Women, Poetry and the Voice of a Nation

Anne Varty

Published by Edinburgh University Press 2021

Women, Poetry and the Voice of a Nation

Anne Varty

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781474489867

Overview
Contents

About this book

A pioneering study of women poets exploring the four laureate roles of the United Kingdom and Ireland

Includes case studies of Gillian Clarke, Carol Ann Duffy, Liz Lochhead and Paula Meehan
Re-values the authority of poetry by women
Considers how poetry can be both nation-building and promote cultural internationalism
Explores the treatment of poetry in the school curriculum

The concurrent tenures of Gillian Clarke as National Poet of Wales, Carol Ann Duffy as UK Poet Laureate, Liz Lochhead as Scots Makar, and Paula Meehan as Ireland Professor of Poetry, defied historic rifts between women, poetry and nation. This book explores the extraordinary changes these women fought to achieve as each made her way from marginalised ‘poetess’ of the 1970s to laureate at the heart of cultural establishment in the 21st century. It looks at how they revitalised these public offices, and explores their interventions in contemporary geopolitics and national self-understanding. It considers how they shaped their roles by engaging with poetic icons of the past, by linking poetry and education, and by joining poetry with politics.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Acknowledgements Publicly Available Download PDF	vi
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
1. Women, Poetry and the Voice of a Nation Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	3
2. The Laureate Roles: Three Poets and a Professor Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	15
3. Gillian Clarke: From Woman Poet to National Poet Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	35
4. Paula Meehan: Poetry across Boundaries Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	71
5. Liz Lochhead: Performing Scotland Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	100
6. Carol Ann Duff y: ‘The edge has become the centre’ Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	121
7. Answering Back: Poetry in Conversation with Wordsworth, Burns and Yeats Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	144
8. National Poets and the National Curriculum Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	167
9. Brexit and Britannia Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	194
10. Postscript for the Future Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	208
Works Cited Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	212
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	229

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
Audience: College/higher education;
Pages
- Main content: 248
Keywords: Literary Studies

eBook

Published: April 21, 2022
ISBN: 9781474489867