Overheard voices : address and subjectivity in postmodern American poetry / Ann Keniston.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Keniston, Ann, 1961-

Series:

Literary criticism and cultural theory

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

American poetry--20th century--History and criticism.

American poetry.

Postmodernism (Literature)--United States.

Postmodernism (Literature).

United States.

Subjectivity in literature.

Plath, Sylvia. Ariel.

Plath, Sylvia.

Merrill, James, 1926-1995. Changing light at Sandover.

Merrill, James.

Glück, Louise, 1943- Wild iris.

Glück, Louise.

Bidart, Frank, 1939- Desire.

Bidart, Frank.

Physical Description:

xi, 171 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

New York : Routledge, 2006.

Summary:

"Overheard Voices" examines poetic address and in particular apostrophe (the address of absent or inanimate others) in the work of four post-World War II American poets, with a focus on loss, desire, figuration, audience, and subjectivity. By approaching these crucial issues from an unexpected angle--through a study of the seldom-examined lyric "you"--"Overheard Voices" offers new insight into both contemporary lyric and the lyric genre more generally. The book offers detailed readings of Sylvia Plath, James Merrill, Louise Glü ck, and Frank Bidart.

Contents:

Introduction: "The fluidity of damaged form" : theorizing postmodern address

Recovering you : Sylvia Plath's Ariel

Ghostly projections : James Merrill's The changing light at Sandover

Buried with the romantics : Louise Gluck's The wild iris

Homo faber : Frank Bidart's Desire

Conclusion: "A dream of this room" : self-effacement and lyric space.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 157-164) and index.

ISBN:

0415976278

OCLC:

62281511