Information about poetry in German, with special emphasis on contemporary work by living poets and on the history of poetry in the modern period. Besides poetry, this site includes sections exploring German film, Germany today, GDR culture, and the Nazi past.
26 December 2006
Eagleton on Poetry
Terry Eagleton's new book How to read a poem (Blackwells, 2007 - although on sale in November 2006!) represents a rare attempt to write a twenty-first century theory of poetry. Poems have been ignored by literary and cultural theory in all guises; so-called 'Theory' is in fact 'prose theory', only applicable to cultural products which use prose. Overall this is a very worthwhile book, which pulls together many useful reflections on the forgotten genre. Although it takes all its examples from English-language poetry, the approach is exemplary enough to form a basis from which to read poetry in German too.
Terry Eagleton's new book How to read a poem (Blackwells, 2007 - although on sale in November 2006!) represents a rare attempt to write a twenty-first century theory of poetry. Poems have been ignored by literary and cultural theory in all guises; so-called 'Theory' is in fact 'prose theory', only applicable to cultural products which use prose. Overall this is a very worthwhile book, which pulls together many useful reflections on the forgotten genre. Although it takes all its examples from English-language poetry, the approach is exemplary enough to form a basis from which to read poetry in German too.
