One
of Ashbery’s main points in writing these poems is to confuse people about how
they connect ideas together, specifically the words within the lines and the
lines within the poem. This type of nonsense is different than other kinds of
nonsense we have read in class because it makes a lot of sense but makes no
sense at the same time. The reason that it does not make sense is for a number
of reasons. For example, in some cases the grammar is a little off, but in
other cases the entire sentence does not fit together, yet in other cases it is
the entire section and the connections between the lines that make it nonsense.
What makes these poems so confusing is that they are so close to being
understandable, but there is always something that is not quite right and not
attainable.
One of my favorite parts about these poems is the jumping between ideas, especially between lines. Throughout these poems, Ashbery uses ideas and words that most people would not put together and fills sentences with nonsensical ideas. Somehow, one is still able to read the poems and connect the ideas together in a meaningful way. However, when one takes a step back and looks at the poem and what one has just read, it becomes confusing and is therefore nonsensical. It is difficult to understand how, on the one hand, the ideas in the poem are so graspable, and yet on the other hand, they are so unattainable. Part of the reason for this paradox is that the words, in reality, do not mesh together or work together as a coherent sentence or idea.
There are a number of ways we read these poems and connect the lines as a result. One of the most important reasons is the punctuation. Ashbery uses punctuation such as periods and commas throughout the poems. At the same time, he often uses enjambment, which allows the lines to flow from one to the next. The problem is that to some extent, it seems as though Ashbery does not want the reader to be able to read from one line to the next and wants to give each line its own unique meaning. However, one cannot help but connect them, especially when a line ends with “and” or when the sentences flow so seamlessly.
Another point that I find so interesting about Ashbery’s poems is how totally unimportant the actual words are. Regardless of what words are used, the sentence would read relatively the same way. Similarly, it seems as though the meaning of the sentence would be the same regardless of the words used. The way I understand it, Ashbery is making a point that in many regards the actual words people use and what they say is irrelevant. Ultimately, people will accept what others say regardless of what they are actually saying. People want to understand one another and what is written. Hence, the reader’s brain will make sense of these poems in any way it can. In some cases, that means connecting the sentences together and in other cases it means keeping the lines separate.
One of my favorite parts about these poems is the jumping between ideas, especially between lines. Throughout these poems, Ashbery uses ideas and words that most people would not put together and fills sentences with nonsensical ideas. Somehow, one is still able to read the poems and connect the ideas together in a meaningful way. However, when one takes a step back and looks at the poem and what one has just read, it becomes confusing and is therefore nonsensical. It is difficult to understand how, on the one hand, the ideas in the poem are so graspable, and yet on the other hand, they are so unattainable. Part of the reason for this paradox is that the words, in reality, do not mesh together or work together as a coherent sentence or idea.
There are a number of ways we read these poems and connect the lines as a result. One of the most important reasons is the punctuation. Ashbery uses punctuation such as periods and commas throughout the poems. At the same time, he often uses enjambment, which allows the lines to flow from one to the next. The problem is that to some extent, it seems as though Ashbery does not want the reader to be able to read from one line to the next and wants to give each line its own unique meaning. However, one cannot help but connect them, especially when a line ends with “and” or when the sentences flow so seamlessly.
Another point that I find so interesting about Ashbery’s poems is how totally unimportant the actual words are. Regardless of what words are used, the sentence would read relatively the same way. Similarly, it seems as though the meaning of the sentence would be the same regardless of the words used. The way I understand it, Ashbery is making a point that in many regards the actual words people use and what they say is irrelevant. Ultimately, people will accept what others say regardless of what they are actually saying. People want to understand one another and what is written. Hence, the reader’s brain will make sense of these poems in any way it can. In some cases, that means connecting the sentences together and in other cases it means keeping the lines separate.
Sari, I really agree with your blog post. I agree when you say that "what makes these poems so confusing is that they are so close to being understandable, but there is always something that is not quite right and not attainable." This can be seen in the poem "Tennis Court Oath." The first two lines, "What had you been thinking about/the face studiously bloodied" makes perfect grammatical sense, however, the image that these words create is still not totally clear. Is the individual thinking about a bloodied face? Or does the individual who is thinking have a bloody face? Like you mention, this is an instance of Ashbery "jumping between ideas" as one line jumps to the next. In your post, you also discuss the role of punctuation in Asbery's poetry. To create the jagged rhythm of his poetry, Ashbery uses line breaks, white space, and also punctuation. For instance, he often uses dashes within and at the end of lines. He takes away punctuation where it is needed (for instance the line "beautiful day for a flip miss") and he sometimes adds punctuation in strange places. The most notable use of punctuation as a way of creating breaks in the poem is in "Idaho," the book's final poem. The line of pound signs ("########") creates an interesting in the poem, that forces the reader to stop and consider the role of punctuation in speech and the rhythm of poetry.
ReplyDeleteI find it funny that was makes his poem so confusing is also what makes his poem so good. Removing definitive lines and adding seemingly unassociated words gives readers to create their own meaning from Ashbery's works. Unlike with James Joyce's Finnegans Wake, everyone will not be able to overall come to the same general conclusion when reading excerpts from The Tennis Court Oath. Until we finish, it almost feels like you're being pulled on crazy turns and twists with your peripheral vision removed. Ashbery gives very little context immediately. He is very unconventional in that he sets up the setting and characters throughout the whole book of poems; usually, those aspects of a narrative are established in the very beginning. In doing this, though, he reminds us that this is not a narrative, but a book of poems. It's almost as though to assure the reader this is poetry, he had to make it extra cryptic. I completely agree that we the readers will insist on making a meaning even if it's not the intended one. Exploring these possibilities makes this book more fun, yet more confusing than the others.
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