The current President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, was one of the few, who, in his inauguration ceremony in January 2009, had a poet read an inaugural poem. This delightful tradition that had only been included by three presidents before but that in many ways supports and promotes the art of contemporary American poets was kept alive by Elizabeth Alexander, one of the best-known and most successful recent African-American women poets. Her Praise Song For The Day, despite some sporadic criticism, was a suitable and thoughtful composition for this occasion and it was then that I heard for the first time of Elizabeth Alexander, an African-American poet.
Her work and background fascinated me especially because she is a contemporary and her work is so recent and still going on. Therefore, I decided to examine four of her poems in the term paper at hand: Emancipation, Ars Poetica #28: African Leave-Taking Disorder, Race and Ars Poetica #92: Marcus Garvey on Elocution.
During my research I had to learn that sadly, there is a significant lack of research and literature on this and other contemporary authors and therefore, this term paper largely consists of my own findings regarding the poems.
Due to the reason that her personal background and her life have influenced the poems to a notable extent, I will start off with a short biographical section on Elizabeth Alexander herself and point out further biographical traits while interpreting the poems in their respective chapters. I will finally summarize my findings and present my personal conclusion as regards her way of tackling her topics and her art of writing.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Biographical information on Elizabeth Alexander
3. The poems
3.1 Emancipation
3.2 Ars Poetica #28 : African Leave-Taking Disorder
3.3 Race
3.4 Ars Poetica #92 : Marcus Garvey on Elocution
4. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper examines four selected poems by the contemporary African-American poet Elizabeth Alexander, specifically exploring how her personal background and cultural identity influence her creative work. The research focuses on analyzing themes of liberation, racial classification, historical memory, and the intersection of cultural heritage with modern American society.
- The role of autobiographical elements in contemporary poetry.
- Cultural hybridity and African-American identity.
- The representation of historical figures and traditions (Hoodoo, Marcus Garvey) in literature.
- Analysis of structural and linguistic techniques in free verse.
- The critique of social stereotypes through lyrical narratives.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Emancipation
Corncob constellation, oyster shell, drawstring pouch, dry bones.
Gris gris in the rafters. Hoodoo in the sleeping nook. Mojo in Linda Brent's crawlspace.
Nineteenth century corncob cosmogram set on the dirt floor, beneath the slant roof, left intact the afternoon that someone came and told those slaves
“We’re free.”
(from: American Sublime, 2005)
This poem published in 2005 is a very complex piece of art that contains many references to former Afro-American popular beliefs and traditions and that for this reason is quite hard to understand for laypeople. It depicts the process of liberation and, as the title suggests, emancipation from slavery which goes hand in hand with acculturation.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the motivation for the study, focusing on Elizabeth Alexander's work and the lack of existing critical research on her poetry.
2. Biographical information on Elizabeth Alexander: This section provides an overview of the author's life, heritage, and academic career, establishing the context for her literary production.
3. The poems: This main section provides a detailed literary analysis of four specific poems by Elizabeth Alexander, interpreting their themes and structures.
3.1 Emancipation: This chapter analyzes how the poem connects African-American folk traditions and Hoodoo with the historical process of emancipation.
3.2 Ars Poetica #28 : African Leave-Taking Disorder: This chapter examines the poem’s critique of social interactions and cultural stereotypes within the African-American community.
3.3 Race: This chapter discusses the complexity of racial identity and "passing" through an interpretation of the poem’s autobiographical narrative.
3.4 Ars Poetica #92 : Marcus Garvey on Elocution: This chapter explores how the poem uses the memory of Marcus Garvey to discuss the importance of education and speaking out.
4. Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the findings and reflects on Alexander's contribution to contemporary African-American literature.
Keywords
Elizabeth Alexander, African-American Poetry, Emancipation, Hoodoo, Marcus Garvey, Race, Post-Soul Aesthetic, Cultural Hybridity, Identity, Literary Analysis, American Sublime, Autobiographical, Folklore, Social Critique, Passing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper provides a critical analysis of four poems by Elizabeth Alexander to understand how her personal history and African-American cultural themes are woven into her writing.
What are the central themes discussed in the analysis?
Central themes include racial identity, historical memory, the influence of folklore and Hoodoo traditions, and the socio-cultural dynamics within the African-American experience.
What is the main objective of the study?
The objective is to interpret specific poems by Alexander and evaluate how they reflect the "Post-Soul Aesthetic" and the complexities of modern African-American identity.
Which methodology is applied in this paper?
The paper utilizes a qualitative, interpretive approach, focusing on close reading, textual analysis of the poems, and the integration of biographical and historical context.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body systematically analyzes four specific poems: "Emancipation," "Ars Poetica #28: African Leave-Taking Disorder," "Race," and "Ars Poetica #92: Marcus Garvey on Elocution."
How would you characterize this work through keywords?
Key terms include Elizabeth Alexander, African-American poetry, cultural identity, racial classification, autobiography, historical memory, and literary critique.
How does "Emancipation" reflect historical traditions?
The poem uses references to Hoodoo objects like "gris gris" and "mojo" to illustrate how enslaved people maintained cultural practices while struggling for freedom.
Why is the concept of "passing" central to the poem "Race"?
The poem explores the social phenomenon of "passing" by depicting a character who hides his African-American heritage to maintain a specific social image, leading to a conflict with his family.
What is the significance of Marcus Garvey in the poem "Ars Poetica #92"?
Garvey’s inclusion serves as a framework for discussing the imperative of "speaking out" and the discipline instilled in Alexander’s family, linking personal education to broader racial advancement.
- Citar trabajo
- Marc Hempel (Autor), 2010, Analysis of four poems by Elizabeth Alexander: Race, Emancipation, African Leave-Taking Disorder, Marcus Garvey on Elocution, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/168712
