Comments | spaczek_27: Technology and Poetry

spaczek_27

Technology and Poetry

Mar 05, 2006 20:06

During the professor’s lecture about Victorian Poetry he mentioned the idea of a time of industrial revolution and the influence on the poets and artists of that era. I was reminded of one of my favorite Canadian poems, “The Railway Station” by Archibald Lampman ( Read more... )

Comments 3

nareesas March 11 2006, 00:28:54 UTC

We read this poem in my Canadian Lit. course a little while ago and the imagery does stick with you. Lampman has a rather bleek view of the rapid technological advancement in this poem. Everything about the train is menacing and disruptive - the noise, sadness, flaring lights. The people are mournful. The whole purpose of the train (at this time) is separation and taking loved ones away from one another. The train may be taking the passengers to unknown dreams of wealth or happiness but the key word is UNKNOWN. They may also be headed for distress and agony that comes with starting over somewhere new. I think this poem was more of a warning to those people who were all in favour of technology. Look at what technology did for warfare.

Sonnet pitchgreen March 19 2006, 01:16:57 UTC

Isn't this also a sonnet though, or at least a variation of the sonnet? The rhyming scheme seems to follow:

ABBA ABBA CDCDCD

I can't see how this adds to the poem though, either in reading it as a love poem, or in some other way. Maybe I'm wrong...any thoughts?

Industrial Revolution and the Train mysteryofgod March 20 2006, 21:06:09 UTC

In my European history class we discussed railways and how people would have railways on their property and it was such a great accheivement in history. The Industrial Revolution was definitely a point of major change in history. You can pinpoint where certain cultures became what they are now. Third world countries were countries that would not or could not participate in the industrial revolution. It was not only a defining moment in history but in literature as well. Pastorals became more idealized as the countryside was soaked up into huge buildings. People became preoccupied with the sudden rise in social ills. I enjoyed the poem you picked out for this entry.