The Art of Poetry according to Horace, Lucy Maud Montgomery and Janice Oliveira
I am suffering from horrible luck. I visited the library in search of a book I intended on using for this post and it wasn't available. This book featured a poem about Horace's poem, "The Art of Poetry". I thought this would make a very interesting post, because as we discussed in class, nearly every author has been influenced by Horace at some time and this was an obvious example of Horace's influence on a poet. Clearly this plan hasn't worked out, so I moving on to plan B. In my Canadian literture class we studied the short stories of Lucy Maud Montgomery, the writer of the Anne of Green Gables series and the Emily of New Moon series among many other texts. A classmate who did a presentation on Montgomery shared a wonderful poem she had found from Montgomery that deals with free verse poetry. Within the poem, Montgomery, whom we would like to consider a sweet woman (afterall she is the creater of the most beloved Canadian character) writes about free verse with such malice and contempt that she suggests all free verse writers should be dragged by their hair (if they have any)through a field in hopes of knocking some sense into them (sounds like fun!. Unfortunately, I cannot provide this lovely poem to you, because I cannot find it on the internet! Who would of thought something wouldn't be available on the internet? Anyhow, she and her poem would have been a great support for Horace's "Art of Poetry", in which he suggests many conventions an author should like to adhere to when writing literature of any sort, because I don't think Horace would have been impressed with free verse poetry as it doesn't adhere to any conventions, except to not adhere to any conventions. Allow me to provide a more precise definition: "Verse composed of variable, usually unrhymed lines having no fixed metrical pattern" (Dictionary.com). Perhaps I am wrong, maybe Horace would have said that so long as an author did what was required of a free verse poem, which is not adhering to convention, they would fulfill the needs of the poem and potentially write successufully.
In addition to the points Horace has made on the art of poetry and on how to write it well, I would stress the importance of:
1. A title--if one chooses to use a title, it is best fashion it after the poem is written, so as to ensure the title encompasses the themes expressed in the poem and is capable of enticing the reader.
2. Figuritive language--one needs to ensure that the similies, metaphors and symbols used are applicable to the style and theme of the poem and that the figurative language is relatable or at least known to the reader.
3. Be aware of voice--what is the tone one wants to set? Once decided it should be maintained throughout.
4. Bathos--is "an abrupt, unintended transition in style from the exalted to the commonplace, producing a ludicrous effect, an anticlimax" (dictionary.com). Avoid using this device unless to intentionally create the effect of irony or humour, otherwise the reader is left unfulfilled and confused.
5. Preparation--do not simply begin writing. First one should make considerations about all aspects of what one wants to present in his/her writing. What message do you want to get across?
Most importantly and most simply, one should consider everything Horace and Professor Kuin ever told you before writing anything and you should be a success.
Oh and never write a free verse poem, you may upset the spirit of Lucy Maud Montgomery.
Janice
In addition to the points Horace has made on the art of poetry and on how to write it well, I would stress the importance of:
1. A title--if one chooses to use a title, it is best fashion it after the poem is written, so as to ensure the title encompasses the themes expressed in the poem and is capable of enticing the reader.
2. Figuritive language--one needs to ensure that the similies, metaphors and symbols used are applicable to the style and theme of the poem and that the figurative language is relatable or at least known to the reader.
3. Be aware of voice--what is the tone one wants to set? Once decided it should be maintained throughout.
4. Bathos--is "an abrupt, unintended transition in style from the exalted to the commonplace, producing a ludicrous effect, an anticlimax" (dictionary.com). Avoid using this device unless to intentionally create the effect of irony or humour, otherwise the reader is left unfulfilled and confused.
5. Preparation--do not simply begin writing. First one should make considerations about all aspects of what one wants to present in his/her writing. What message do you want to get across?
Most importantly and most simply, one should consider everything Horace and Professor Kuin ever told you before writing anything and you should be a success.
Oh and never write a free verse poem, you may upset the spirit of Lucy Maud Montgomery.
Janice