Discuss the role of John Crowe Ransom in 20th Century American Poetry

 Discuss the role of John Crowe Ransom in 20th Century American Poetry

John Crowe Ransom (1888-1974) was an American poet, critic, and teacher who played a significant role in the development of 20th-century American poetry. He was born in Pulaski, Tennessee and spent much of his life in the Southern United States.

Ransom was a leading figure in the literary movement known as the Southern Agrarians, a group of poets and writers from the Southern United States who sought to promote traditional Southern values and culture through their writing. He was also part of the Fugitive group, a group of poets and scholars, who met at Vanderbilt University in the 1920s, this group had a significant impact on the development of Southern literature and on American poetry as a whole.

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Discuss the role of John Crowe Ransom in 20th Century American Poetry

As a poet, Ransom's work is known for its formal precision and its focus on traditional themes such as the beauty of nature, the human experience, and the role of the artist in society. His first collection of poetry, "Poems About God" (1919) established him as one of the most important poets of the Fugitive group. His later collections include "Chills and Fever" (1924) and "Two Gentlemen in Bonds" (1927).

As a critic, Ransom's most influential book was "The New Criticism" (1941) which advocated for close reading of literary texts and for paying attention to the form and structure of poetry. This approach to literary criticism had a significant impact on literary scholarship and is still influential today.

Ransom also had an important role as a teacher and mentor, he taught at several universities throughout his life, including Vanderbilt, Kenyon College and the University of the South. Many of his students went on to become prominent poets, critics, and scholars in their own right.

John Crowe Ransom died in 1974, his work continues to be studied and celebrated for its literary, historical and cultural significance and for his contributions as poet, critic and teacher.

John Crowe Ransom (1888-1974) was an American poet, critic, and teacher who played an important role in shaping 20th-century American poetry. He was a leading figure in the literary movement known as the Southern Agrarians, which was a group of poets and writers from the Southern United States who sought to promote traditional Southern values and culture through their writing.

Discuss the role of John Crowe Ransom in 20th Century American Poetry

Ransom is considered one of the most significant poets of the Fugitive group, a group of poets and scholars, who met at Vanderbilt University in the 1920s, this group had a significant impact on the development of Southern literature and on American poetry as a whole. Ransom's poetry is known for its formal precision, its use of traditional forms such as the sonnet, and its focus on themes such as the beauty of nature, the human experience, and the role of the artist in society.

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As a critic, Ransom is known for his book "The New Criticism" (1941) which advocated for close reading of literary texts and for paying attention to the form and structure of poetry. This approach has had a significant impact on literary criticism and scholarship, and it continues to be influential in literary studies today.

Ransom also played an important role as a teacher and mentor, He taught at several Universities throughout his life and many of his students went on to become prominent poets, critics and scholars in their own right.

Discuss the role of John Crowe Ransom in 20th Century American Poetry

Overall, John Crowe Ransom's role in 20th-century American poetry is multifaceted. As a poet, he helped to shape the literary movement known as the Southern Agrarians, and his poetry is known for its formal precision and focus on traditional themes. As a critic, he advocated for close reading of literary texts and his book "The New Criticism" has had a lasting impact on literary scholarship. As a teacher, he had an influence on many important poets, critics, and scholars of the 20th century and his legacy continues to inspire future generations.

20th-century American poetry encompasses a wide range of styles, themes, and movements. The early decades of the century saw the continuation of traditional forms and themes, as well as the emergence of new voices and styles. As the century progressed, American poetry underwent significant changes, reflecting the social, political, and cultural developments of the time.

During the early 20th century, Imagism and Objectivism were two important movements that had a strong influence on American poetry. Imagism, led by poets such as Ezra Pound, focused on creating clear, precise, and direct poetry, with an emphasis on visual imagery. Objectivism, which was led by poet Louis Zukofsky, emphasized the objective representation of the world, often with a focus on everyday objects and experiences.

Discuss the role of John Crowe Ransom in 20th Century American Poetry

During the 1920s and 1930s, the Harlem Renaissance, led by African-American poets such as Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen, emerged as a significant literary movement. This movement celebrated African-American culture, history, and experience and had a profound impact on American literature as a whole.

After World War II, American poetry underwent a significant change, with the emergence of the Beat poets and the New York School. The Beat poets, led by Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and Gary Snyder, rejected traditional forms and themes, and instead wrote about their own experiences, often in a free-form, spontaneous style. The New York School, which included poets such as Frank O'Hara, John Ashbery, and Kenneth Koch, experimented with form and language, often incorporating elements of popular culture and everyday speech into their poetry.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Confessionalism emerged as a significant movement in American poetry, led by poets such as Sylvia Plath, Anne Sexton, and Robert Lowell. Confessional poets wrote about their own experiences, often in a highly personal and emotional style, and they were often heavily influenced by their own mental health struggles, personal life, and political events of the time.

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IMPORTANT QUESTIONS:-

 1. Discuss the contribution of either Ransom or Cleanth Brooks to literary theory and practice. 

2. Do you agree with the view that all the American New Critics were influenced by Ransom? 

3. What does Ransom mean when he advocates "Criticism Inc."? 

4. Discuss the ideas expressed by Cleanth Brooks in his essay "Irony as a Principle of Structure". 

5. Do you agree that "The Formalist Critic" by Cleanth Brooks is a kind of manifesto of the New Cnt~cs?

 

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