Dear Class,
Thank you for all your great responses. Clearly, because I
picked these pieces, I like all of them, and for different reasons.
Let me start with Bear Stories by Keith Taylor. For me this
is a really easy example of what a Lyric Essay can do. The title sets up the
whole essay in a way – Bear Stories (multiple) and the numbered sections let us
know that each new part starts over from a different point of view or
tone/psychic distance. What links them? Most simply that they all have bears in
them. There’s more to it than that, but on some level I love the simplicity of
this form that allows the writer to simply catalogue. What makes this piece
work in my opinion is that each section moves subtly from myth/fear/ horror of
bears (the almost urban myth, “Stanley Stewart’s aunt read about it in the
Calgary paper…”) to folklore (a gob of spit, really?), to a tall tale (hunting
story/three bullets in her heart), to an actual story involving the narrator
(section 4). The longest story is the last, (section 5) and I think it’s
significant that finally man and bear are on the same level. Or rather man is
gun-less and alone (vulnerable) in the bear’s environment. This ordering is key
in my opinion. The piece is point at all our misunderstandings of bears/nature
(the first bear is in a cageàthe last bear is on the mountain) and in the end
offers up a small glimpse of the sublime. By sublime I mean awe-inspiring.
Here’s a writer who is a hunter (and as Leslie said he is also a big guy) cowering
on a mountainside in some blueberry bushes for over an hour after the bear is
gone. In that sense the piece moves from a mythic fear of bears to an actual
fear of them. And why is this a lyric essay (even though it has some possibly
exaggerated stuff in it)? Because 1). it is about myth-making and
representation, “stories” 2). its form is unusual (numbered paragraphs) 3. it’s
short. 4). there is no consistent narrator/narrative (unlike the others),
though each section is narrative (ie tells a story). This is a great example of
the Lyric Essay as Mosaic or Collage but it stays soley on the story-telling
mode.
Binary (which seems to be many people’s favorite) like Bear
Stories uses that great realestate provided by the title to direct us how to
read the piece. You guys had great responses to this one and so I have little
to add, other than I love it’s creativity. The piece in someways operates as a
traditional essay in that the writer is trying to figure something out/ express
something inexpressible and the form helps her do that perfectly. I love that
she is writing about Bisexuality and also gender/women’s issues. I think the
form also allows Johnson to leap from scene to scene or thought to thought
without having to add connective tissue necessary in traditional essays.
Captivity also uses a subtle (sneaky?) form that many of you
noticed – the repeating last and first words/lines that make it almost an
extended, blown up villanelle. Many of you thought that this one was most like
poetry and I agree. Alexi is one of the multi-talented writers who writes in
all genres and his work always straddles many camps. I’m sure you all know
this, but his piece refers to the famous 17th book, A Narrative of the Captivity and Removes of
Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, published in 1682.
Also called: The Soveraignity of Goodness of God,
Together with the Faithfulness of His Promises Displayed; Being a Narrative of
the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson
I would argue that it was the first memoir written in
America, unless you could William Woods “A New England Prospect” or William
Bradford’s “Of Plymouth Plantation.” But Rowlandson’s story of being captured
by Indians only covered that incident (like modern memoirs) and was the first
of many books like this published in the 17th and 18th
century. It was a best seller in Boston in 1692 and reprinted many times. In 17th
century New England settlers were often captured and taken to Canada, then
occupied by France. The French then ransomed the captives back to the British.
A great book on this topic is “The Unredeemed Captive” by Jonathan Demos, who
was the teacher of the great contemporary writer/historian Jill Lepore (who
also writes about New England and Native American wars), who just won a
Guggenheim.
Also of note: the first statue of a woman in America is of
Hannah Dustin, who, escaping her Native captors, also scalped them and brought
the scalps back to Boston for ransom money. Yes, the first statue of a woman in
America is of a murderer. That’s what I’m saying.
Sorry for the digression. Alexi has made a project here of
playing on this idea of “Captivity” (the word, the dynamic) by addressing
Rowlandson’s ghost. She is made into a white girl running through these pages
where Alexi can also write such lines as “eating Lysol sandwiches” and other
amazing images. I love the anger of this piece and it’s direct address. The
form also give is an elliptical/rant-like quality.
To me Emma Bolden’s piece is the most accessible and most
traditional of this batch – the one closest to a traditional essay. Infact I
think it could be easily turned into a traditional essay if she wanted to. But I
think the form works great here as it is. This subject matter is so very
personal and strange and heartbreaking that the form (short sections) allows
us, frankly, a breather. I also really like how she brings in research to
certain terms. The form also allows this telescoping in and out of a more
formal scientific tone and the deeply personal. Like a traditional essay (ie
unlike Bear Stories) it does reach a kind of ephiphany at the end, as some of
you noted, “I was angry, angry….” And by the time she reaches it, it’s really
deserved.
So, I hope these pieces have give you all some ideas. Please
let me know if you have any questions or want me to elaborate on anything I’ve
said. I am a poet at heart and so sometimes I over-condense. “Tell me more” is
fine to say. And also to disagree! I am so happy with the way the class is
going so far. Thanks all, for your great input. best, Sarah
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