culture. education. literary studies.
In this essay, originally published in 1843, the author expounds on the role of poets in the development of a civilized, cultured society. Unavoidably, he has a lot to say on the subject of poetry itself: its origins, character, and purpose. Written almost two centuries ago, Maccallโs view of poets and poetry remains relevant, inspiring, and thought-provoking.
Not long ago, on one of my nature walks I visited a small lake near the town of Barajevo, Serbia. Once I got back home, I searched my library for a poem that would go well with my mental images of the place. And here it is - the subject of this blog post - Rudyard Kiplingโs โThe Way through the Woodsโ.ย
Reading this poem, you immediately find yourself in a wintery nature setting. What T. W. Higginson describes is just a fleeting moment: a wonderful snapshot captured in words.
The poem presented in this post is unlikely to chase your winter blues, to be honest, but it's an excellent one! Penned by Edgar Allan Poe, โAloneโ is a deeply personal and intimate reflection on what is now commonly described as chronic depression. This mental health condition was the troubled poetโs lifelong companion, as attested …
grammaticus 