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Description
The poet and critic Robert Lowell is interviewed at his home in Kent by Gabriel Pearson, Professor of English at Essex University. Robert Lowell reads three of his poems: Fall 1961, Water and For t...he Union Dead. He explains the background to these poems, and talks generally about his work as a poet.
The poet and critic Robert Lowell is interviewed at his home in Kent by Gabriel Pearson, Professor of English at Essex University. Robert Lowell reads three of his poems: Fall 1961, Water and For t...he Union Dead. He explains the background to these poems, and talks generally about his work as a poet.
| Module code and title: | A306, Twentieth century poetry |
|---|---|
| Item code: | A306; 13 |
| First transmission date: | 14-08-1976 |
| Published: | 1976 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:24:24 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Paul Kafno |
| Contributors: | Robert Lowell; Gabriel Pearson |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Language |
| Subject terms: | Poetry; Lowell, Robert |
| Footage description: | The programme opens with Robert Lowell at home in Kent explaining in interview why he wrote the poem The Mouth of the Hudson. Lowell then reads the poem. Shots of Lowell's house in Kent. He gives reasons for the style of his poetry and specifically explains the form of the poem Fall 1961. Says why he wrote it. Lowell reads the poem. Lowell and Pearson discuss the way in which a poem is written, particularly the method of bringing it to completion. They then discuss the poem Water, which Lowell reads. They examine the poem in greater detail. Lowell explains the poem's style, which is a tribute to Elizabeth Bishop. Lowell and Pearson discuss the influence of dreams upon poetry, and the use of images which might be inspired by sub - conscious thought. Pearson questions Lowell about his historical poems, particularly For the Union Dead. Lowell gives the background to the poem. Lowell reads the poem. Lowell explains the extent to which the ordinary American would understand the references in the poem. He elucidates the civil war details and background. Lowell proceeds to make an analogy between America and the Roman state. He claims that the politics of the poem are elite, and explains this assertion. He discusses the extended images of fish that run through the poem, and the images that refer to Hiroshima. |
| Master spool number: | 6HT/72079 |
| Production number: | 00525_3155 |
| Videofinder number: | 726 |
| Available to public: | no |
