Date of Award
Fall 12-2015
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.
Degree Program
English
Department
English
Major Professor
John Gery
Second Advisor
Carolyn Hembree
Third Advisor
Peter Schock
Abstract
Throughout his work, Wilbur maintains a thematic and aesthetic fascination with kinetic energy, especially insofar as this graceful movement often seems to defy the world’s gravity. Wilbur’s energetic verse and imagery invites readers to delve into the philosophical and spiritual meditations of his poems, as well as to notice the physical world anew. The kinetic aspects of Wilbur’s subject matter, wordplay, wit, and figurative language elucidate the frequent tempering of gravity with levity within his work. Many critics have studied Wilbur’s philosophy, Christianity, metaphors, wordplay, and approach to language as found in his poetry, but this essay attempts to use a framework of kinetic energy potential energy, gravity, and weight to understand these various aspects of his work.
Recommended Citation
Lynch, Elizabeth, "“Beauty Joined to Energy”: Gravity and Graceful Movement in Richard Wilbur’s Poetry" (2015). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 2094.
https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/2094
Included in
Literature in English, North America Commons, Other English Language and Literature Commons
Rights
The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.