To Mouths Like Mine: Robert Browning as a Strong Poet

• Main Authors: Huang, Ling-Fei, 黃鈴斐
• Other Authors: Poulsen, Richard C.
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 1994
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/81685852122013443470

碩士 === 國立中正大學 === 外國語文學系 === 82 === The discrepancy between the two extremes of Browning's critics does not necessarily implicate Browning's problematical versification, but rather indicates the diverse standpoints of the critics. I clarify the merits of two kinds of thinking methods--directed thinking and fantasy thinking--to provide another view of interpretation of Browning's poetry. Using Harold Bloom's definitions of strong and weak poets, this thesis attempts to view Browning's revolutionary poetic techniques as his efforts to become a strong poet, a potential artist who is capable of creating imaginative space for himself, thus reversing his rols as latecomer. Chapter one introduces the different viewpoints of Browning's critics and their general condemnation of his poetry. Chapter two examines the distinctions between fantasy thinking and directed thinking, showing that thinking methods of critics have been crucial to Browning criticism. Chapter three is a survey of both the traditional and revolutionary concepts of literary history in relation to the definition of a strong poet. In chapter four, I scrutinize Browning's three major revolution- ary techniques--his use of language, effect of sound, and the novel style of dramatic monologue--in the way that they are representations of a strong poet. And I conclude that Browning is a genuine artist, whose poetic creativity has established him as strong poet.