Theory of the Lyric
J Culler - Nordisk poesi, 2017 - idunn.no
J Culler
Nordisk poesi, 2017•idunn.noIllustrating the argument of Culler's Theory of the Lyric with examples from American poetry,
this paper contests the New Criticism's model of lyric as dramatic monologue by a fictional
persona, arguing instead for a default model of lyric as poetic discourse about our world,
which subordinates fictional and representational elements to ritualistic features of poetic
discourse, such as sound patterning, lyric address, and the lyric present tense. For a great
many lyrics it is counterproductive to ask who is speaking or on what situation.
this paper contests the New Criticism's model of lyric as dramatic monologue by a fictional
persona, arguing instead for a default model of lyric as poetic discourse about our world,
which subordinates fictional and representational elements to ritualistic features of poetic
discourse, such as sound patterning, lyric address, and the lyric present tense. For a great
many lyrics it is counterproductive to ask who is speaking or on what situation.
Illustrating the argument of Culler’s Theory of the Lyric with examples from American poetry, this paper contests the New Criticism’s model of lyric as dramatic monologue by a fictional persona, arguing instead for a default model of lyric as poetic discourse about our world, which subordinates fictional and representational elements to ritualistic features of poetic discourse, such as sound patterning, lyric address, and the lyric present tense. For a great many lyrics it is counterproductive to ask who is speaking or on what situation.
Idunn