Comments on: book review: close reading poetry http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2008/10/29/close-reading-poetry/ Mon, 03 May 2010 01:01:02 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: rob http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2008/10/29/close-reading-poetry/comment-page-1/#comment-3003 rob Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:56:40 +0000 http://readwritepoem.org/?p=264#comment-3003 Interesting post Juliet. In it you pose the question, "Does such close reading drain the poem of its immediacy?" I would answer yes, most definitely it does -- and drains its 'soul' as well. The best way to ruin a poem for me would be to analyze it over two pages. Close reading, or in depth analysis of a poem, is a bit like having a truly fine meal, and picking it apart instead of eating and enjoying it -- IMHO. I've been in a number of writing/poetry classes in college and since, and found only exhaustion to be the net result. I've come to realize that the academia of writing/poetry will never draw my focus or spark my passion. I much prefer jazz over classical music. My love for poetry is like my love for jazz -- it's experiential, soulful. I know when the 'magic' happens in jazz, and I know when the 'magic' happens in poetry -- and I don't get there through analysis. I choose not to dissect the epiphany... it ruins it for me. That is my wholly personal perspective, and it drives my preference in poetry. That said, I genuinely respect those with a different view. Interesting post Juliet. In it you pose the question, “Does such close reading drain the poem of its immediacy?”

I would answer yes, most definitely it does — and drains its ’soul’ as well.

The best way to ruin a poem for me would be to analyze it over two pages.

Close reading, or in depth analysis of a poem, is a bit like having a truly fine meal, and picking it apart instead of eating and enjoying it — IMHO.

I’ve been in a number of writing/poetry classes in college and since, and found only exhaustion to be the net result. I’ve come to realize that the academia of writing/poetry will never draw my focus or spark my passion.

I much prefer jazz over classical music. My love for poetry is like my love for jazz — it’s experiential, soulful. I know when the ‘magic’ happens in jazz, and I know when the ‘magic’ happens in poetry — and I don’t get there through analysis. I choose not to dissect the epiphany… it ruins it for me.

That is my wholly personal perspective, and it drives my preference in poetry. That said, I genuinely respect those with a different view.

]]> By: yuzublizzard http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2008/10/29/close-reading-poetry/comment-page-1/#comment-3002 yuzublizzard Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:36:23 +0000 http://readwritepoem.org/?p=264#comment-3002 Sometimes analysing a poem makes it come more alive, as it forces you to stop and think. If a poem does not immediately strike a chord with you it is of course easier to just turn the page. An exercise in one of my books on drawing asks you to "live" with a drawing for a week - to show it to people, discuss it with them, and just look at it to see how your feelings change (if they do) during that week. It could perhaps be a better way of dealing with a poem instead of analysing it. Sometimes analysing a poem makes it come more alive, as it forces you to stop and think. If a poem does not immediately strike a chord with you it is of course easier to just turn the page. An exercise in one of my books on drawing asks you to “live” with a drawing for a week – to show it to people, discuss it with them, and just look at it to see how your feelings change (if they do) during that week. It could perhaps be a better way of dealing with a poem instead of analysing it.

]]> By: Catherine http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2008/10/29/close-reading-poetry/comment-page-1/#comment-3001 Catherine Wed, 29 Oct 2008 05:46:48 +0000 http://readwritepoem.org/?p=264#comment-3001 I tried reading one of Ruth Padel's books - it may have been this one - but it left me rather uninspired. I suspect that it may be sufficient to just read a few of her analyses, and then try and do your own - it is an approach that you would probably get a lot more from doing it yourself than watching someone else do it. Also, if I owned the book rather than having borrowed it, I would only read one or two at a time, and it may be worth making your own notes on the poem before reading Padel's analysis of it. I would hope close reading would unearth things in my own poems that I haven't thought about consciously - word choices made through instinct because they "sound right" - close reading would perhaps illuminate just why they "sound right". But of course I'm not as good a poet as the ones she analyses in her books. I tried reading one of Ruth Padel’s books – it may have been this one – but it left me rather uninspired. I suspect that it may be sufficient to just read a few of her analyses, and then try and do your own – it is an approach that you would probably get a lot more from doing it yourself than watching someone else do it.
Also, if I owned the book rather than having borrowed it, I would only read one or two at a time, and it may be worth making your own notes on the poem before reading Padel’s analysis of it.
I would hope close reading would unearth things in my own poems that I haven’t thought about consciously – word choices made through instinct because they “sound right” – close reading would perhaps illuminate just why they “sound right”. But of course I’m not as good a poet as the ones she analyses in her books.

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