Original poem reprinted online here: "A Conceit" by Rae Armantrout
Originally read: October 30, 2013
More information about the Poet: Rae Armantrout
I looked up all the definitions of conceit before reading this poem. I've read and analyzed quite a few Rae Armantrout poems over the past year, and I always noticed in her work the way she uses multiple definitions of the word, but in a simple backdrop situation so, theoretically, the scene defines the word in an interesting way.
Note that this poem is separated in three parts in which each section uses a different technique: narrative, lyric, definition.
Narrative:
This portion flows between a conversation between two anchors about how "viewers might enjoy tomorrow." This is the conceit, fanciful notion device that opens up the idea for the anchor, but . "One says, 'Get some great....', but / that seems a stretch." Who is judging this aspect?
It seems to be the other who "snickers, meaning, / 'Where were you going with that?'" and then this idea transfers over to the "you," "like you thought."
Lyric:
The "you" here can be different or the same you in the first part, but this part definitely brings conceit into the poem:
Like you could defend
vanity
in the sense of idle
conceit
Pride in oneself, conceited. Here the word is used two ways: the overinflation of a persons ability to "defend vanity" and the description of vanity itself, "vacuous self-absorption.
The last lines in this part are humorous, "whatever / because, / really." Since there is no defense, just a group of words as a defense.
Definition:
As if to say,
"Conceit
is the vacuum energy"
The second part goes along with how the word/idea of "conceit" is used in the poem -- vacuous vacuum that has energy in itself. The thing that stands out for me is "As if to say," to undercut the definition with a qualifier. Why qualify? Maybe the line goes back to the you defining the word Maybe the line is part of a different section. Inexact stance on an exact definition.
Originally read: October 30, 2013
More information about the Poet: Rae Armantrout
I looked up all the definitions of conceit before reading this poem. I've read and analyzed quite a few Rae Armantrout poems over the past year, and I always noticed in her work the way she uses multiple definitions of the word, but in a simple backdrop situation so, theoretically, the scene defines the word in an interesting way.
Note that this poem is separated in three parts in which each section uses a different technique: narrative, lyric, definition.
Narrative:
This portion flows between a conversation between two anchors about how "viewers might enjoy tomorrow." This is the conceit, fanciful notion device that opens up the idea for the anchor, but . "One says, 'Get some great....', but / that seems a stretch." Who is judging this aspect?
It seems to be the other who "snickers, meaning, / 'Where were you going with that?'" and then this idea transfers over to the "you," "like you thought."
Lyric:
The "you" here can be different or the same you in the first part, but this part definitely brings conceit into the poem:
Like you could defend
vanity
in the sense of idle
conceit
Pride in oneself, conceited. Here the word is used two ways: the overinflation of a persons ability to "defend vanity" and the description of vanity itself, "vacuous self-absorption.
The last lines in this part are humorous, "whatever / because, / really." Since there is no defense, just a group of words as a defense.
Definition:
As if to say,
"Conceit
is the vacuum energy"
The second part goes along with how the word/idea of "conceit" is used in the poem -- vacuous vacuum that has energy in itself. The thing that stands out for me is "As if to say," to undercut the definition with a qualifier. Why qualify? Maybe the line goes back to the you defining the word Maybe the line is part of a different section. Inexact stance on an exact definition.
Comments
Post a Comment