Argument advocating for the practice of committing literature to memory: Memory and Literature
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In a world where digital information is at our fingertips, one individual finds a unique joy in the traditional art of memorising poetry. This individual, who prefers to remain unnamed, finds a particular satisfaction in the moment when the hard clay of one's mind becomes soft through the process of memorising verse.
Recently, this individual has demonstrated his dedication to the craft by memorising a diverse range of poems. From Shakespeare sonnets and chunks of Ashbery and Frost, to one of Christian Wiman's Mandelstam translations and Rudyard Kipling's 'If', his repertoire is impressive. Even the classic 'Ozymandias' is committed to memory, and an Englishman need only utter its lines to evoke a sense of awe.
Contemporary poets whose works are being recited and memorised in modern-day settings can be challenging to identify, as information about memorisation trends is not readily available. However, there are several poets whose works might be shared or recited in educational or cultural settings. Tyson Yunkaporta, DOBBY, Beejay Silcox, and Claire Gaskin are part of the vibrant contemporary Australian poetry scene, with their works featuring in collections and potentially being recited or memorised.
Platforms like Poetry Out Loud offer collections of poems that are easy to memorise and recite, though they may not exclusively feature contemporary poets. Resources like Family Friend Poems provide a range of famous poems by well-known poets that are often memorised and recited.
The individual is not just a passive consumer of poetry; he is an advocate for its memorisation. He does not advocate for the rote learning of witty quips and quotes from Cicero or Elizabeth Hardwick, but rather for the immersion in the depth and beauty of literature, particularly poetry.
His father, too, shares this passion, sometimes reciting the opening of Beowulf in Old English. Two Berliners have memorised T.S. Eliot's Prufrock poem, while another friend cycles while intoning Emily Dickinson's poetry. Rote learning is not exclusively a feature of the schoolroom; epic poetry was designed to be memorised and passed on.
The individual believes that Western pedagogy's shift away from memorising towards critiquing as the predominant way of encountering literature may have led to the loss of something valuable. He believes personal enjoyment of poetry is possible without understanding everything, and he is currently memorising a poem titled 'Estuary' by Australian poet Gwen Harwood.
Even in the face of adversity, poetry has been used as a tool. One friend used poetry to impress a lady but was not successful. Despite this, the individual continues to champion the art form, finding solace and joy in the process of memorising and reciting poetry.
- Despite the digital age, the individual's lifestyle includes a unique focus on the home-and-garden art of memorizing poetry, showcasing an appreciation for the traditional and timeless.
- In addition to reciting classical poems, the individual also engages with contemporary Australian poets, such as Tyson Yunkaporta, DOBBY, Beejay Silcox, Claire Gaskin, and the like, reflecting his home-and-garden approach to expanding his poetry repertoire.
