Terence, This Is Stupid Stuff! (literature As A tool)
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How A. E. Housman Used Literature as a Tool to Cope with Life's Challenges
A. E. Housman was a British poet and scholar who lived from 1859 to 1936. He is best known for his collection of poems A Shropshire Lad, which expresses his nostalgia for rural life, his pessimism about human fate, and his longing for unrequited love. One of the most famous poems in this collection is Terence, This is Stupid Stuff, which is a dialogue between the poet and his friend who criticizes his poetry for being too gloomy and depressing.
In this poem, Housman defends his choice of writing melancholy verses by arguing that literature is a tool to help him cope with the realities of life, which are often full of troubles and sorrows. He compares his poetry to a bitter medicine that can strengthen one's heart and mind in the face of adversity, rather than a sweet drink that can only provide temporary pleasure and illusion. He also uses the example of Mithridates, an ancient king who became immune to poison by gradually exposing himself to it, to suggest that reading sad poems can make one more resilient and prepared for the inevitable hardships of life.
Housman's poem is a powerful expression of how literature can be a tool to deal with life's challenges, rather than a mere escape or entertainment. By writing and reading poems that reflect his honest feelings and experiences, Housman shows that he is not afraid to confront the dark and painful aspects of human existence, but rather seeks to understand them and learn from them. He also invites his readers to do the same, and to find comfort and wisdom in his words.Some of the themes that Housman explores in A Shropshire Lad are related to his own personal experiences and emotions, such as his unrequited love for his friend Moses Jackson, his nostalgia for his childhood home in Worcestershire, and his disillusionment with the modern world. He also draws inspiration from the classical literature that he studied and taught, especially the works of Horace, Catullus, and Ovid. He uses various classical motifs, such as the carpe diem (seize the day) philosophy, the pastoral setting, and the mythological references, to create a contrast between the idealized past and the harsh present.
Another theme that pervades A Shropshire Lad is the military and war. Many of the poems feature soldiers, sailors, or rebels who face death, exile, or imprisonment for their loyalty, courage, or patriotism. Housman was influenced by the historical events of his time, such as the Second Boer War and the Irish Home Rule movement, as well as by his admiration for the English Civil War poet Richard Lovelace. He also expresses a sense of solidarity with the common people who suffer from oppression, injustice, or tyranny. He often portrays them as victims of fate or fortune, who have no control over their destiny.
Housman's style is simple, clear, and concise. He uses a regular rhyme scheme and meter, mostly iambic tetrameter or trimeter. He avoids elaborate metaphors or imagery, preferring direct and plain language. He also uses irony, sarcasm, and understatement to convey his bitter or cynical tone. His poems are often structured as dialogues, monologues, or ballads, with a strong narrative element. He also employs repetition, refrain, and parallelism to create musicality and emphasis. aa16f39245