Merlin, to construct a list, even partial, of favourite Muggle writers -- I shall leave that task for a bit, and and likewise the one of being surprised by who turned out to be what, and instead talk of something that attempting to diagramme the who-was-what-ness led me into.
I can unequivocally state that the question of Muggle and Wizarding influences and inspirations in poetical movements over the years is quite the most fascinating part of the exploration of Muggle poetry to me, really.
Looking at fairly recent work, of course there were the Metaphysical poets, who went on and on and on about certain notions fashionable among Muggle poets of the time, attempting to use philosophy and the poetry thereof as if it were a sort of grimoire of nature and love and lofty thoughts, and transcending this and hereaftering that, and so on. And they really did make some quite good efforts, particularly where the celebration and investigation of the arts of love and friendship were concerned, metaphysically speaking — I wrote a paper which was quite well received, with the Matchless Orinda as a sort of Theoretical course where Aphra Behn was the Practical — but they gave rise to the true flowering of Byron and his chums, the sadly unappreciated Southey and so on.
It is quite interesting to discover that part of the reason the Imagists were doing what they were doing is that they had a member whose spellwork was glimpsed one day and the necessary Obliviation was imperfectly cast, and the resulting effect on certain poets’ work, the sharpening of language, all that, was an attempt to get at what they thought was the underlying truth of all, which was actually spellwork half-glimpsed and half-erased! Nevertheless, their quest for the clear image which then fades into blue air, and for Pound’s luminous details, was quite, quite productive for them.
Oh, dear, is that the time? Pardon, but I fain must answer the rest later, as there are a number of parchments which yet require my attention this evening. Anon, then! Excellent questions! We shall return to this!
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Re: for Linus Moon
Date: 2015-09-08 02:22 am (UTC)I can unequivocally state that the question of Muggle and Wizarding influences and inspirations in poetical movements over the years is quite the most fascinating part of the exploration of Muggle poetry to me, really.
Looking at fairly recent work, of course there were the Metaphysical poets, who went on and on and on about certain notions fashionable among Muggle poets of the time, attempting to use philosophy and the poetry thereof as if it were a sort of grimoire of nature and love and lofty thoughts, and transcending this and hereaftering that, and so on. And they really did make some quite good efforts, particularly where the celebration and investigation of the arts of love and friendship were concerned, metaphysically speaking — I wrote a paper which was quite well received, with the Matchless Orinda as a sort of Theoretical course where Aphra Behn was the Practical — but they gave rise to the true flowering of Byron and his chums, the sadly unappreciated Southey and so on.
It is quite interesting to discover that part of the reason the Imagists were doing what they were doing is that they had a member whose spellwork was glimpsed one day and the necessary Obliviation was imperfectly cast, and the resulting effect on certain poets’ work, the sharpening of language, all that, was an attempt to get at what they thought was the underlying truth of all, which was actually spellwork half-glimpsed and half-erased! Nevertheless, their quest for the clear image which then fades into blue air, and for Pound’s luminous details, was quite, quite productive for them.
Oh, dear, is that the time? Pardon, but I fain must answer the rest later, as there are a number of parchments which yet require my attention this evening. Anon, then! Excellent questions! We shall return to this!