Modern poetry:
Write a detailed note on Modern Poetry
With the death of Tennyson, critics of the 20th century
seemed that the glorious days of English poetry were completed.
There was a widespread impression that English poetry had died
with him. But this apprehension was rather misplaced because
the modern age has so many great poems and poets that can be
the part of the imperishable literary heritage of England. Modern
poetry has to give a rich harvest of poetic thought in style and
diction. A.C. Ward rightly remarks
“The Poetry of the period
shows a distinct decline
not in general way of
execution but in genius
and breadth of range.”
Subject of religion.
The modern age is the age of science yet we find poems written
on the subject of religion. There are many poets who have kept
alive the flame of religion and mysticism in their poetry. Religious
faith was magnificently expressed in the works of like Robert
Grave’s ‘In The Widerness’, Mrs. Meynell’s ‘I am the
Way’, Chasterton’s ‘The House of Christmas’ The echoes of
religion can be heard in Noyes’s following line:- “The Lord of life is
risen again and love is Lord of all.”
Psychological researches
Psychological researches by Freud, Jung, and Karl Max
turned the poets to an investigation of the hidden impulse of man.
Some modern poets are interested in delving deep into the recess
of the subconscious mind. Some the poems
of Eliot and Ezra pound are difficult to follow because of their
psychological complexity.
Realism
The poetry of the 20th century is marked with a note
of realism. Realism in modern poetry was the product of a
reaction against the pseudo-romanticism of the last
century. Poets like Robert Frost, Edmund Blunder, W. H. Gibson
and John Masefield strikes the note of realism. The best
expression of realism in modern poetry is to be found among the
war poets, Owen Graves and Sassoon. They have described
vividly and realistically the horror of war.
The spirit of romance
In spite of the preponderance of realism in modern
poetry, the spirit of romance continues to sway away the minds of
modern poets like Walter De La Mare, Yeats, and Edward
Thomas. The works of these poets have the fact the spirit of
romance is as old as life itself. Walter De La Mare’s poetry is
saturated with the true and romantic spirit bordering on
supernaturalism. The dim moonlight of romance and chivalry
hovers over the early poem of Gibson. e.g. The voice of
romanticism can be heard in these lines of Gibson.
“I Sang of lovers and praised my song
The while the king looked on her with cold eyes”
Love
Love forms the subject of many modern lyrics. e.g. Robert
Bridge has produced fine sonnets of love in ‘The Growth of
Love’, W.B. Yeats’s ‘When you are Old’ is fine poem of
love. Arthur Symon’s ‘The Broken Tryset’ deals with
disappointment in love.
Longingness
Longingness is at the root of the all poetry whether ancient
or modern. Modern poets express longing of all kinds in their
poetry. John Masefield’s ‘Seekers’ is the best example of
Longingness of man for God and the external city of life.
The Chief Modern Poets:-
W. H. Auden
W. H. Auden was accepted as a leading poet whose influence
was felt in much contemporary verse. The most immediate
impression made by Auden’s poems is its ‘Psychology’. He is well
known by ‘Lifting Political Ideology.’ His best poem (1)‘The
Orator(2) ‘New Years Letter
Conclusion
To summing up, modern poetry can safely take its place of
pride in the kingdom of poetry produced from the times of
Chaucer to the modern times. It is reflection of Modern life. It is
realistic in tone and expresses the spirit of the age. It can not be
denounced as petty, wayward and puerile. In a short, it is less
vague, less verbose, and less eloquent than poetry of the
Victorian era. It has absolute sincerity and simplicity. In the words
of W. W. Robson
It is likely that if English
Literature of this century
survives at all-it will be
in selection from poetry.” –