Is poetry a universal form of expression
Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2015 8:37 pm
Maureen posted a letter from a Brisbane teacher who is taking her class through a unit that is seeking to examine poetry as a universal form of expression. They have invited someone from our association to do a presentation.
I wondered if it was true, that poetry is a universal form of expression.
After all poetry depends on precise words, and the nuances of the specific language of the poem. How could English poetry resonate with Chinese people, how could German poetry resonate with South Sea Islanders. When poems are translated they must lose the music and rhythm of the original intention.
So how could poetry be universal.
Then I remembered Shakespeare, Shakespeare's plays are all poems. And Shakespeare's plays have been read, performed and made into musicals, operas and films in many countries including non-English speaking countries, presumably because their content has universal appeal.
And the famous" Lord's Prayer" and Psalm 23 from the Bible. There are many countries speaking different languages where these two poems are recited or sung.
Perhaps by these examples alone, poetry is a universal form of expression.
What do you think. We are poets aren't we and poets have strong opinions about poetry don't they?
We have discussed how we should encourage presenting poetry to young people, what would we tell the class of young people about the universality of poetic expression ?
I wondered if it was true, that poetry is a universal form of expression.
After all poetry depends on precise words, and the nuances of the specific language of the poem. How could English poetry resonate with Chinese people, how could German poetry resonate with South Sea Islanders. When poems are translated they must lose the music and rhythm of the original intention.
So how could poetry be universal.
Then I remembered Shakespeare, Shakespeare's plays are all poems. And Shakespeare's plays have been read, performed and made into musicals, operas and films in many countries including non-English speaking countries, presumably because their content has universal appeal.
And the famous" Lord's Prayer" and Psalm 23 from the Bible. There are many countries speaking different languages where these two poems are recited or sung.
Perhaps by these examples alone, poetry is a universal form of expression.
What do you think. We are poets aren't we and poets have strong opinions about poetry don't they?
We have discussed how we should encourage presenting poetry to young people, what would we tell the class of young people about the universality of poetic expression ?