personality can thrive and become something stronger so that he will stop thinking about asking others’ whether his poems are any good and will focus more on what the poem actually means to him (6). He will also stop expecting and considering any rewards like money or fame from his works of
Auden’s poem is a criticism of human perceptions and how we use them to detect, or suppress human suffering. In the first half of the poem Auden “compares versions of indifference by portraying youth and age, animals, and humans” (Shmoop, 2014). In the first few lines of the poem, Auden comments on the perceptions of the “Old Masters” and how they were never wrong in their discernment of suffering. He then compares the old masters perceptions to the perceptions of children and animals and how they are unaware of,
“As we read through the poem, jot down any feelings or emotions that you might have. How does it make you feel? What do you think of? Does it remind you of anything you have seen or heard before?”
Howl by Alan Ginsberg: A Time for Rebellion “Who threw potato salad at CCNY lecturers on Dadaism and subsequently presented themselves on the granite steps of the madhouse with shaven heads and harlequin speech of suicide, demanding instantaneous lobotomy,” -Allen Ginsberg Society has its norms. These norms were determined by the general opinion of the population living in it.
In poems it is essential to be a creative writer. The author uses many techniques from from exposing deep thoughts to giving humorous jokes throughout the sentence. As human beings, we all have a difficult time understanding others .We may agree or disagree depending our viewpoints on life. One of my Favorite poems is “The Ballad of Sue Ellen Westerfield” by Robert Hayden. My favorite poem is the type of poem that has some history and confusion. When getting the audience confused, it makes them want to know more and reread the whole passage again. Hayden’s poem is a fresh new opening that brought an old dimension, his creativity to open the minds of others and look back to the past.
Rant Within the poem “Howl” by Allen Ginsberg, the author delivers a brilliant example of remarkable word usage, and emotion. The poem illustrates how Ginsberg’s journey of exploration, hardship, and pain affected him for the rest of his life. At the time of its publishing, some of the language he used in the work was considered obscene and as a result, was banned in the U.S. His descriptions of places and happenings are both vague and intricate at the same time, compelling one’s imagination to participate in an attempt to relate to the words in some minor way. The language is harsh, but guides the readers to his locations and through his experiences. In the 1950s people dealt with poverty, war, civil rights, and drugs. Ginsberg’s poem is a
Ginsberg’s work often represents a struggle for spiritual survival in a dehumanized, repressive society. This can be seen in his writing of “Howl”:
Auden in this poem compares human beings to stars. This comparison can be criticised as being very unfair as stars are both literally and metaphorically above humans. This is evident upon reading “…That for all they care, I can go to hell.” The fact that he used objects of such importance allows readers to appreciate
Allen Ginsberg’s revolutionary poem, Howl, is a powerful portrayal of life degraded. It represents the harsh life of the beat generation and chronicles the struggles of the repressed. Howl is a poem of destruction. Destruction of mind, body, and soul through the oppression of the individual. Using powerful diction, Allen Ginsberg describes this abolition of life and its implications through our human understanding of abstractions like Time, Eternity, and self. The poem’s jumbled phrasing and drastic emotion seems to correspond with the minds of the people it describes. Ginsberg uses surprisingly precise and purposeful writing to weave the complex
Walt Whitman is regarded as one of the most influential poets in American history while Allen Ginsberg was and still is considered a leading figure of the Beat Generation. Both of these poets have similar poetic tendencies even though they were almost a century apart from each other. Walt Whitman helped to inspire many literary descendants ranging from writers to poets alike. One of his most famous poems is in his book, “Leaves of Grass”, called “Song of Myself”. Allen Ginsberg can be considered one of Walt Whitman’s literary descendants due to the numerous similarities between “Song of Myself” and Ginsberg’s “Howl”, which is about the real experiences of Americans after World War II.