Life of Words - Etymology and Modern Poetry

Studies the role that etymologies and etymological thinking have played in the works of English language poets including Seamus Heaney, R. F. Langley, J. H. Prynne, Geoffrey Hill, and Paul Muldoon.

List of contents

• Proem


• 1: Origins


• 2: Adaptations in the Age of the Arbitrary


• 3: Etymological Recirculation in Seamus Heaney, R. F. Langley, and J. H. Prynne


• 4: Geoffrey Hill's Etymological Crux


• 5: Paul Muldoon's Etymological Thread


• Afterword: 'And it ends right here'

About the author

David-Antoine Williams is Associate Professor of English at St Jerome's University in the University of Waterloo. He was educated at Harvard University, The University of St Andrews, and Balliol College, Oxford. His previous book, Defending Poetry: Art and Ethics in Joseph Brodsky, Seamus Heaney, and Geoffrey Hill, was published by Oxford University Press in 2010.

Summary

Studies the role that etymologies and etymological thinking have played in the works of English language poets including Seamus Heaney, R. F. Langley, J. H. Prynne, Geoffrey Hill, and Paul Muldoon.

Additional text

The central thrust of this erudite book is the meaning of words—the use of poetic figures and prosody. Williams's extensive knowledge of languages and how language works in poetry is apparent throughout the book...Valuable for scholars of poetry, philology, critical theory, and linguistics. Summing Up: Highly recommended.

Product details

• Authors: David-Antoine Williams, David-Antoine (Associate Professor Williams
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 13.05.2020
• EAN: 9780198812470
• ISBN: 978-0-19-881247-0
• No. of pages: 314
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative literary studies; Philosophy of Language, English, LITERARY CRITICISM / Poetry, PHILOSOPHY / Language, LITERARY CRITICISM / Modern / 20th Century, Literary studies: poetry & poets, Literary studies: from c 1900 -, Literary studies: c 1900 to c 2000, Literary studies: poetry and poets