Matoš and Whitman: a Comparison of Two Poems

• Authors: Ksenija Mitrovich , Martha Swanson

Title variants

PL

Matoš and Whitman: a Comparison of Two Poems

• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

This essay compares Utjeha kose, translated as The Solace of Hair, by Antun Gustav Matoš and Death’s Valley by Walt Whitman. We analyze similarities in theme, metaphor and poetic style. We also offer a close analysis of verse, together with meter, together with syntax and phonology of the two poems. Matoš and Whitman approach similar themes from different perspectives. However, we find coincidental similarities in both techniques and stylistic devices and the underlying messages of the pieces. We also draw upon our personal vision of the pieces as well as, in the case of Death’s Valley in particular, outside sources, to form our opinions. It is necessary to say that we had no access to any materials on Matoš, and, therefore, all our statements on The Solace of Hair are our personal conclusions and have no intext or works cited documentation.

PL

This essay compares Utjeha kose, translated as The Solace of Hair, by Antun Gustav Matošand Death’s Valley by Walt Whitman. We analyze similarities in theme, metaphor and poeticstyle. We also offer a close analysis of verse, together with meter, together with syntax andphonology of the two poems. Matoš and Whitman approach similar themes from differentperspectives. However, we find coincidental similarities in both techniques and stylistic devices and the underlying messages of the pieces. We also draw upon our personal vision ofthe pieces as well as, in the case of Death’s Valley in particular, outside sources, to form ouropinions. It is necessary to say that we had no access to any materials on Matoš, and, therefore, all our statements on The Solace of Hair are our personal conclusions and have no intext or works cited documentation.

Keywords

EN

Antun Gustav Matoš; Whitman; death in poetry; iambic hexameter; alexandrine; Italian sonnets; free verse; phonetic properties; inversion; Antun Gustav Matoš; Whitman; death in poetry; iambic hexameter; alexandrine; Italian sonnets; free verse; phonetic properties; inversion

PL

Antun Gustav Matoš; Whitman; death in poetry; iambic hexameter; alexandrine; Italian sonnets; free verse; phonetic properties; inversion

• Publisher: Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu
• Journal: Poznańskie Studia Slawistyczne
• Year: 2014
• Issue: 7

Dates

published

2014-01-01

Contributors

author

Ksenija Mitrovich

author

Martha Swanson

References

• Allen G.W., 1980, Introduction. Leaves of Grass. By Walt Whitman, New York–Scarborough, p. 5−20.
• Alterbaum I., 2003, Listen Speak. Easy in Communication for Second Language Speakers of English, Dubuque, p. 117−344.
• Casale F., 2010, Bloom’s How to Write About Walt Whitman, New York, p. 43−57.
• Donat B., 1986, Matoš – pisac s pogledom na Europu, in: idem, Hodočasnik u labirintu, Zagreb, p. 7−33.
• Donat B., 2001, Put kroz noć: antologija poezije hrvatskog ekspresionizma, Zagreb, p. 441−443.
• Fletcher A., 2006, The Whitman Phrase, in: Walt Whitman. Bloom’s Modern Critical Views, ed. H. Bloom, New York, p. 207−227.
• Inness G., 1866, The Valley of the Shadow of Death, http://www.museuma.com/george-inness/the-valley-of-the-shadow-of-death.html, 07.05.2014.
• Killingsworth J.M., 2007, The Cambridge Introduction to Walt Whitman, Cambridge, p. 105−122.
• Matoš A.G., 1994, Iz Samobora, in: idem, Putopisi, ed. D. Oraić Tolić, Vinkovci, p. 70−82.
• Matoš A.G., 1997, Utjeha kose, in: idem, Pjesme. Pripovijesti. Putopisi, ed. I. Plejić, Vinkovci, p. 52.
• Miller N., 2004, Basic Sonnet Forms http://www.sonnets.org/basicforms.htm, 10.09.2013.
• Whitman W., 1892, Death’s Valley, http://www.whitmanarchive.org/ published/periodical/poems/per.00028, 20.09.2013.
• Whitman W., 2002, K Whitmanu, in: idem, Vlati trave, prev. i ured. M. Suško, Zagreb, p. 729−772.

Identifiers

DOI

10.14746/pss.2014.7.22