Kunst kann unterschiedliche Erscheinungsformen annehmen. Sie kann durch Malerei ebenso ausgedrückt werden wie durch Poesie. Die Arbeit setzt sich zum Ziel, diese beiden Formen der Kunst miteinander zu verknüpfen. Grundlage dafür sind Pieter Bruegels Kunstwerk 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus' sowie zwei Gedichte der britischen Lyriker W. H. Auden ('Musée des Beaux Arts') und Daniel Abse ('Bruegel in Naples'). Neben der Erarbeitung verbindender Aspekte zwischen den Gedichten und dem Gemälde werden beide Gedichte zudem komparatistisch analysiert.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Myth of the Fall of Icarus
3. Pieter Bruegel's 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus'
4. Analysis and Interpretation of the Poems
4.1 Formal Aspects of the Poem 'Musée des Beaux Arts'
4.2 Content and Interpretation
4.3 Formal Aspects of the Poem 'Bruegel in Naples'
4.4 Content and Interpretation
5. Comparison of the Poems
6. Conclusion
Research Objective and Topics
This paper explores how visual art—specifically Pieter Bruegel's painting "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus"—serves as a catalyst for poetic expression in the works of W. H. Auden and Dannie Abse, analyzing the intersection of structure, content, and the representation of human indifference.
- Comparative analysis of ekphrastic poetry
- Interpretation of Ovid’s myth within modern literature
- The role of formal structure in shaping thematic meaning
- Representations of human indifference and social detachment
- The relationship between the visual arts and poetic imagery
Excerpt from the Book
4.2 Content and Interpretation
'About suffering they were never wrong, The Old Masters […]'. By reading the first and the second line in the first stanza of the poem, the recipient immediately knows what the poem is about. It is obvious that it deals with suffering, but it is not clear what kind of suffering is meant. The usual English syntax of the sentence is inverted. The specific subject corresponding with the verb of the sentence was placed in the very end of the whole clause, which mostly is untypical for ordinary English syntax. Hence, there seems to be a deliberately produced emphasis on 'suffering', which sensitizes the reader for the following theme of the poem. But who are 'The Old Masters'? Those three words sound like an academic title, they sound like something of tremendous importance. The whole expression is strongly specified, not at least because of the consequent capitalization of the words. Old Masters were the '[European] painters of the 15th to 18th centuries' (MALAN, 26). By using the term Old Masters, Auden evidently refers to all the great European artists for instance, Peter Paul Rubens, Albrecht Dürer, Harmensz van Rijn Rembrandt or Pieter Bruegel the Elder.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Introduces the concept of ekphrasis and establishes the paper's focus on the comparison between Auden’s and Abse’s responses to Bruegel’s painting.
2. The Myth of the Fall of Icarus: Provides a concise overview of the Icarus myth as recounted by Ovid, highlighting its themes of hubris and human failure.
3. Pieter Bruegel's 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus': Analyzes the artistic context and moral implications of Bruegel’s masterpiece, focusing on the marginalization of the tragic figure.
4. Analysis and Interpretation of the Poems: Examines the formal construction and thematic depth of both poems, detailing their distinct approaches to interpreting the painting.
5. Comparison of the Poems: Contrasts the structural and stylistic choices of the two poets, arguing that while both address the same subject, their emotional impacts differ significantly.
6. Conclusion: Summarizes how both poets successfully bridge the gap between mythology, art, and poetry, while emphasizing the inherent danger of societal indifference.
Keywords
Ekphrasis, W. H. Auden, Dannie Abse, Pieter Bruegel, Landscape with the Fall of Icarus, Ovid, Icarus, Poetry, Human Indifference, Comparative Analysis, Myth, Suffering, Literary Interpretation, Art History, Modern Poetry
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines how two prominent British poets, W. H. Auden and Dannie Abse, use ekphrasis to respond to Pieter Bruegel's painting 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus'.
What are the primary themes explored in these poems?
The central themes include the anonymity of human suffering, societal indifference, the moral weight of daily life, and the interpretation of classical mythology in modern contexts.
What is the main objective of the analysis?
The objective is to compare how structure, formal elements, and word choice in the two poems reflect different perspectives on the same visual masterpiece.
Which scientific or analytical methods are applied?
The author employs a comparative literary analysis, evaluating formal structures (rhythm, rhyme, enjambement) alongside content interpretation to uncover the meaning behind the poetry.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It covers the historical context of the Icarus myth, an analysis of Bruegel's painting, individual interpretations of both poems, and a direct comparative synthesis.
Which keywords characterize this scholarly work?
Key terms include Ekphrasis, Icarus, Auden, Abse, Bruegel, Comparative Analysis, and Human Indifference.
How does Auden represent suffering in his poem?
Auden utilizes irregular lines and technical devices to create a 'heavy' atmosphere, suggesting that human indifference is a constant reality that remains largely unnoticed by those focused on daily tasks.
What distinguishes Dannie Abse's approach from Auden's?
Abse incorporates a first-person narrator, slipping into the role of Icarus, and uses colloquial language combined with bracketed internal thoughts to create a more ironic and humorous tone.
Why does the author consider the title of the poems important?
The titles provide a link to the specific context—either the location of the painting (Auden) or the artist himself (Abse)—thereby framing the reader's expectation before the poem's content is revealed.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding modern society?
The author concludes that the indifference depicted in the art and poetry serves as a warning, suggesting that by ignoring the suffering of others, we risk losing our own humanity.
- Quote paper
- Marta Kruzynski (Author), 2010, How Art Inspires Art, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/174823
