A student of mine pointed out that “The Emperor of Ice Cream” endorses living in the moment. That, he thought, … More
Tag: American Literature
233. (Samuel Menashe)
The poetry of Samuel Menashe is illuminated by the thought that, even the smallest lyric poem, when successful, will … More
232. (John Berryman)
Although it would be wrong to read John Berryman’s Dream Songs as a poem about the madness of a nation, … More
226. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
A few generations ago, the starting point of a discussion about Nathaniel Hawthorne, and the writers of his time and … More
224. (Emily Dickinson)
In this third and last in a series of posts on Emily Dickinson and decorum, I’ll try to bring decorum … More
223. (Emily Dickinson)
To begin with recapitulation and self-remonstration: poetry must, in F.H. Bradley’s persuasive formulation, get within the judgment the condition of … More
222. (Emily Dickinson)
This post is the second of a series of evolving sketches about “decorum” in poetry. This is the messiest of … More
217. (Ishmael Reed)
Even though it is frequent in contemporary fiction, present-tense narration is not easily justified. People and place are no more … More
193. (Marius Bewley)
Marius Bewley is probably little remembered nowadays; a literary critic of the mid-century, whose critical principles were indebted mostly to … More
169. (Willa Cather)
At least in her four masterpieces–My Antonia, The Professor’s House, Death Comes for the Archbishop, and Shadows on the Rock–Willa Cather is … More
Critical Provisions 