The Poetry of Tony Harrison

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The Poetry of Tony Harrison

Tony Harrison is almost certainly one of the most famous poets alive.

Born in Leeds in 1937 he grew up in a working-class family. Harrison

is a modern poet but chooses to use the traditional sonnet form as he

considers the rigid structure and strict rhythm and rhyming rules

which others find restricting, a challenge to him. He also sees it as

a controlled technique of expressing his feelings. Francesco Petrach

began using the sonnet at the beginning of Renaissance with his

unusual rhyming pattern and stanzas of an octave and a sestet.

Harrison's sonnets fit more into the structure of the later

Shakespearean sonnet, with the ABABCDCD rhyming scheme and rhyming

couplets. He has though subverted the classical form of the

Shakespearean sonnet and adapted it to suit his style of writing and

needs. He chooses to add an extra two lines in the form of a rhyming

couplet to summarise the rest of the poem and make a bold statement.

Traditionally sonnets have being written about love, romance and

landscapes by those such as Wordsworth, but Harrison prefers to focus

on more contemporary issues such as his strong opinions on our society

today, although manages to include conventional topics too but not in

the expected way. There are also other small changes that he has made

to benefit his style of writing. All these changes make him a very

unique writer, different to the colloquial, free verse most poets use.

Many would classify him as a modern sonnet writer.

Them & [Uz]

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These two sonnets are very powerful and portray a very strong message

to the reader. They are full of conflict and anger, ...

... middle of paper ...

...ntness in his

poetry is what's kept him outside the establishment; which is exactly

where he wants to be.

Them & [uz] is conflict between the different speaking groups and the

way they are made to be divided. Book Ends and Marked With a D are

both about conflict within his family, especially with his father and

also introduce the themes of death and religion. It is obvious that

the relationship between his father and himself was a very painful

one.

Harrrison's defines himself and his alienation through the use of his

language. Harrison treasured speech so much and the thought of him

losing part of that made him feel guilty and writing was a way for him

to deal with those feelings as well.

The renowned Resetti described a sonnet as a 'moments monument'. I

think this certainly summarizes Harrison's sonnets.

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