If you look at a list showing the most important English poets in 20th century literature, Charles Tomlinson is often one of the persons you will miss, or at least, only find in the background. Instead, the list is fixed on poets like Ted Hughes, Philip Larkin or Seamus Heaney. This has got several reasons: it is not the fact that Charles Tomlinson has published only a few works, but it is the difficulty to put him and his poems in one category. Tomlinson, who has published since 1950 in each decade, has been influenced by the different conceptions about art throughout the years.
The poem I want to analyse was written in 1953, at the beginning of Tomlinson’s writing, in a time, when English poetry was dominated by the realistic style of writing of the Movement poets. This poem deals about the English painter John Constable, who is famous for his landscape paintings and especially his cloud pictures. The poem is a good example to show Tomlinson’s position towards the term of “art” in general and his opinion about contemporary poetry. As he is today most famous for his poems about natural phenomena, this poem can be regarded as one of his most meaningful ones.
The upcoming analysis should discuss this poem in order to its content, structure and style and should especially answer the question where in the 20thcentury Tomlinson and his concept of poetry should be integrated and where he stands for.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. A Mediation on John Constable – Charles Tomlinson and his poetical concept
- 2.1 The poet and the painter
- 2.1.1 The poet Charles Tomlinson
- 2.1.2 The painter John Constable
- 2.2 The poem
- 2.1.1 The structure of the poem
- 2.1.2 The content
- 2.1.3 The style
- 2.3 The essence
- 2.1 The poet and the painter
- 3. Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This analysis aims to situate Charles Tomlinson and his poetic concept within 20th-century English poetry, focusing on his 1953 poem "A Mediation on John Constable." The analysis will examine the poem's content, structure, and style to understand Tomlinson's unique position in relation to the prevailing poetic trends of his time and his relationship to the visual arts.
- Tomlinson's poetic style and its relation to the "Movement" poets.
- The interplay between poetry and painting in Tomlinson's work.
- Tomlinson's concept of art and its reflection in "A Mediation on John Constable."
- The poem's exploration of observation, natural phenomena, and artistic representation.
- Tomlinson's place within the broader landscape of 20th-century English poetry.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the relative obscurity of Charles Tomlinson within the canon of 20th-century English poets, despite his prolific output. It highlights the difficulty of categorizing Tomlinson's work due to his evolving style and influences. The chapter positions "A Mediation on John Constable" as a key text for understanding Tomlinson's artistic stance, especially concerning his later focus on natural phenomena, and his relationship to the dominant "Movement" poets of the era. The introduction lays out the objectives of the analysis, focusing on the poem's content, structure, style, and ultimate significance within the broader context of Tomlinson's oeuvre and the 20th-century poetic landscape.
2. A Mediation on John Constable – Charles Tomlinson and his poetical concept: This chapter delves into the poem "A Mediation on John Constable," examining Tomlinson's poetic engagement with Constable's landscape paintings. It explores the parallels between the poet's and the painter's artistic processes, focusing on their shared dedication to close observation and the representation of natural phenomena. The chapter dissects the poem's structure, content, and style, analyzing how Tomlinson uses language to convey Constable's artistic approach and his own philosophical perspectives on art and representation. By examining the poem's themes of observation, illusion, and the artist's role in mediating between the natural world and the viewer, the chapter seeks to illuminate Tomlinson's unique contribution to 20th-century poetry.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Charles Tomlinson, 20th-century English poetry, John Constable, landscape painting, poetic style, "Movement" poets, observation, natural phenomena, artistic representation, illusion, art and nature.
FAQ: A Mediation on John Constable - Charles Tomlinson and His Poetical Concept
What is the main focus of this analysis?
This analysis focuses on Charles Tomlinson's 1953 poem, "A Mediation on John Constable," situating it within the context of 20th-century English poetry. It examines the poem's content, structure, and style to understand Tomlinson's unique poetic approach and his relationship to the visual arts, particularly the work of John Constable.
Who is Charles Tomlinson, and why is this poem significant?
Charles Tomlinson is a 20th-century English poet. While prolific, he remains relatively obscure. "A Mediation on John Constable" is considered a key text for understanding his artistic stance, especially his later focus on natural phenomena and his relationship to the dominant "Movement" poets of his time. The poem showcases his unique blend of poetic style and engagement with the visual arts.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
The analysis explores several key themes: Tomlinson's poetic style in relation to the "Movement" poets; the interplay between poetry and painting in Tomlinson's work; Tomlinson's concept of art as reflected in the poem; the poem's exploration of observation, natural phenomena, and artistic representation; and Tomlinson's place within the broader landscape of 20th-century English poetry.
What aspects of the poem "A Mediation on John Constable" are analyzed?
The analysis delves into the poem's content, structure, and style. It examines how Tomlinson uses language to convey Constable's artistic approach and his own philosophical perspectives on art and representation. The themes of observation, illusion, and the artist's role in mediating between the natural world and the viewer are central to the analysis.
How does the analysis relate Tomlinson to the "Movement" poets?
The analysis examines Tomlinson's poetic style and its relation to the "Movement" poets, highlighting both similarities and differences, ultimately establishing his unique position within this influential group.
What is the role of John Constable in the poem and the analysis?
John Constable, the landscape painter, serves as the inspiration and subject of Tomlinson's poem. The analysis explores the parallels between Tomlinson's poetic process and Constable's painting, focusing on their shared dedication to close observation and the representation of natural phenomena.
What is the overall conclusion of the analysis?
The analysis aims to illuminate Tomlinson's unique contribution to 20th-century poetry by showcasing his skillful engagement with both Constable's art and his own distinct philosophical perspectives on art, nature, and representation.
What are the key words associated with this analysis?
Key words include: Charles Tomlinson, 20th-century English poetry, John Constable, landscape painting, poetic style, "Movement" poets, observation, natural phenomena, artistic representation, illusion, and art and nature.
- Quote paper
- Bernd Evers (Author), 2000, 'A Mediation on John Constable' - Charles Tomlinson and his poetical concept, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/54905
