Ritsos as reader : the poetics of eclecticism in the mature work of Yannis Ritsos
This thesis seeks to demonstrate the utility of the concept of 'Ritsos as reader' for furthering the understanding of Yannis Ritsos' mature poetry and poetics (from the mid- 1940s onwards). It examines the relationship between Ritsos' reading and several (sometimes neglected) modes of his writing, showing how Ritsos positions himself in relation to other poets and their work. It advances a new comprehension of the notion of poetic influence in Ritsos' career. Previous attempts to assess that influence have tended to view Ritsos' relationship with other poetry as a source of anxiety or embarrassment. It is, by contrast, here argued that Ritsos' concept of reading, which defines and limits the roles of literary criticism and translation, clarifies his work's relationship with other poets and embraces intertextual practice and creative reading. This poetic allows for a self-conscious and complex eclecticism, supporting Ritsos' own concerns to reconcile Modernism with the Left. Through examination of available sources, the thesis surveys Ritsos' reading. It shows that, at the time he was introduced to Marxist-Leninist writings (in the late 1920s), he also made his first forays into world literature. It suggests ÌÏÎłÎ·ÎŒÎ±</i> (1977), examining intertextual practices and alternative literary canons. Through an exploration of <i>ÎÎ"Î"Î"ÏÎ·ÌÎŒÎ±ÏÎ± </i>and selected correspondence, chapter 2 examines Ritsos' concerns about how critics read poetry and his counter-proposal in favour of direct and creative reading. Chapter 3 surveys Ritsos' activities as a translator (1946-1988), assessing his views of translation, analysing two examples of his work, and showing the interplay of creativity and translation in the collection <i>ÎÌÏÏÏÎ±ÎČÎ±</i>. Chapter 4 draws the threads together in a case study of Ritsos' creativity as a reader, analysing how he draws on Whitman and Cavafy to read the body through and against the Left's ideology. Here, as overall, the thesis argues that Ritsos' poetics is dynamic and protean, absorbing poetry eclectically and producing creative work that is at once original and rooted in his world view and experience as a reader.
Kittmer, John
Ritsos as reader : the poetics of eclecticism in the mature work of Yannis Ritsos. This thesis seeks to demonstrate the utility of the concept of 'Ritsos as reader' for furthering the understanding of Yannis Ritsos' mature poetry and poetics (from the mid- 1940s onwards). It examines the relationship between Ritsos' reading and several (sometimes neglected) modes of his writing, showing how Ritsos positions himself in relation to other poets and their work. It advances a new comprehension of the notion of poetic influence in Ritsos' career. Previous attempts to assess that influence have tended to view Ritsos' relationship with other poetry as a source of anxiety or embarrassment. It is, by contrast, here argued that Ritsos' concept of reading, which defines and limits the roles of literary criticism and translation, clarifies his work's relationship with other poets and embraces intertextual practice and creative reading. This poetic allows for a self-conscious and complex eclecticism, supporting Ritsos' own concerns to reconcile Modernism with the Left. Through examination of available sources, the thesis surveys Ritsos' reading. It shows that, at the time he was introduced to Marxist-Leninist writings (in the late 1920s), he also made his first forays into world literature. It suggests ÌÏÎłÎ·ÎŒÎ±</i> (1977), examining intertextual practices and alternative literary canons. Through an exploration of <i>ÎÎ"Î"Î"ÏÎ·ÌÎŒÎ±ÏÎ± </i>and selected correspondence, chapter 2 examines Ritsos' concerns about how critics read poetry and his counter-proposal in favour of direct and creative reading. Chapter 3 surveys Ritsos' activities as a translator (1946-1988), assessing his views of translation, analysing two examples of his work, and showing the interplay of creativity and translation in the collection <i>ÎÌÏÏÏÎ±ÎČÎ±</i>. Chapter 4 draws the threads together in a case study of Ritsos' creativity as a reader, analysing how he draws on Whitman and Cavafy to read the body through and against the Left's ideology. Here, as overall, the thesis argues that Ritsos' poetics is dynamic and protean, absorbing poetry eclectically and producing creative work that is at once original and rooted in his world view and experience as a reader.
reader poetics mature work seek utility concept reader further mature poetry poetics onwards examines_relationship reading several sometimes neglect mode write show position relation poet work advance new comprehension notion poetic influence career previous_attempt assess influence tend_view relationship poetry source anxiety contrast argue concept reading define limit role literary_criticism translation clarifies work relationship poet embrace intertextual practice creative reading poetic allow self_conscious complex support concern reconcile modernism left examination available_source survey reading show time introduce marxist writing late also_make first world literature suggest person examine intertextual practice alternative literary canon exploration select correspondence examines concern critic read poetry counter proposal favour direct creative reading survey activity translator assess view translation analyse example work show interplay creativity translation collection ici draw thread together case_study creativity reader analyse draw read body left ideology overall argue poetics dynamic absorb poetry eclectically produce creative work original rooted world_view experience reader