The Role of Formal Devices in the Poetry of Marianne Moore - Essay Example

The Role of Formal Devices in the Poetry of Marianne Moore. NUMBER DUE Marianne Moore, the mid 1900s, created a new form of poetry. She developed her own unique form of rhyme scheme in which rhyming occurred other than in the final syllables. In almost all of her poetry, the bulk of which has become a monument to modernism, she explores the technique of counting rhythms by internal rhyme and syllables. While her contemporary peers use meter and foot, her syllable count usage was well received.

She had ability to take ordinary, common place vocabulary and breathe new life into them. Her approach to content, subject matter, and theme were no different. She was not merely satisfied with examination issues that other artists were. She collected inspiration from sketches, drawings, sculpture and photographs. She found a wealth of creative energy in normal American life, industry, and the natural varied landscape found in United States. Moore also explore gender and equality issues, which were both risky and subjected her to criticism.

Her passion for creating and relating striking visual images is demonstrated in all of her poetry. Moore approach also utilized classical rigid structure. She would create a poem that visually looked like free verse. However, the internal rhyme scheme revealed rigid structure and attention to detail. "Poetry" by Moore references her dislike for critics because of their treatment for her as a young poet. She makes fun of them in the poem. She comments that critics are unnatural creates like the swan intentional stops itself from holding back what comes down the stream.

The critic becomes irritated when he reads her words, like a horse that feels a flea"; like him-like "all of us"-the swan does "not admire what / [it] cannot understand," and wants nothing to do with what the poet has to offer. This poem is obviously personal and regardless of Moore choice of formal devices, the poetry is not contrived and related unresolved emotions over rejection and insult (Slatin 15). "The Steeple-Jack" by Moore reveals controlled poetry style. Rigid structure hiding under contradiction and hidden danger.

The precision is welcomed and is almost an escape from the unpredictability and instability of human actions. Moore seems to take the opposite approach is created as much from chaos as control (Martin 67). Her use of formal devices makes her poetry both intentional and unique. It is obvious from her poetry that she is in complete control of her poetry. Each line, word, and syllable count is intention. This would seem artificial but she combines formal devices with some of the world's most penetrating and authentic original phrases.

Moore use of syntax, whimsical descriptive phrases, and colliding comparisons make her poetry unforgettable. Each of her poems, well meticulously detailed and carefully constructing, in with moral. The moral is often missed in her poetry because so much attention is focused on technique. It is clear that Moore skillful use of formal literary devices enhances her poetry's accessibility and authenticity. Moore uses the combination elaborate and intricate syllable and line count with the exploration of important themes to create poetry which is wholly modern and all her own.

Works CitedMartin, Taffy. Marianne Moore Subversive Modernist, 1986, p. 14-16. Moore, Marianne. "Poetry." The New Anthology Of American Poetry: Modernisms: 1900-1950. Ed. Camille Roman, Thomas Travisano, Steven Gould Axelrod. New Jersey: Rutgers State University of New Jersey, 2005. Moore, Marianne. "The Grave." The New Anthology Of American Poetry: Modernisms: 1900-1950. Ed. Camille Roman, Thomas Travisano, Steven Gould Axelrod. New Jersey: Rutgers State University of New Jersey, 2005. Slatin, John M.

Voices and Visions The Poet in America. New York: Random House, 1987.