Introduction to Modernist Poetry (c.1890 - 1950)

The modernist period, spanning from 1890 to 1950, is a period of radical, society change—one might even say a period of cultural trauma. The voices of modernist poems seem to ask: how can poetry keep together the fragments of a fragmented world? How can poetry connect us to other people who live their separate lives in the shared world of war, financial destitution, political turmoil, and human atrocities?

In this lecture, I want to give you a survey of some of the major themes and formal characteristics to reading modernist poetry.

Introduction: 0:00-3:40
W.B. Yeats and Intimations of Modernism 3:40-9:42
Wilfred Owen and WWI Poetry 9:42-26:07
T.S. Eliot and The Waste Land 26:07-38:35
W.H. Auden and The Shield of Achilles 38:35-49:03

[EyeLean]

So interesting that modernist poetry can seem pretentious to someone who came to poetry through earlier styles. My students have the opposite response. The modernists make intuitive sense to them and it's often the heavily allusive Enlightenment poets, or the darkly brooding Romantic poets that strike them as pretentious. In either case, some emotional labor is required, I think, to overcome (likely previously unexamined) personal biases and preferences to get at the genuinely good stuff each of these movements has to offer.

[afaydilek]

i remember having some trouble to get into modernist poetry back in the faculty. You explain it really well

[georgedibble]

As always, another tremendous lecture

[kayleawilson]

Excited to be a new patron! Poetry is very important to me, and I appreciate your videos very much!!

[vvv-zops]

Another great lecture! Hope you make more on modernist poetry

[ToReadersItMayConcern]

This is a brilliant summation. Thank you.

[akramobada]

Much appreciated from college of languages, Kufa University
Thanks It is my honor to watch your video and explanation

[davidwinston]

Another top class session.

Thank you Adam

[chrisplatt]

A fascinating video. I'm quite new to poetry and have just discovered your channel. Looking forward to going through previous videos.

[peterdoh]

Wow, you just blew my mind.
I sat in sweetness watching the confusion of the 20th century. Emptiness and hunger for meaning. Bewildering and beautiful.
Thank you.

[hiwayshoes]

Hi Adam, if you get a chance and have yet to hear it, there’s a rendition in song of “The Stolen Child” by The Waterboys from 2006. I think it’s a beautiful homage to Yeats, so I wanted to share this with you and everyone in the comments... Cheers 💖!

[johntuffin]

Regarding the pronunciation of “dulce “, someone of Wilfred Owen’s time would probably have used the old English pronunciation, with a soft “c”. The pronunciation of Latin, as taught in schools, was changed in the early twentieth century. There is a useful article in Wikipedia.

[hexagondun]

Nice! I've been trying and failing to get into Hart Crane.

[xmaseveeve]

(No. These things did not happen. This is even more strange.)