20th Annual Student Research Conference
Language & Literature
"To Gaze upon the Chasm:" Critical Verse Inspired by the Work of Wallace Stevens
Harrison M. Parks
Dr. Bob Mielke, Faculty Mentor
This is a series of poems authored by Harrison Parks, an English major. The series originally was written as a final project for English 399: History of Literary Criticism. This series fits (roughly) the genre of critical verse. Each poem responds to literary critics before Matthew Arnold, spanning from Plato and Aristotle to Marx and Shelley. Every poem’s style is inspired by one of Wallace Stevens’ Collected Poems. These poems were revised for the Student Research Conference based on the advice of faculty mentor, Professor Bob Mielke, and other advising editors. The poems emphasize obliqueness, synchronicity, and chiaroscuro. The content focuses on the abstract or critical along with brief dialogues and cultural references. The tone ranges from the ironic to the religious. The presentation’s format will be a brief introduction followed by a poetry reading, with a short analysis of process, idea, content, or technique.
Keywords: poetry, stevens, literary criticism, critical verse, poems, shelley, plato, poetry reading
Topic(s):English
Presentation Type: Performance Art
Session: 57-1
Location: OP 2115
Time: 2:45 pm