Author Description
Based on the observation that the French poet Mallarme repeatedly used the 100 or so words in the French language that have no rhyme, this work argues that Mallarme's poems make sense as allegorical tales of their own creation.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This work investigates the structural constraints of Stéphane Mallarmé’s poetry to propose that his verses function as self-referential allegories regarding the act of composition. Graham Robb, a scholar of French literature, utilizes a linguistic analysis of the poet's vocabulary to challenge traditional interpretations of Mallarmé's work. By focusing on the specific subset of French words that lack rhymes, Robb constructs a framework where the poems serve as meta-commentary on their own creation and the limitations of language.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Linguistic analysis of non-rhyming vocabulary in French poetry
- Allegorical interpretation of Mallarmé’s major poetic works
- Theoretical framework linking poetic form to creative process
Scope Limits
- Does not provide a comprehensive biographical account of the poet’s life
- Does not cover the entirety of the French Symbolist movement
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and critics recognize this text as a specialized contribution to the study of Symbolist poetry. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the specific focus on linguistic mechanics as a departure from traditional biographical criticism.
Page Count:
251
Publication Date:
1996-01-01
ISBN-10:
0030006481
ISBN-13:
9780030006487
Biography
French literature
Literary theory
Literary Criticism
Poetry Analysis