Monthly Archives: December 2016

Joseph Harrison on writing and Penelope

Posted on December 3, 2016 by

Penelope’s situation (in Homer, of course, it’s a death shroud she’s weaving) seems to me an interesting figure for the predicament of the writer or artist: making something, ripping it up, making something, ripping it up, all the while vaguely … Continue reading →

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W. H. Auden on the function of poetry (1938)

Posted on December 1, 2016 by

The primary function of poetry, as of all the arts, is to make us more aware of ourselves and the world around us. I do not know if such increased awareness makes us more moral or more efficient;I hope not. … Continue reading →

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