CRITICISM

Benfey, Christopher. “The Woman in the Mirror: Randall Jarrell and John Berryman.” In Men Writing the Feminine: Literature, Theory, and the Question of Genders, edited by Thaïs E. Morgan, pp. 123-38. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1994.

Examines Jarrell's treatment of female subjects in such poems as “The Face” and “Next Day.”

Brown, Sandra M. “Poetry and the Age: ‘A Girl in a Library’ to Randall Jarrell.” In The Intimate Critique: Autobiographical Literary Criticism, edited by Diane P. Freedman, Olivia Frey, and Frances Murphy Zauhar, pp. 151-61. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1993.

Offers personal observations on Jarrell's poetry and on authorial responsibility with some reference to the poem “A Girl in a Library.”

Broyard, Anatole. Reviews of Randall Jarrell: A Literary Life, by William H. Pritchard and Selected Poems, by Randall Jarrell, edited by William H. Pritchard. New York Times Book Review 95 (6 May 1990): section 7, p. 3.

Focuses on Pritchard's biography of Jarrell, and his critical assessment of Jarrell's poetry.

Ciardi, John. “Randall Jarrell: Answers to Questions.” In Mid-Century American Poets, pp. 182-201. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1950.

Selections from Jarrell's first three volumes of poetry, preceded by a brief statement by Jarrell concerning his poetic technique.

Fuller, John. “Randall Jarrell.” In The Modern Poet: Essays from ‘The Review,’ edited by Ian Hamilton, pp. 151-56. London: Macdonald, 1968.

Summarizes Jarrell's fundamental characteristics as a poet, particularly his ability to sympathize with diverse narrative personas.

Quinn, Sister M. Bernetta. “Randall Jarrell: His Metamorphoses.” In The Metamorphic Tradition in Modern Poetry, pp. 168-206. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1955.

Thorough analysis of the transformation theme in Jarrell's poetry.

———. Review of Selected Poems, by Randall Jarrell, edited by William H. Pritchard. Choice 28 (December 1990): 629.

Briefly comments on Pritchard's selection of fifty representative pieces from Jarrell's poetic works.

Review of The Complete Poems, by Randall Jarrell. Choice 6 (October 1969): 1014.

Calls the publication of Jarrell's The Complete Poems a significant event for this insufficiently appreciated poet.

Shaw, Robert B. “Rereading Randall Jarrell.” Poetry 158, no. 2 (May 1991): 100-13.

Comments on William H. Pritchard's biography of Jarrell, Selected Poems, and the poet's life and literary achievement.

Review of The Complete Poems, by Randall Jarrell. Times Literary Supplement, no. 3657 (31 March 1972): 360.

Finds Jarrell's best poems to be those in which he confronts, rather than evades, his own personal despondency and sense of despair.

Tyler, Parker. “The Dramatic Lyricism of Randall Jarrell.” Poetry 79, no. 6 (March 1952): 335-46.

Concentrates on the mythopoetic elements in Jarrell's collection The Seven-League Crutches.

Weisberg, Robert. “Randall Jarrell: The Integrity of His Poetry.” Centennial Review 17, no. 3 (summer 1973): 237-55.

Observes that, while on the surface a congenial poet, Jarrell was obsessively haunted by childhood and this quality produces a “subtle but real unity” in his poetry.

Wilmer, Clive. Review of The Complete Poems, by Randall Jarrell. Spectator 228, no. 7499 (18 March 1972): 438-39.

Suggests that Jarrell was one of the most influential mid-twentieth century American poets, while acknowledging that the bulk of his poetry is somewhat unsatisfactory.

Wright, C. D. “Mission of the Surviving Gunner.” Field: Contemporary Poetry and Poetics 35 (fall 1986): 19-20.

Muses on Jarrell's perception of war, death, and the destructive nature of the state, as illustrated in “The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner” and other poems.

Additional coverage of Jarrell's life and career is contained in the following sources published by the Gale Group: American Writers; Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults, Vol. 5; Children's Literature Review, Vol. 6; Concise Dictionary of American Literary Biography, 1941-1968; Contemporary Authors, Vol. 5-8R, 25-28; Contemporary Authors Bibliographical Series, Vol. 2; Contemporary Authors New Revision Series, Vols. 6, 34; Contemporary Literary Criticism, Vols. 1, 2, 6, 9, 13, 49; Dictionary of Literary Biography, Vols. 48, 52; DISCovering Authors Modules: Poets; Exploring Poetry; Literature Resource Center; Major Authors and Illustrators for Children and Young Adults, Ed. 1; Major 20th-Century Writers, Eds. 1, 2; Poetry for Students, Vol. 2; Poets: American and British; Reference Guide to American Literature; St. James Guide to Children's Writers, Vol. 5; and Something About the Author, Vol. 7.