Gunnar Ekelöf Criticism
Gunnar Ekelöf (1907–1968) remains a seminal figure in modern Swedish literature, celebrated for his innovative and complex poetry that reshapes traditional boundaries of poetic expression. His work draws deeply from a wide array of influences, including Persian mysticism, Oriental philosophies, French Symbolism, and Surrealism, which allow him to craft a multifaceted exploration of existential and cultural themes. Ekelöf's integration of these diverse elements invites readers to delve into the subconscious and question conventional moral binaries, offering a profound critique of cultural norms and a quest for artistic self-discovery, as examined by Eric Lindegren.
Ekelöf's later poetry, such as A Mölna Elegy, exemplifies his intricate allusiveness and interaction with historical and mythological references, reminiscent of literary giants like James Joyce. These works explore the fluidity of time and the complexity of human experience, as discussed in Allusions in the First Part of En Mölna-Elegi. Ekelöf's ability to blend Eastern mysticism with Western literary traditions in works like Divan about the Prince of Emgión and The Story of Fatumeh creates a dialogue that bridges cultural divides, as explored in The Later Poems of Gunnar Ekelöf: Diwan and Fatumeh.
Critics such as Irene Scobbie and Muriel Rukeyser have lauded Ekelöf for his distinct style and his capacity to merge various influences into a cohesive thematic vision. His poetic innovations, particularly his adaptation of musical structures, have made a lasting impact on modern poetry, revealing the intricacies of the human condition through a unique, Swedish lens. This approach is further noted by Robert Bly and Leif Sjöberg, who highlight the existential depth and musical resonance inherent in his work.
In later works such as Dïwān över Fursten av Emgión, Sagan om Fatumeh, and Vägvisare till underjorden, Ekelöf continues to refine his style, employing a minimalist approach that sometimes borders on the absurd. His poetry remains an integral part of modern literary discourse, inviting readers to engage deeply with its existential themes and cultural synthesis, making Ekelöf's oeuvre a vital resource for understanding the complexities of modern human experience.
Contents
- Principal Works
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Ekelöf, Gunnar (Bengt)
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Gunnar Ekelöf—A Contemporary Mystic
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In the following essay, Eric Lindegren examines the multifaceted and evolving nature of Gunnar Ekelöf's poetry, highlighting its integration of musical principles, surrealism, and mysticism, and depicts Ekelöf's work as a profound exploration of existential themes, cultural critique, and the poet's relentless quest for self-understanding and artistic expression.
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Translations from Gunnar Ekelöf
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In the following essay, Robert Bly explores how Gunnar Ekelöf's poetry, influenced by Oriental thought and French surrealism, remains distinctively Swedish, and critiques moralistic perspectives by emphasizing the importance of transcending the binary of good and evil to understand life beyond such conflicts.
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Gunnar Ekelöf's 'Tag och Skriv': A Reader's Commentary
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In the following essay, Leif Sjöberg explores the intricate themes in Gunnar Ekelöf's poem "Tag och Skriv," highlighting its use of paradox and allusion to examine existential dualities, the nature of self, and the struggle for an objective position, ultimately arguing for a deeper understanding of human life beyond conventional dualities.
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Selected Poems
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In the following essay, John Demos praises Ekelöf as a master of modern poetry, highlighting the themes of time, death, and self in his work, and commending the varied expression and skillful language found in the Selected Poems.
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Selected Poems of Gunnar Ekelöf
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In the following essay, Muriel Rukeyser praises Gunnar Ekelöf as a world-poet who captures the complexities of modern existence through innovative and transformative poetry, characterized by a music that reflects both beauty and horror, and challenges dualistic moral views.
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Selected Poems of Gunnar Ekelöf
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In the following essay, Leif Sjöberg examines how Gunnar Ekelöf's poetry transcends categorization as merely "absurd," highlighting instead Ekelöf's skepticism, exploration of existential themes, and his unique synthesis of mysticism, individuality, and cultural critique, while addressing the poet's engagement with death and his preference for natural over technological advancement.
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Late Arrival on Earth: Selected Poems of Gunnar Ekelöf
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In the following essay, Robert Bly explores how Gunnar Ekelöf stands as a supreme figure within the Europeanized literary tradition, blending mystical Persian influences with surrealist elements and indigenous Swedish roots to challenge readers' perceptions of the human ego and guide them toward an Eastern-inspired transcendence.
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Instead of a Foreword
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In the following essay, Leif Sjöberg argues that Gunnar Ekelöf's poetry navigates the complexities of consciousness and cultural synthesis, revealing and concealing deeper realities, and despite initial resistance, his work ultimately influenced Swedish literary circles significantly, though it remains underappreciated in English-speaking countries.
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Nature and Vision: Or Dubious Antithesis
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In the following essay, Vernon Young explores Gunnar Ekelöf's unique poetic voice, examining how his personal alienation and immersion in Oriental languages influenced his creation of exotic, ambivalent narratives, ultimately suggesting that his later works serve as parables of the tortured artist amidst interpersonal coldness.
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En självbiografi. Efterlämnade brev och anteckningar
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In the following essay, Brita Stendahl examines Gunnar Ekelöf's posthumously assembled autobiography, emphasizing its testament to his sincerity, consistent thematic focus on alienation and existential concerns, and suggesting its effectiveness in complementing his poetic works despite offering little new insight.
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'The Glassclear Eye of Dreams' in Twentieth-Century Swedish Poetry
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In the following essay, Ross Shideler examines how Gunnar Ekelöf utilizes dreams to transcend rational thought and explore deeper unconscious realms, drawing influence from French symbolists and surrealists, particularly Rimbaud, while reflecting on themes of unity, reality, and the interplay of life and death in his poetry.
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Songs of Something Else: Selected Poems of Gunnar Ekelöf
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In the following essay, Nathan and Larson examine Gunnar Ekelöf's modernist poetry, highlighting his thematic exploration of the human condition and cultural critique, while emphasizing his unique style that combines obscurity with philosophical inquiry, ultimately portraying him as a transformative rather than merely rebellious figure within the literary tradition.
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Gunnar Ekelöf—A Contemporary Mystic
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Ekelöf, Gunnar
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Allusions in the First Part of En Mölna-Elegi
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In the following excerpt, while tracing the literary, mythological, and historical allusions in A Mölna Elegy, Sjöberg discusses Ekelöf's fascination with the theme of time and his connections to James Joyce and T. S. Eliot.
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Gunnar Ekelöf: The Poet As Trickster
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In the following excerpt, Ekner examines the ways in which Ekelöf's shorter poems often seem embedded in an intricate, "larger context," details of which the reader might only discern in the future, when recalling the poem.
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The Later Poems of Gunnar Ekelöf: Diwan and Fatumeh
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In the following excerpt, Sjöberg explores Ekelöf's blending of Eastern mysticism with the Christian figure of the Virgin Mary in two of his later poems.
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East Meets West—Gunnar Ekelöf in English
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In the following excerpt, Otter offers a mixed review of Selected Poems as translated by W.H. Auden and Leif Sjöberg, arguing that while some of the translation decisions made in the volume are imprecise and misleading and indicate "a certain lack of feeling for Ekelöfs mysticism and his style," it is useful to have an English translation of Ekelöf's later poems which has the potential to "reach a very wide public."
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Listening to the Voices
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In the following excerpt, Shideler asserts that the poem 'Voices Under the Ground' serves as a commentary on the absurdity of death and as a reflection of the dialogues which occur within one's own consciousness.
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Swedish Poetry of the Twentieth Century
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In the following excerpt, Scobbie traces the development of Ekelöf's poetic career, focusing on its complexity and allusiveness, and noting the poet's interest in mysticism, Asian culture, and music.
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Gunnar Ekelöf's A Mölna Elegy: The Attempted Reconstruction of a Moment
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In the following excerpt, Sjöberg analyzes literary allusions modern as well as Classical in The Mölna Elegy and discusses the poem's predominant theme of time.
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A Cull of Trance-Roamers
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In the following excerpt, Birkerts reviews Songs of Something Else: Selected Poems, and analyzes three poetic styles—surreal, mystical but conflicted, and lyrically spiritual—represented in Ekelöf's work.
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Now and Absence in the Early Ekelöf
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In the following excerpt, Fioretos focuses on 'osynlig närvaro' ('invisible presence'), a poem which appears in Late Arrival on Earth, as a pioneering example of Swedish modernism. The poem conveys a disturbingly impenetrable presence, demonstrating a paradoxical relationship between visibility and invisibility, and the vacillating between these polarities will be the concern of this paper.
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Allusions in the First Part of En Mölna-Elegi
(summary)
- Further Reading