Gjertrud Schnackenberg Criticism
Gjertrud Schnackenberg, an acclaimed American poet and essayist, is renowned for her mastery of traditional poetic forms and her association with the New Formalists, a movement that re-emerged in the 1980s to challenge the prevailing dominance of free verse. Her work often integrates themes of family dynamics, history, and epic material reimagined in a contemporary context, all conveyed through techniques notable for their emotional restraint and precision. Schnackenberg's poetry is also characterized by its exploration of spirituality and fate, often drawing on classical and historical references, as discussed in Painful Mysteries and All Eyes on the Snow Globe. Her debut collection, Portraits and Elegies, set the tone for her career, marked by its themes rooted in personal and historical memory, as well as its formal precision, as noted by Reading the New Formalists.
Schnackenberg's subsequent works, including The Lamplit Answer and A Gilded Lapse of Time, continued to explore these themes but received mixed critical reactions. While Seeing Divine praised the intricate ideas in A Gilded Lapse of Time, others like Rifled Treasury found it lacking compared to her earlier work. Despite such criticisms, Schnackenberg's artistry is credited with evolving and introducing fresh perspectives to classical themes, as observed by Breaking Out. Her later work, The Throne of Labdacus, encapsulates her ongoing thematic exploration of fate and moral responsibility, a trajectory noted by Review of Supernatural Love and The Throne of Labdacus.
Schnackenberg's achievements have been recognized with numerous awards, reflecting her significant contribution to contemporary poetry. Her distinctive use of language and meter, combined with a profound engagement with literary and historical subjects, continues to influence and inspire both critics and readers alike.
Contents
- Principal Works
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Essays
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Reading the New Formalists
(summary)
In the following excerpt, McPhillips credits Schnackenberg for being one of the few contemporary poets with the proficiency to use traditional techniques, although he points out that she succeeds at this more in her first book than in The Lamplit Answer.
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Seeing Divine
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Baressi praises A Gilded Lapse of Time but sometimes finds sincere emotion and meaning sacrificed for concept and allusion at critical moments in the work.
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Rifled Treasury
(summary)
In the following review, Burt finds A Gilded Lapse of Time inferior to Schnackenberg's prior works.
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Painful Mysteries
(summary)
In the following essay, Pettingell discusses how mythology and history influence Schnackenberg's poetry.
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All Eyes on the Snow Globe
(summary)
In the following essay, Kirsch focuses on Schnackenberg's ideas regarding fate and her tendency to view her subjects from a great height.
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Breaking Out
(summary)
In the following essay, Mendelsohn traces Schnackenberg's artistic progress and credits her for bringing fresh ideas to classical material.
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Review of Supernatural Love and The Throne of Labdacus
(summary)
In the following review, Davis finds Schnackenberg broadening her talents with each additional work, highlighting the distinctive trajectory of her poetry that reveals itself through content and serious consideration of ideas regarding fate.
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Reading the New Formalists
(summary)
- Further Reading