Sunday, May 24, 2009
The domestic and the transcendent
Harwood’s poetry is described as being ‘firmly located in the particular, the domestic and the mortal’ while addressing issues of greater significance and lasting importance. With reference to the two poems we read today discuss this statement and whether or not it is a fair appraisal of an aspect of Harwood’s work.
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The poem 'Professor Eisenbart'isn the surface, about a Professor attending an ordinary girl’s school award night. The subject of the piece is what appears to be a particularly normal event. Things such as the girls reacting to the presence of the Professor and the headmistress receiving him with honor, all seem things easily imagined, and in that sense common. Yet after breaking down the poem we see that it holds a greater meaning beyond this 'everyday life' subject and that it does infact have a 'lasting importance', especially with regards to the poet herself. We understand it to be a type of critique that Harwood is making of the ignorance which a person can hold even when they are wise and educated. This is the ignorance to the power and passion of music. Music is shown to be so very much a personal thing, that has nothing to do with refined sophistication and everything to do with real expression. Although 'Professor Eisenbart'seems a poem filled with common, mortal subjects, Harwood uses them to thread her meaning and metaphors through. The poem 'A kitchen poem' also clearly is of a subject that is largely domestic. The imagery evoked is honest and simple; a farmer sitting in his kitchen, while the sky turns dark. The topic is one which talks of the chores of simply living. Something which he knows his wife longs to leave behind. The fact that her children, are to her, draining and almost life ruining, is an issue that speaks of mortal life. However there is also an underlying subject of the 'high life' or the sophistication of intelligent people. Harwood, through the farmer to his wife, sugests that these people of suposed elegance and wit, do not know about the beauty of living by the land and the simple act of existing. And that, to him, his land and love for her, is life, which is far richer than a career that earns money.
ReplyDeleteThe fist comment is by ariana
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion the statement is certainly a fair appraisal of an aspect of Harwood’s work. Although her works are set in the every day, she also strives to locate the transcendental in life. The pieces ‘Prise-Giving’ and ‘A Kitchen Poem’ are both set in a familiar and regular world, yet also address the issues of conservative and materialistic society; stripping it of its formalities and mocking its pretentiousness. In ‘Prise-Giving’ we are shown a pompous, vain professor unenthusiastically attending the speech night of a girls’ school. His otherwise distinguished and dignified self perception is inverted at the ‘arrogant hands’ of an uncouth schoolgirl. Upon hearing the beauty of her music, he is rendered speechless by its romantic allure. Here Harwood comments on the shallowness of his life without transcendental beauties, such as the passionate emotion evoked from music. The ethereal schoolgirl is symbolic of Harwood’s rebellion against the primitive and one-dimensional nature of conservatism and appearances. Harwood herself was an avid musician and she endeavoured to describe its lasting and positive effect on the human experience in many of her works. ‘A Kitchen Poem’ describes the simple yet rewarding routine of country life. Harwood presents us with a farmer whose wife feels intellectually frustrated. As she sits in her dull and unexciting house, she longs for the more eventful an interesting lifestyle of sophisticated businesswomen and the elite, where she is free of her overbearing responsibilities. However this life (as her husband goes on to state) is materialistic, finicky and lacking in substance. Instead the enchanting beauties of nature and the land she lives upon, in accordance with the love of a family, are the things she should hold dear. Harwood is yet again commenting on the importance of the beauties that lie beyond the material world. Having them held at lesser importance to that of materialistic qualities is the resounding issue of lasting importance she wishes to convey.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading Ari's post. It flowed naturally and was not stunted or overly complex. Sentences feed perfectly into one another, always relevant and relating to her overall point. What she did best was to not summarize the poems but truly explain their intent in great detail. I specifically enjoyed the point she made about the imagery in 'A Kitchen Poem' and it's power to describe the setting whilst also asserting meaning. The only thing I can think she could have done to improve her comment was to add a final sentence to summarize and reiterate her point. However overall a great piece of work that looks as if it was effortlessly executed! Awesome job :D
ReplyDeletebtw, the second post is by Julian.
ReplyDeleteThrough the poems 'Prize-Giving' and 'A Kitchen Poem' Harwood has used her delicate descriptions to subtly explore the realms of domestic life. However, her poems tend to explore not only domestic life but far more deeper concepts. This statement I believe is a fair appraisal, we are shown clearly through these two poems the same attention to 'the domestic and mortal' follows in the issues of greater significance. The issues explored are of the natural world, human relationships and the fundamentals of human nature. All seemingly depicted through a typical everyday environment. Such is the case in 'Prize Giving' where the subject matter is that of an egotistical Professor attending a school graduation. This is what takes place but is not the true concept explored by the poem. It is set in typical environment yet develops into an in-depth analysis of human facilities. ‘A Kitchen poem’ also transcends from descriptions of a serene environment into a complex depiction of someone’s longing for a different life. These two poems illuminate concerns fundamental to human experience yet depict them in relatively benign settings. Gwen Harwood’s poetry is beguiling in its simplicity, yet their discussions of themes integral and universal to all of human experience push the boundary of poetry. Making it a distinct style signature to Harwood.
ReplyDeletethe last blog by stella.. i looks short but its 200 words!!
ReplyDeletewhat can i say julian, magnificent job. Your work is truly executed brilliantly, the language used is precise and intelligent. As your overall understanding of Gwen Harwood's work introduces the reader to new ideas which were not covered in class. Your descriptions of the two poems were most probably my favorite part, the witty remarks echoed that of Harwood herself. A fantastic insight into Harwood's work. Although if I had to say anything negative, the post was meant to be 150-200 words. A bit too long, but apart from that an enchanting piece. Keep up the great work :)
ReplyDeletethat last blog also by stella
ReplyDeletelol I was gonna say the word length thing about ari's but as if I could talk!
ReplyDeletethe statement above is definitely a fair appraisal of aspects of Hardwoods works, she addresses the state of domestic life and human behavior within the poems 'Professor Eisenbart' and 'A kitchen Poem'. Though the idea of the daily routine is evident through out her works Harwood explores a much deeper meaning through out her poems looking into the transcendental in the every day.
ReplyDeletethroughout the two poems there is a common theme, when they are both broken down there is a much deeper meaning throughout. professor eisenbert is a school professor asked to attend a girls awards night, after declining the offer he is persuaded into attending. When broken down we find that the poem is a self critique of the author, placing herself in the school girl. The poem explores human behavior and human nature. A kitchen poem is an example of someone surrounded in a beautiful environment though longing for another life. Through out the two poems the issue of human behavior is explored and taken further than just the routine domestic life.
Stella, I would have to say that i enjoyed your blog extremely. You addressed the question well, and used language in an intellectual way that got your point across. I thoroughly enjoyed your views on Gwen Harwoods works and fully understood what you were saying. I thought your entry was a great length also, not to long not to short! Great work Stella.
ReplyDeletethe above statement, i agree is a fair appraisal. Harwoods poetry reflects her joy and frustration of being a musician in a materialistic world, she creates characters such as professor Eisenbart to express her perception of human nature. she clearly struggles with the practicalities of life and wanting to achieve the acclaim she so deserves as an artist and musician. in another lifetime and possibly having people around her to develop her music career she may have received critical acclaim as a musician. professor Eisenbart is a metaphor for the success and attention she yearns for. harwoods use and portrayal of everyday situations and experiences to set the scene underlies and deeper and poignant meaning. she has a great understanding of human nature and the spirit which propels onto greater things. the kitchen poem is a perfect example of this, where as the role of the mother she reflects upon the frailties of domestic bliss. looking out upon the mountains she sees herself in its image.
ReplyDeletestella i believe you hit the nail on the head entirely! you were able to re-frase the topic question in a way which is clear, concise and shows the deeper understanding of Harwoods poetry.
ReplyDeletei would though, elaborate a little more on examples of Harwoods relationship between the physical, metaphysical and the creative spirit. Well done Stella!!!! :)
The above statement is unquestionably a fair appraisal of a major aspect throughout Harwoods poetry. The poems ‘Prize giving’ and ‘A kitchen poem’ both clearly examine situations located in the typical and domestic world while on a deeper level, address matters of a much greater significance. The poem ‘prize giving’ is located in a common setting of a school awards night where we are introduced to a narcissistic professor who is to give out the awards. On the surface, this is simply an everyday, recognizable situation though when closely examined, this poem is somewhat of a reflection of the author herself. Harwood may potentially be embedding her own beliefs, experiences and values within her poetry to communicate to her readers on a more personal level. Through the character of the titian haired girl, Harwood channels her own distaste for pretentious and arrogant individuals, mocking the gracefulness, significance and sophistication in which the situation entails. Similarly. The poem ‘A kitchen poem’ examines the transcendental everyday by describing an idyllic and serene setting, contradicted by an individual longing for a better life. Overall, Harwoods ability to describe human experiences and true emotion is conveyed through her own values and personal experiences resulting in the ‘lasting importance’ and ‘greater significance’ present in much of her poetry.
ReplyDeletethe last blog is by zsa zsa.
ReplyDeleteThankyou to all who have posted these blogs, i am studying Harwoods poetry and tomorow i shall be examined on it. I am finiding it difficult to find any refferences and resources, that help with the analysis of her poems, so reading his had been Helpful.
ReplyDeleteTHANKYOU!!!
Can I post?
ReplyDeleteI love Gwen Harwood's poignant lense into human behaviour.
ReplyDelete