Poetry
Back To Snippet
Back To SITEMAP
Antiquated Language In Poetry - The right choice for thee?
Author: Holly Bliss
My Creative Writing professor once passed out sheets of poetry. They were in pairs according to genre or topic of the poem. Our task was to pick the poem that had a greater depth to it. The �better� poem � not that the other poem was bad, by the way � and I chose correctly in every case, except one: the correct choice had antiquated language.
I can study period poetry that has antiquated language, that�s the way they spoke back then, but I have a real problem reading modern poetry that uses antiquated language. There are exceptions, but I�ll get into that in a minute.
Before anyone gets their britches in a bunch because they love their "forsooths," let�s go over some pros and cons.
Antiquated Language CONS
-Difficult to effectively communicate your message to your twenty-first century reader.
-Can seem lofty, as if the writer is trying to be something he/she is not and a portion of trust is lost between the reader and writer.
PRO Antiquated Language
-Adds voice to certain topics
-Can add a comedic effect (as a contrast to the subject matter, etc)
NOTE: these pros and cons can be said for things like: prolific profanity and slang, as well.
Read this poem written in 1849:
Arthur Hugh Clough (1819-1861)
Say not the Struggle nought Availeth
Say not the struggle nought availeth,
The labour and the wounds are vain,
The enemy faints not nor faileth,
And as things have been, things remain;
If hopes were dupes, fears may be liars;
It may be, in yon smoke conceal'd,
Your comrades chase e'en now the fliers--
And, but for you, possess the field.
For while the tired waves vainly breaking
Seem here no painful inch to gain,
Far back, through creeks and inlets making,
Comes silent, flooding in, the main.
And not by eastern windows only,
When daylight comes, comes in the light,
In front the sun climbs slow, how slowly,
But westward, look, the land is bright.
Roberts, Edgar V.. Literature, An Introduction To Reading and Writing. seventh. NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004.
While this is a great poem as is, it is much easier to understand the parts of this poem not peppered with antiquated language.
Now that I have you convinced you, you have decided to use antiquated language nevermore.
But wait!
There are pros listed up there. Don�t use it �because it sounds like good poetry.� Like any poetic device: If you use it, use it with purpose and on purpose.
2006 Holly Bliss. All Rights Reserved. This document may be freely redistributed in its unedited form and on the condition that all copyright references are kept intact along with the hyperlinked URLs.
About the Author: Using her writing as paint on the canvas of her life, Holly Bliss is an eclectic writer, newsletter editor and an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Poetry.
...
