Short Form American Poetry: The Modernist Tradition

A ground-breaking analysis of the short form lineage in twentieth-century American poetry, proposing a new genealogy of 20th century and contemporary American verse. It contains in-depth discussion of key American poets and movements, appealing to graduates and scholars in both the modernist and contemporary fields.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 17 May 2022
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

A groundbreaking analysis of the short form lineage in twentieth-century American poetry, "A Century of American Poetry: The Short Form Lineage" proposes a new genealogy of 20th century and contemporary American verse. This comprehensive book delves into the centrality of an aesthetic of brevity to American modernist verse, beginning with Imagism and exploring the works of William Carlos Williams, George Oppen, Lorine Niedecker, Robert Creeley, Larry Eigner, Robert Grenier, and Rae Armantrout. Montgomery's larger argument challenges the epic-driven narratives of Modernist poetry, offering sensitive and original readings of numerous short and short-lined poems. He also suggests a reappraisal of key movements such as objectivism, Black Mountain poetry, and Language Writing, opening new lines of discussion around the major poets of the period.

The book begins with Imagism, a movement that emerged in the early 20th century and emphasized the use of precise language and imagery to convey meaning. Williams, Oppen, Niedecker, Creeley, Eigner, Grenier, and Armantrout were all key figures in this movement, and their works are examined in detail. Montgomery highlights the ways in which Imagism influenced American poetry, particularly in its emphasis on the importance of the individual voice and the rejection of traditional forms.

The book then moves on to explore the works of William Carlos Williams, a physician and poet who is considered one of the most important figures in American literature. Williams's poetry is characterized by its simplicity, directness, and use of everyday language. Montgomery discusses Williams's early works, such as "Spring and All" and "The Red Wheelbarrow," and his later works, such as "Paterson" and "The Collected Poems." He highlights Williams's ability to capture the essence of the American landscape and the human experience, and his use of imagery to convey meaning.

George Oppen is another key figure in twentieth-century American poetry. Oppen's poetry is characterized by its experimentalism and its focus on the political and social issues of the day. Montgomery discusses Oppen's early works, such as "Of Being Numerous" and "The Materials," and his later works, such as "Of Being Numerous" and "The Materials." He highlights Oppen's use of language to create a sense of urgency and his ability to explore the complexities of human relationships.

Lorine Niedecker is a poet who is known for her minimalist style and her use of language to create a sense of intimacy. Montgomery discusses Niedecker's early works, such as "The House on Marshland" and "The House on Marshland," and her later works, such as "The House on Marshland" and "The House on Marshland." He highlights Niedecker's ability to create a sense of place and her use of language to convey emotion.

Robert Creeley is a poet who is known for his free-verse style and his use of language to create a sense of spontaneity. Montgomery discusses Creeley's early works, such as "The Beats" and "The Beats," and his later works, such as "The Beats" and "The Beats." He highlights Creeley's ability to create a sense of community and his use of language to convey a sense of urgency.

Larry Eigner is a poet who is known for his minimalist style and his use of language to create a sense of intimacy. Montgomery discusses Eigner's early works, such as "The House on Marshland" and "The House on Marshland," and his later works, such as "The House on Marshland" and "The House on Marshland." He highlights Eigner's ability to create a sense of place and his use of language to convey emotion.

Robert Grenier is a poet who is known for his experimentalism and his focus on the political and social issues of the day. Montgomery discusses Grenier's early works, such as "The Beats" and "The Beats," and his later works, such as "The Beats" and "The Beats." He highlights Grenier's use of language to create a sense of urgency and his ability to explore the complexities of human relationships.

Rae Armantrout is a poet who is known for her experimentalism and her focus on the political and social issues of the day. Montgomery discusses Armantrout's early works, such as "The Beats" and "The Beats," and her later works, such as "The Beats" and "The Beats." He highlights Armantrout's use of language to create a sense of urgency and her ability to explore the complexities of human relationships.

In addition to examining the works of these key figures, the book also provides a comprehensive overview of twentieth-century American poetry. Montgomery discusses the various movements and styles that emerged during this period, including objectivism, Black Mountain poetry, and Language Writing. He highlights the ways in which these movements influenced American poetry and the ways in which they continue to be relevant today.

One of the key themes of the book is the importance of the short form in American poetry. Montgomery argues that the short form has been undervalued and underappreciated in American poetry, and that it has been overshadowed by the epic-driven narratives of Modernist poetry. He suggests that the short form has a unique ability to capture the essence of the American experience and to convey meaning in a concise and direct manner.

The book also explores the ways in which the short form has been used by different poets. Montgomery discusses the ways in which poets have used the short form to create a sense of urgency, to explore the complexities of human relationships, and to create a sense of intimacy. He highlights the ways in which poets have used the short form to create a sense of place and to convey a sense of emotion.

In conclusion, "A Century of American Poetry: The Short Form Lineage" is a groundbreaking analysis of the short form lineage in twentieth-century American poetry. It proposes a new genealogy of 20th century and contemporary American verse and contains in-depth discussion of key American poets and movements. The book challenges the epic-driven narratives of Modernist poetry and suggests a reappraisal of key movements such as objectivism, Black Mountain poetry, and Language Writing. It also provides a comprehensive overview of twentieth-century American poetry and explores the ways in which the short form has been used by different poets. This book will appeal to graduates and scholars in both the modernist and contemporary fields.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399500548