Helian (Masterplots II: Poetry, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Georg Trakl
- First Published: 1913
- Type of Work: Lyric
- Genres: Poetry, Lyric poetry
- Subjects: Family or family life, Nature, Brothers and sisters, God, Gardens or gardening, Sun, Walls, Summer, Seasons
The Poem
Georg Trakl wrote “Helian” in December of 1912 and January of 1913, in the darkest time of the year. Shortly afterward, he referred to it in a letter as the most precious and most painful thing he had written. As is all of his work, it is highly autobiographical.
“Helian,” at ninety-three lines, is Trakl’s longest poem. The stanzas are short and of irregular length, ranging from two to seven lines, and are grouped into five main sections. Some of the material from the “Helian” manuscripts subsequently found its way into shorter poems, so critics...
[The entire page is 1511 words long]
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