Language is not a very predominant theme in the work of the Welsh poet and playwright, Gillian Clarke (born 1937) nor has she, to my knowledge, ever expressed an interest in linguistic theories and their application to literature. Her work tends to be rather autobiographical in style, recounting experiences involving her own family, children and local people. However, occasionally she touches upon the subject of education and of writing poetry (as for example in ‘Lunchtime lecture’ and ‘Pipistrelle’, respectively) and it is by way of these themes that issues concerning language come into play. Such is the case in ‘Clocks’ and ‘Miracle on Saint David’s Day’. In the first, I offer a Lacanian interpretation of the issue of ‘naming’ described in the poem. What the grandmother of the poem is concerned with is the development of the subject (her grandchild) and the need to construct his sense of ‘reality’ in and through language which in turn enables him to enter the Symbolic or Social Order. The official language of the Social Order is also pitted against what Lacan would term the ‘lalangue’ of the child, evident in his onomatopoeic utterances.
‘Miracle on St David’s Day’ is a testament to the miraculous power of poetry and I illustrate how Clarke is reinforcing that the oral articulation of poetical language can induce a sense of euphoria as described by Barthes in Le Plaisir du texte.
Table of Contents
1. Glimpses of Lacan and Barthes in two poems by Gillian Clarke
Objectives and Topics
The work explores the power and beauty of poetical language by applying psychoanalytic and linguistic theories to two poems by Gillian Clarke, 'Clocks' and 'Miracle on St David's Day', illustrating how poetic rhythm and materiality connect human subjects to reality.
- Analysis of the mother-child relationship and the acquisition of language in 'Clocks'.
- Application of Jacques Lacan’s concepts of the 'Real', the 'Symbolic Order', and 'lalangue'.
- Examination of the 'miraculous' power of poetry in 'Miracle on St David’s Day'.
- Exploration of Roland Barthes’ theories on the pleasure of the text and euphoric oral articulation.
- Evaluation of how poetry acts as a 'pharmakon' or remedy for the human condition.
Excerpt from the Book
Glimpses of Lacan and Barthes in two poems by Gillian Clarke
Language is not a very predominant theme in the work of the Welsh poet and playwright, Gillian Clarke (born 1937). Her work is rather domestic in style and content, and focuses largely on autobiographical experiences involving her own family, children and local people. The mother-child relationship; nature and the impact of industrialization on the Welsh landscape; birds, animals; growing up and growing old: these are some of the motifs that surface throughout her entire oeuvre. Frequently she touches upon the subject of education and writing poetry (for example in ‘Lunchtime lecture’ and ‘Pipistrelle’, respectively) and it is by way of these themes that issues concerning language come into play. Such is the case in ‘Clocks’ and ‘Miracle on Saint David’s Day’.
‘Clocks’ is a poem about learning, and it involves, like other poems by Clarke such as ‘Baby-sitting’ and ‘Catrin’, a mother-child relationship. In this particular case, the ‘mother’ is a ‘grandmother’ - Clarke herself - and the child, Cai, her grandson. The grandmother, on a country walk with the child, is picking dandelions, blowing their feathery seed-heads and trying to teach the child how to say words. This learning is referred to as the ‘power of naming’:
Summary of Chapters
1. Glimpses of Lacan and Barthes in two poems by Gillian Clarke: This chapter analyzes how Gillian Clarke’s poems 'Clocks' and 'Miracle on St David's Day' utilize the sensory and material dimensions of language to transcend ordinary speech, drawing on the theories of Jacques Lacan and Roland Barthes to highlight the euphoric and transformative power of poetry.
Keywords
Gillian Clarke, Clocks, Miracle on St David's Day, Jacques Lacan, Roland Barthes, lalangue, Symbolic Order, poetic language, onomatopoeia, psychoanalytic theory, materiality, euphoria, linguistics, literature, poetry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic work?
The work examines the relationship between poetical language and human development, specifically focusing on how two poems by Gillian Clarke manifest themes of language acquisition and the emotional power of words.
What central themes are explored throughout the analysis?
The central themes include the transition from a pre-linguistic state to the Social Order, the distinction between 'lalangue' and official language, and the cathartic, euphoric effect of articulating poetry.
What is the main objective of the author in this study?
The objective is to demonstrate that theoretical frameworks, specifically those of Lacan and Barthes, can be effectively applied to literary texts to reveal a deeper understanding of human experience and the 'miraculous' power of poetic expression.
Which scientific or theoretical methods are employed?
The author employs a literary and psychoanalytic approach, utilizing Lacanian concepts of the 'Real' and 'Symbolic Order' alongside Barthes’ theories on the pleasure of the text to interpret Clarke's poetry.
What does the main body of the text cover?
The text analyzes 'Clocks' as a representation of a child's entry into language and 'Miracle on St David's Day' as a testament to poetry’s ability to restore voice and joy to the silent or 'dumb'.
Which keywords best characterize this publication?
Key terms include Gillian Clarke, Lacan, Barthes, lalangue, Symbolic Order, poetic rhythm, and the material dimension of language.
How does the author interpret the concept of 'naming' in the poem 'Clocks'?
The author views 'the power of naming' with irony, suggesting that while the grandmother teaches official language, the child’s own onomatopoeic 'lalangue' possesses a superior, poetic beauty and deeper connection to the natural world.
What role does the 'big, mild man' play in the analysis of 'Miracle on St David's Day'?
He serves as a case study for the restorative power of poetry, illustrating how the rhythm and music of words can act as a 'pharmakon', breaking a grief-induced silence and resurrecting his ability to speak and feel joy.
How does the author connect the two poems?
Both poems are linked by their focus on the power of language in the lives of individuals at extreme ends of the life cycle—a young child at the start of language acquisition and an older man near the end of his life—both finding beauty in the material and sensual dimensions of words.
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- Professor Vivienne Suvini-Hand (Autor:in), 2019, Glimpses of Lacan and Barthes in two poems by Gillian Clarke, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/502307
