William Meredith Criticism
William Meredith, an influential American poet, is celebrated for his evolution from early formal styles to a more personal, conversational voice. His career has been marked by significant achievements, including a tenure at Connecticut College and his role as chancellor of the Academy of American Poets. Meredith's collection Partial Accounts: New and Selected Poems, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1988, exemplifies his mature style and thematic focus on personal and artistic struggles, particularly in poems like Hazard, the Painter. As noted in A Poet on the Painter, his later works often feature aging protagonists and reflect a deeper engagement with life's complexities.
Academically, Meredith is often grouped with poets like Robert Lowell and Elizabeth Bishop, known for their formal restraint and thematic depth. His poetry is analyzed in In Charge of Morale in a Morbid Time, where his transition from imitative styles to a complex poetic voice is explored. Meredith's experience as a Navy pilot adds a resonant layer to his work, contributing to his reputation as a significant voice in 20th-century poetry. Critics commend his maturity, influence, and poignant honesty, as discussed in The Muted Lyrics of William Meredith and ‘A Dark Question Answered Yes’.
Meredith's work is heavily influenced by Robert Frost, characterized by a shift from highly literary expressions to a more conversational and accessible tone, capturing the joys of the everyday. This is particularly evident in Hazard, the Painter, where Meredith's voice blends formal elegance with natural observations, as discussed by Peter Meinke. His style, reminiscent of poets like Robert Lowell and John Berryman, is marked by rhythmic skill and modesty, as highlighted by John Malcolm Brinnin. Despite critiques of detachment, Meredith's poetry, as explored by Alan Helms, is noted for its formal restraint and expressive nuances, with collections like The Wreck of the Thresher exemplifying his thematic focus.
His exploration of themes such as mortality and cultural decline is observed through a controlled and disciplined approach. In "The Open Sea," Mary Shiras examines how Meredith balances order and delight while exploring identity in "The Wreck of the Thresher," as noted by Richard Howard. While his collection The Cheer offers optimistic societal engagement, Vernon Young critiques it for lacking the incisive diction of earlier works. Nonetheless, Meredith's intellectually engaging poetry blends abstract thought with vivid imagery, enhancing its expressive and musical quality, as analyzed by Paul Breslin.
Contents
- Principal Works
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Meredith, William (Vol. 13)
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Peter Meinke
(summary)
In the following essay, Peter Meinke argues that William Meredith's Hazard, The Painter reflects a transition in his poetic style, evolving from formal elegance to a more conversational tone, enriched by observations and meditations, ultimately achieving a voice that is both optimistic and reminiscent of Philip Larkin.
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John Malcolm Brinnin
(summary)
In the following essay, the critic analyzes William Meredith’s use of poetic identity and artistic credibility in "Hazard, The Painter," noting his stylistic parallels with poets like Robert Lowell and John Berryman, and highlighting Meredith's unique ability to navigate personal dilemmas with a tone characterized by modesty and rhythmic skill.
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Richard Howard
(summary)
In the following essay, Richard Howard examines William Meredith's Hazard, the Painter, emphasizing its exploration of themes such as mortality, ressentiment, and the decline of America, with a stylistic homage to poets like Frost and Auden, ultimately appreciating Meredith's delicate yet profound artistic expression.
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Hazards
(summary)
In the following essay, Alan Helms critiques William Meredith's Hazard, the Painter for its detachment and lack of engagement, arguing that the poet's decorous style and optimistic sensibility, while charming, ultimately lead to a disconnect between Meredith and his poetic persona, culminating in a work that risks irrelevance to contemporary sensibilities.
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In Charge of Morale in a Morbid Time: The Poetry of William Meredith
(summary)
In the following essay, Henry Taylor examines the evolution of William Meredith's poetic style, arguing that Meredith's work, characterized by its formal restraint and inclusive tone, matured through his exploration of traditional forms and themes, culminating in the nuanced and ambitious poetry found in his later collections such as The Wreck of the Thresher.
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Peter Meinke
(summary)
- Meredith, William (Vol. 4)
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Meredith, William (Vol. 22)
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To Give Names
(summary)
In the following essay, Mary Shiras examines William Meredith's "The Open Sea," highlighting his controlled, disciplined style and the mild tone of his poetry, which often results in accessible and unobjectionable themes, while suggesting that his work could benefit from exploring more challenging subjects, as exemplified by the poem "On Falling Asleep by Firelight."
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William Meredith: All of a Piece and Clever and at Some Level, True
(summary)
In the following essay, Richard Howard examines William Meredith's poetic evolution through his early works to his mature voice, highlighting the poet's balancing act between order and delight, his mastery of form, and his exploration of selfhood and identity, culminating in a nuanced and assured expression in "The Wreck of the Thresher."
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Short Reviews: 'The Cheer'
(summary)
In the following essay, the critic contends that William Meredith's poetry, particularly in The Cheer, stands out for its ability to elevate and engage readers through wit, addressing societal themes with a sense of optimism and familiarity that invites readers to reflect on human fate with understanding and a smile.
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Four Poets
(summary)
In the following essay, Paul Breslin analyzes the precision and intellectual engagement of William Meredith's poetry, particularly highlighting Meredith's ability to blend abstract thought with vivid imagery and music while maintaining a rich and expressive linguistic style.
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Poetry Chronicle: The Light Is Dark Enough
(summary)
In the following essay, Vernon Young argues that William Meredith's The Cheer lacks the humor and incisive diction found in his earlier works, suggesting that the poet's attempts at optimism and reconciliation fall short in addressing the challenging and somber themes he engages with.
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To Give Names
(summary)
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Meredith, William
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The Muted Lyrics of William Meredith
(summary)
In the following essay, Ludwig offers a thematic and stylistic overview of Meredith's poetry.
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William Meredith: ‘All of a Piece and Clever and at Some Level, True’
(summary)
In the following essay, Howard praises the restraint and tone of Meredith's early verse.
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A Poet on the Painter
(summary)
In the following essay, Brinnin provides a positive assessment of Hazard, The Painter. Unlike most collections of poems, this one has a named hero and an overt subject. The hero is an aging liberal, a painter called Hazard; the subject is Hazard's attempt somehow to maintain himself as one who 'participates in the divinity of the world.' But we meet him at a bad time, when his hopes are dashed, his guard down.
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The Language of the Tribe: William Meredith's Poetry
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‘A Dark Question Answered Yes’: The Poems of William Meredith
(summary)
In the following essay, Guy Rotella examines the thematic and technical progression of William Meredith's poetry, highlighting Meredith's central theme of the struggle to find order in chaos, and his evolution from imitative, academic styles to a more personal, colloquial, and complex poetic voice that reflects his wartime experiences.
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‘A Dark Question Answered Yes’: The Poems of William Meredith
(summary)
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An interview with William Meredith
(summary)
In the following interview, Edward Hirsch and William Meredith explore Meredith's creative process, his unique approach to poetry which combines insight with playful language, his influences from poets like Robert Frost, and his ideas about the poet's role in addressing societal morale.
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In Charge of Morale in a Morbid Time
(summary)
In the following essay, Taylor surveys the defining qualities of Meredith's poetry.
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Foreword to Effort at Speech: New and Selected Poems
(summary)
In the following essay, Collier determines the major influences on Meredith's work, highlighting his belief that poetry and experience should have an exact ratio, and discussing the impact of significant events in Meredith's life on his poetry.
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The Muted Lyrics of William Meredith
(summary)