The Ends of Meter in Modern Japanese Poetry: Translation and Form

Scott Mehl's book explores the complex response of Meiji-era Japanese poets and readers to the challenge of European verse, leading to a crisis in Japanese poetry. He documents the creation of new poetic forms, including Japanese free verse, and the impact of the shintaishi, a new form invented for translating European-language verse. The book recreates the global poetry culture in which the most ambitious Meiji-era Japanese poets vied for position.

Format: Hardback
Length: 258 pages
Publication date: 15 January 2022
Publisher: Cornell University Press

In his insightful work "The Ends of Meter in Modern Japanese Poetry," Scott Mehl delves into the intricate and multifaceted response of Meiji-era Japanese poets and readers to the profound challenge posed by European verse and the subsequent crisis that engulfed Japanese poetry. Amidst a fierce rivalry for literary prestige on both the national and international fronts, poets and critics of the time became acutely aware of the seismic shift occurring within Japanese poetic culture, and the consequences were deemed critical: the future of modern Japanese verse hung in the balance.

Mehl meticulously documents the emergence of new Japanese poetic forms, tracing the initial invention of Japanese free verse and its subsequent decline. He explores the profound impact of the shintaishi, a novel poetic form created specifically for translating European-language verse but eventually replaced by the reintroduction of free verse as a Western import. By drawing upon materials written in German, Spanish, English, and French, Mehl recreates the vibrant global poetry culture that thrived during the Meiji era, where the most ambitious Japanese poets fiercely competed for position.

Through his meticulous analysis, Mehl sheds light on the complex interplay between Japanese poetic traditions and Western influences, illuminating the ways in which poets navigated the shifting tides of cultural exchange. He reveals the struggles and triumphs of those who sought to blend indigenous poetic forms with the emerging European aesthetic, ultimately shaping the trajectory of modern Japanese poetry. "The Ends of Meter in Modern Japanese Poetry" serves as a valuable contribution to the study of literature, offering a deep understanding of the cultural and artistic transformations that occurred during Japan's Meiji era.

Weight: 28g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501761171