Reading especially the later poetry of Larry Levis one cannot deny the quite curious role death and silence/stillness play in it. One of the reasons for that is the very different perception of death from what we consider as normal in our time. [...]
Of course there were other times in history when death was seen as the final rest and comfort after a restless and struggling life. That can be seen fairly well for example in the Cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach, which partly quite joyously pray for death (e.g. the last movement of BWV 82: "Ich freue mich auf meinen Tod")
Both of these representations of death don′t occur in that way in Levis′ poetry. It is something in-between. I think that Levis knows perfectly well how most people think about death and therefore tries to make death more friendly (if that is possible) from that situation. I′d like to compare this procedure to a special German Lied by Franz Schubert: "Der Tod und das Mädchen" (Death and the Maiden) with lyrics by Matthias Claudius. I think that the befriending of death in that song works similar to the way Levis does it. The whole song begins with a prelude in d-minor which rhythmically resembles a clock or a heartbeat and is very slow. The we encounter the maiden who really is afraid of Death and tries to run away from him while begging to leave her alone. This passage is musically fast, hasty and dramatic. But, as slow as Death is, as inevitable is he. He appears very calm and also calms down the maiden in a very slow but somehow soothing embrace. [...]
The result of all that is that death is befriended, but not to that extend that was common to Bach′s time; and this befriending most certainly has nothing to do with suicide. Death simply becomes a necessity of life, because without death there wouldn′t be life and the other way around. You need both to define each other. How all this works in detail in connection with silence/stillness in Levis later poetry I′ll try to explore in this paper.
First I would like to focus on this befriending of death in Levis’ poetry. One good example to show this on in my opinion is the poem “Though His Name Is Infinite, My Father Is Asleep” from the collection “Winter Stars”. This poem is about the death of the speaker’s father, which normally would be pretty depressing but in this case somehow only seems to be logical. The first of possible reasons for that are the words that describe the process of the father’s dying.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The befriending of death in Larry Levis' poetry
2.1. The poem “Though His Name Is Infinite, My Father Is Asleep”
2.2. The collection “Elegy” and the poem “Shiloh”
3. The role of stillness in Larry Levis' poetry
3.1. The interplay of death and stillness
3.2. Analyses of “The Widening Spell of the Leaves” and “The Perfection of Solitude”
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines how the poet Larry Levis portrays death and stillness, arguing that he shifts away from traditional, frightening perceptions of mortality toward a state of "befriending" death. By analyzing specific poems and drawing comparisons to Franz Schubert's "Der Tod und das Mädchen," the work explores how Levis uses silence and stillness to create a meditative, almost serene acceptance of the end of life.
- The transition from a cultural fear of death to a state of acceptance and "befriending."
- The structural and thematic role of stillness and silence in Levis' poetic voice.
- Comparative analysis between Levis' poetry and Schubert’s "Death and the Maiden."
- The use of domestic imagery (home vs. house) as a metaphor for the afterlife.
- The concept of "lifeless perfect stillness" as a means to achieve harmony with mortality.
Excerpt from the Book
The Befriending of Death and Stillness in Larry Levis
The result of all that is that death is befriended, but not to that extend that was common to Bach’s time; and this befriending most certainly has nothing to do with suicide. Death simply becomes a necessity of life, because without death there wouldn’t be life and the other way around. You need both to define each other. How all this works in detail in connection with silence/stillness in Levis later poetry I’ll try to explore in this paper.
First I would like to focus on this befriending of death in Levis’ poetry. One good example to show this on in my opinion is the poem “Though His Name Is Infinite, My Father Is Asleep” from the collection “Winter Stars”. This poem is about the death of the speaker’s father, which normally would be pretty depressing but in this case somehow only seems to be logical.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the author’s perspective on the unique role death and stillness play in Larry Levis’ later work, contrasting it with contemporary fears.
2. The befriending of death in Larry Levis' poetry: This section analyzes how poems like “Though His Name Is Infinite, My Father Is Asleep” and “Shiloh” reframe death as a logical, non-violent transition rather than a source of terror.
3. The role of stillness in Larry Levis' poetry: The final section explores how the "image of stillness" acts as a catalyst for this befriending, utilizing examples from “The Widening Spell of the Leaves” to demonstrate a harmonious connection between life, death, and silence.
Keywords
Larry Levis, Poetry, Death, Stillness, Silence, Befriending, Mortality, Winter Stars, Elegy, Schubert, Der Tod und das Mädchen, Literary Analysis, Grief, Metaphor, Perception
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this academic paper?
The paper focuses on the interpretation of death and stillness in the poetry of Larry Levis, specifically examining how he moves past standard fears to a more accepting view of mortality.
What are the key thematic pillars of the analysis?
The key themes include the "befriending of death," the use of silence as a literary device, the comparison to classical music themes of death, and the search for logic within the transition of dying.
What is the primary objective of the author?
The primary objective is to show that Levis treats death as a natural, necessary component of life, creating a unique aesthetic where death and stillness exist in harmony.
Which methodology is employed in this research?
The paper utilizes close-reading and comparative literary analysis, evaluating Levis' verses alongside artistic influences like Franz Schubert and external critical perspectives.
What specific aspects of Levis' poetry are investigated?
The investigation covers his later work, focusing on how he uses specific imagery, such as "wings," "home," and "stillness," to redefine the reader's relationship with the concept of death.
Which keywords best describe the subject matter?
Key terms include Larry Levis, poetry, death, stillness, silence, befriending, and existential reflection.
How does the author interpret the poem "Shiloh"?
The author interprets "Shiloh" as a narrative written from the perspective of a deceased person, suggesting that this unique viewpoint makes the process of befriending death easier for the reader.
What role does the 1998 film "What dreams may come" play in the argument?
The film is used as a comparative touchstone to discuss how art (specifically painting) can represent a space where the living and dead intersect, reinforcing the author's point about Levis' use of imagery to bridge levels of existence.
- Quote paper
- Bianca Kloda (Author), 2001, The images of death and stillness in the poetry of Larry Levis and how they correlate, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/9758
