Gus Sayre, Makenna Sheppard April 27, 2021
Step 1: Due 4/30/21 @ 11:59pm
- Topic: Organic Form Poetry (p. 325–333)
-Britannica Definition: Organic form, the structure of a work that has grown naturally from the author’s subject and materials as opposed to that of a work shaped by and conforming to artificial rules. The concept was developed by Samuel Taylor Coleridge to counter the arguments of those who claimed that the works of William Shakespeare were formless.
-Exaltation of Forms p. 325 Definition(s): [Paraphrased]- Organic form is to be discovered in the “inscape” (Gerard Manley Hopkins term) of objects and their relationship. Thomas Huxley uses the term “organic” synonymously with “living”. ***Reference these pages when defining organic form!
- Linked Resources: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/articles/69392/some-notes-on-organic-form-56d249032078f Poetry Foundation
- https://www.britannica.com/art/organic-form Britannica
- 2 (or more) poems in this form to Focus on:
- Rome, 1970, By Hilda Morley Page 327
- View by Color Photography on a Commercial Calendar, By William Carlos Williams.
- 3 Research Questions about form and accompanying poems (Use “how to” worksheet):
- Why is the form of “organic poetry” structured differently than other forms of poetry, and why do the structures not match from poem to poem, as demonstrated in Hilda Morley and William Carlos Williams poems?
Who: WC Williams and Hilda Morley
What: Structure- Does not conform, always different.
When: Early 19th Century.
Where: Europe (England) etc.
Why: Poets wanted a new form of expression.
- What are the origins of the organic form of poetry, (when, where), and who is responsible segmenting this poetic form as its own?
Who: Denise Levertov, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Thomas Huxley, etc.
What: (See question because the question is asking “what”.)
When: Early 19th Century — Present
Where: Europe (England) etc.
Why: Poets wanted a new form of expression. As this new form gained
popularity it required analysis and classification.
- How has organic poetry influenced not only the poetic world, but the world of writing in general since its origin? Is it still as relevant today as it once was?
Who: Denise Levertov, (although she did some influencing herself).
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/articles/69392/some-notes-on-organic-form-56d249032078f
What: Will give the influences of the organic form of poetry in our radio show.
Where: Europe (England) etc.
When: Early 19th Century.
Why: Because we want to share with people how this form of poetry has made an impact within our world.
- 2 Ideas within the form that have been/are influential:
- For me, back of the idea of organic form is the concept that there is a form
in all things (and in our experience) which the poet can discover and reveal.
-Denise Levertov. This premise is indicative of the organic form as a whole.
The concept of “form in all things” is at the core of organic poetry.
- Organic poetry overtime reflected the primacy of the transcendental view of nature. It has practiced choice and use of metaphor, verse form, language, and theme.
- Choose one research question and make it a rough outline:
- How has organic poetry influenced not only the poetic world, but the world of writing in general since its origin? Is it still as relevant today as it once was? (Question 3).
- Thesis Statement:
- Organic poetry is reflective of the symbiotic relationship between man and nature, and is written without formal consistency in order to most accurately and vividly recount the author’s feelings and observations regarding the subject matter.
- ***Listen to In Form Podcast Season 1 Episode 01
- Outline:
- Talk about the background regarding the organic form of poetry, such as where is originated, when, and who created/popularized it, who still
practices
- Read the question we chose (question 3) and talk about it (who, why, when, etc..)
- Read two poems that we chose to study from the book
- Talk about the poems we chose to read to the listening audience
- Talk about how this form of poetry has evolved over time to today’s day in age (what it’s like today etc..)
- ***Potentially incorporate a reading of one of the poems we are focusing on.
