French Symbolists Help

[laymonite]

Up to this point, I've studied prose almost exclusively, so I want to focus on beefing up my knowledge of poetry. I just finished reading Terry Eagleton's critical theory book on poetry, How to Read a Poem, which is deceptively titled, and it provided some useful skills for examining a poem. Since I've studied most of the major poets in school, I've decided to turn to French symbolists like Mallarmé. Now I need help!

I understand the basic premises of the symbolist movement (purging language of its banal, every day use/meaning, among other intentions), but, for the most part, Mallarmé is completely eluding me! So, I am looking for some guidance on "working with" these poets. It seems that there is more of a focus on signifier than signified, so that accounts for my struggles with deciphering content.

How do you approach symbolist poetry? Should I begin with someone other than Mallarmé? I did read Rimbaud's Une Saison en Enfer a while ago and really enjoyed it--of course I supplemented the poem with a biography on Rimbaud and the movie Total Eclipse, so it helped shed light on the poetry. In any case, I appreciate the help!

[Jeremydav]

I enjoy Rimbaud a good bit. His "My Bohemian Life" is a great poem.

[OrphanPip]

The poetry book club is currently discussing Verlaine if you're interested.

http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53885&page=10

[stlukesguild]

Seriously, if you are going to explore French Symbolism you might wish to put off Mallarme for the time being as he is almost certainly the most challenging. I would begin with Gautier and Baudelaire and then move to Verlaine and Rimbaud (especially Illuminations). You might also wish to look a little at Poe... even his essay, The Philosophy of Composition for Poe was a major influence upon French symbolism in spite of the fact that he is still undervalued by many American academics. I would also highly recommend Arthur Symons' The Symbolist Movement in Literature. This text was not only historically important in introducing French Symbolist aesthetics to the English-speaking world including figures such as Yeats and Eliot... but it is also a marvelous introduction to the poetry.

http://www.archive.org/details/symbolistmovemen00symouoft

[laymonite]

stlukesguild - Thank you very much! I didn't even think about Poe and his influence until I read "The Tomb of Edgar Allan Poe." Plus, for me, Poe would be a great starting point as I am familiar with his life and prose (growing up in Virginia, we learn a lot of Poe).

Thanks!

[JBI]

There is also now a newish book explaining how to read French verse for English speaking audiences which one aught to check out of their exposure to poetry is really restricted to Eagleton's perspective.

Even so, Mallarme will allude you, first of all, as long as you read him in English, as he relies much on sound and puns, secondly, he will allude you as he does everyone else, the way Hart Crane does, in that he is naturally difficult.

[laymonite]

JBI - Do you know the title/author of this book? I am actually studying French right now with the intention of reading these texts in the original translations. So, as you say, perhaps I should wait on Mallarme for a couple years! I'm starting with Le Petite Prince!

[JBI]

http://www.amazon.com/Essay-French-Verse-Readers-English/dp/0811211584/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1282686179&sr=1-2-fkmr1