ENGLISH 45C Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: The Poetic Principle, Constantin Guys, Starving Artist
Document Summary
The raven - mourning his late wife. Died on the street, excessive alcohol + diseases. Considered a second-rate writer at the time. Hailed by french poets and writers as a great poet + writer. Was against idea of literature should delight or instruct , especially against instruct. The poetic principle: poetry for poetry"s sake. Unease, discomfort, but doesn"t fit two previously mentioned genres completely. Pessimistic view rather than thinking things will get better like everyone else. Perhaps referring to the darkness in all of us => suggested at the end. Sitting in a cafe, people-watching w/ minute interest and detail. E. g. , shape of ear = pen in ear = junior clerk. Establishes narrator as in the know, but distanced; he is not in the crowd. Watching people very closely like a detective. Narrator perceived pickpockets, wondered how fake gentlemen could fool. Parallels bt. reading for clues and detective work. Gentlemen because he can perceive them, but others cannot.
