Gwen HarwoodGwen HarwoodPresentationPresentation

By Jordan Mikayla and AaronBy Jordan Mikayla and Aaron

ContentsContents• Selves and VoicesSelves and Voices• Music, art and languageMusic, art and language• Childhood, family and memoryChildhood, family and memory• Experience- ordinariness and othernessExperience- ordinariness and otherness• Romanticism and ErosRomanticism and Eros• Art and immortality Art and immortality • Poetic StylePoetic Style• EndEnd

Selves and VoicesSelves and Voices• Using different personas, both male and female, made Using different personas, both male and female, made

Harwood a controversial cultural figure in the 60’s and 70’s.Harwood a controversial cultural figure in the 60’s and 70’s.• Prize-givingPrize-giving

- Dramatization is a main convention of the poem. It is used - Dramatization is a main convention of the poem. It is used to satirise pomposity and pretension.to satirise pomposity and pretension.

• NightfallNightfall- “Francis Geyer” writes about Professor Krote’s in direct - “Francis Geyer” writes about Professor Krote’s in direct voice as he strolls through the urban streets, looking for voice as he strolls through the urban streets, looking for inspiration and reminiscing about his lost European past.inspiration and reminiscing about his lost European past.

• In the park In the park and and Home of MercyHome of Mercy- As “Walter Lehmann” She gives a male insight into - As “Walter Lehmann” She gives a male insight into exhausted mothers and the institutional life of “ruined girls”. exhausted mothers and the institutional life of “ruined girls”.

Music, art and languageMusic, art and language• New MusicNew Music- Celebrating new music as ‘love’Celebrating new music as ‘love’- The exhilarating power of musicThe exhilarating power of music

- To Music To Music -directly addresses music and sounds-directly addresses music and sounds- “music, made of the very air we breathe”- “music, made of the very air we breathe”

Childhood, family and Childhood, family and memories:memories:• Blessed CityBlessed City- Wrote about her happy childhoodWrote about her happy childhood- Resonant memory and celebration of early yearsResonant memory and celebration of early years• The VioletsThe Violets- Childhood family memoriesChildhood family memories• Mother Who Gave Me LifeMother Who Gave Me Life- Celebrations of generationsCelebrations of generations• The Secret Life of FrogsThe Secret Life of Frogs- Childs perception Childs perception Harwood’s poems ‘The Violets’ and ‘Mother Who Gave Me Life’ Harwood’s poems ‘The Violets’ and ‘Mother Who Gave Me Life’

alludes that motherhood is fulfilling and worthwhile.alludes that motherhood is fulfilling and worthwhile.

Experience- ordinariness and othernessExperience- ordinariness and otherness-human experience-human experience-desire-desire-fear-fear• Suburban Sonnet and In The ParkSuburban Sonnet and In The Park- Exposes the mixed blessing of childrenExposes the mixed blessing of children- Darker side of motherhoodDarker side of motherhood• In the Father and Child pair, Barn OwlIn the Father and Child pair, Barn Owl- Rise and resolution of youthful violent urgesRise and resolution of youthful violent urgesHarwood’s poems express difficulty of balancing Harwood’s poems express difficulty of balancing

motherhood and writing. etc ‘In The Park’.motherhood and writing. etc ‘In The Park’.The poems reflect on her life’s journey and the times The poems reflect on her life’s journey and the times

she’s experienced in her life.she’s experienced in her life.

Romanticism and ErosRomanticism and Eros

• One of the most common themes for poems, love. One of the most common themes for poems, love. Poems have had romantic links for centuries but Poems have had romantic links for centuries but what separates Harwood’s romantic work is her what separates Harwood’s romantic work is her power to convey the deep and raw emotions that power to convey the deep and raw emotions that are vividly engrained in readers’ minds.are vividly engrained in readers’ minds.

• This can be seen through “The Lion’s Bride” This can be seen through “The Lion’s Bride” describing the “carnal” actions that can be shared. describing the “carnal” actions that can be shared.

Art and ImmortalityArt and Immortality Harwood has immense respect and ties to classical and traditional Harwood has immense respect and ties to classical and traditional

conventions. She utilizes the art of poetry and interest for music conventions. She utilizes the art of poetry and interest for music to mark and convey all milestones, celebrating new life and to mark and convey all milestones, celebrating new life and death, leaving a legacy behind in her poems.death, leaving a legacy behind in her poems.

Harwood continually highlights the “desire for something larger” Harwood continually highlights the “desire for something larger” and higher powers. The inevitable fate and natural occurrences and higher powers. The inevitable fate and natural occurrences of life that we cannot control. Feelings we harbour which we of life that we cannot control. Feelings we harbour which we cannot express because of circumstances, leaving a cannot express because of circumstances, leaving a holistic/resonating effect on its readers due to the cliché nature holistic/resonating effect on its readers due to the cliché nature of universal events. of universal events.

- She died.- She died.

Poetic StylePoetic StyleSome words to capture Hardwood’s style of writing: Some words to capture Hardwood’s style of writing:

-Challenging-Challenging-Defiant-Defiant-Confronting-Confronting-Complex-Complex-Melancholic-Melancholic-Passionate.-Passionate.

The End~~The End~~

• Bibliography: Bibliography: -Unit 4 Booklet -Unit 4 Booklet