In A Rejected Preface A.J.M. Smith postulates a theory that modern poetry should be “aware of it’s duty to take cognizance of what is going on in the world[…]” (p.4 Modern Canadian Poetry ENGL376 2007 course pack Concordia University) in order to develop “mental and emotional attitudes that will facilitate the creation of a more practical social system” (p.6). Smith purports that the poet should (at least for the time being) abandon: conventional, sentimental, self-absorbed poetry that purposes to record the poet’s lofty, isolated, and private emotion; for satirical, intelligent, poetry that raises awareness of, and reflects the current social situation. The following will explore the areas of agreement in E.J. Pratt’s poetic vision and Smith’s theory of modern poetry, specifically the use of satire, awareness of important world events, and social consciousness.
Sentimentality, according to Smith, is a common and unfortunate trait of Canadian poetry, one best replaced by satire. Pratt’s melancholic “Text of the Oath” is a satirical account of a young impressionable boy, “[t]here was another lad I knew […] Who scarcely had outgrown the child,” (5, 8) seduced by propaganda “[t]here was a virus in the air” (9) to fight against an enemy he did not know “[c]omposed of foreign names to spell / These to defend and these to hate,” (14-15). Pratt’s dissention from war is expressed by juxtaposing conventional beliefs with satirical tone, imagery, and language. The first stanza of the poem is a series of questions juxtaposing the traditional religious belief that murder is wrong “Upon what Bible will you swear?” (1) and the eventuality of killing in war “[w]hen the kettle-drum and trumpet-blare / Attest you at the witness stand?” (3-4). Pratt employs satirical imagery describing the propaganda that “[b]reath[es] romance on [the] sleet and mud” (12) of the battlefield. Finally and Pratt mocks the valor and courage associated with war juxtaposing the image “[t]hey pinned a medal on his breast” (17) with the sardonic language of “[h]e had from a machine-gun nest / Annihilated a platoon” (20).
Another important element of Smith’s theory and Pratt’s poetic vision is the awareness of global events. For Pratt this element is most clearly defined by war, in “Text Of The Oath” his young soldier composes a list “[…] of foreign names to spell- / These to defend and These to hate” (14-15) clearly evoking an image of the a World War(s), the only time(s) in modern history where many nations were in direct conflict with one another, it is arguably the most significant world event of the twentieth century. Similarly, “The Prize Cat” alludes to a military conflict between Abyssinia (Ethiopia before the twentieth century) and Italy. The first stanza: “Pure blood domestic, guaranteed / Soft mannered, musical in purr / The ribbon declared the breed [the Italian flag] / Gentility was in the fur” is little more than a reference to the ‘pure’ Italian breed of Europeans (domestic), ‘gentility’ was in the color of their skin. Pratt uses the image of the cat to explore parallels between domestication and the European civilization in: “And when I mused hot Time had thinned / the jungle strains within the cells, / How Human Hands had disciplined / Those prowling optic parallels;” (9-12). However, despite how seemingly civilized humanity may have been, Pratt sees the passing of human history “[a]long the reflex of a spring,” (14). Pratt personifies Italy’s dash for colonial greatness “[b]ehind the leap so furtive wild” (17) and the determination of the Italian people to control Modern Day Ethiopia “[w]as such ignition in the gleam” (18) after Italy was defeated in their first attempt.
Smith and Pratt would no doubt agree that social consciousness is of the utmost significance, it is the central aspect of Smith’s theory, is an important thematic element of Pratt’s poetic vision, and unlike global awareness requires a position to be taken. The Holocaust is, to many, the worst example of human atrocity in history; Pratt’s “The Convict Holocaust” communicates the importance of social awareness by identifying some of the horror’s experienced by Jews under the Nazi regime. The use of the word “fiery” in: “After their fiery contact with the walls” (2) and “fire” in: “The fires consumed their numbers with their breath” (5) relates a sense of searing and pain to create an awareness of the pain these people endured. Pratt’s use of the word “numbers” has the dual purpose of relating the huge numbers of people who were slaughtered and describing the practice of tattooing numbers on the Jews, essentially denying their names and eventually their humanity. The final and most atrocious experience is related in: “And with the ink-brush got the thumb-prints well” (12), the thumb-printing equates being Jewish to being a criminal.
Smith’s theory of modern poetry and Pratt’s poetic vision are often very similar, they both attest to the importance of satire, global awareness, and social consciousness. One might conclude these elements are necessary to create a more practical social system in the wake of the destruction of capitalism, but to others that might seem like a lofty dream.
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