My fellow sufferers in the great art:
What a rich thread (or board) this has become. Before it
turns too much into a love fest, some scattered comments.
Kate: I both teach and love Millay. She is one of the GREAT sonneteers (and poets), savagely neglected. Everywhere I go on chat boards, poetry sites, etc., I discover that non-academics instantly see her great talent, understand her,
and resonate to her. I suspect this has been Mr. Mezey's
experience, too, as her treatment seems to mirror that
afforded Hardy--all is out there for all to see, so Lit Crit Theorists pay him no mind.
On the elision in both Shakespeare and Wyatt (oh, what the hell--throw in Donne while we're at it): there need not be
any "theories" at all. These three work perfectly simply with what I would call straightforward garden-variety elision. I do strongly agree with Tim, though , that the great burdens they carry are more important than their immediate metrical problems. Don't know what Caleb would say about that!
In fact, I think Shakes' sonnets are as regular as Pope's
couplets. Check out the pronunciation of "Cassio" and "Romeo" in different places in both plays and I think you'll find it almost embarrassingly obvious that each name gets
pronounced TWO ways.
Back to Wyatt: something was naggging and nagging at me last night till I finally looked it up. It was Surrey who was beheaded (by Hen VIII 's command). Wyatt spent time in the tower (over an unrelated matter--a feud with some noble) but lived on until 1542, when he died of a fever (!) at Sherborn. Yes, he undoubtedly had his way with Ann Boleyn, but he also took a gamble by telling Henry just before the King's marriage. Ann got it in the neck in 1536, three years after the marriage and 6 before Wyatt's death.
For some other poems in here: people like Surrey and Millay still have riches waiting for us. Shall we move on to Mr. Mezey's choice, or stay witht the Frost or Millay?
(P.S.) I STILL recommend Alex Pepple for a medal for having created this site--along with campaign ribbons for Mike Juster and Alan for moderating. This is better talk than you're going to find in a lot of faculty lounges.
|