Salient Features of Georgian Poetry and Inter-war Poetry

A Few Words: 

So many poets are writing early 20th century and such is the tremendous poetic output that it is impossible to give individual attention to them. Hence it is usual to divide early modern poetry into two halves- 

(a) Georgian poetry i.e. poetry of the early decades, and 

(b) poetry of the interwar years i.e. poetry of middle decades. 

Georgian Poetry and Inter-war Poetry were two significant literary movements in the early 20th century, primarily in the United Kingdom. While they shared some similarities, they also had distinct characteristics. There is much overlapping, for the poetry that began writing much earlier continues to write though the interwar years. In literature there can be no water tight compartments and such divisions are merely for the convenience of study. Let's explore the salient features of each movement:

  Georgian Poetry: 

Georgian poetry is the poetry of the early decades of 20^th century when king George ruled England. It is an easily simple poetry, largely in the romantic vein, having certain marked characters like of its own. Says A.S. Collins, “The Georgians had, of course, Appositive aim, it was too treat natural thing in a clear, natural and beautiful way, neither too modern not too much like Tennyson. In their treatment of nature and social life they discarded the use of aspheric diction such as ‘theca’ and ‘thou’ and eschewed snack poetical constructions as ‘winter’ drear and ‘host on armed host’. They dropped all gorgeous and grandiloquent expressions in thought and expression. In reaction to Victorian didacticism their verse avoided “all formally religious, philosophic or in proving themes”, and "in reaction to the decadent or Aesthetics of the nineties, they avoided all subjects that smacked of sadness, weakness and café-table.”

The Georgian poets are neither impressionistic nor pantheistic but “as simple as a child’s reading book”. Their themes are “nature, love, leisure, old age, childhood, animals, sleep, bulls and other domestic or wild animals. It is poetry for the many and not for the scholarly few alone. It can be enjoyed even by the learned. Georgian poetry has been subjected to severe criticism by critics like T.S. Eliot. It has been said that the Georgian poetry is meant for  nice people and that they were too inclined to indulge in mutual praise and that it is a poetry lacking in depth and originality, and so unfit for the thoughtful  readers in the modern complex age. John Masefield, Walter De La Mare, W.H. Dories Drinkwater etc are some of the leading poets of the Georgian era.

Features of Georgian Poetry:

Nature and Romanticism: Georgian poets celebrated the beauty of the English countryside and had a strong connection to nature. They often used vivid and descriptive language to evoke a sense of awe and wonder.

Traditional Forms: Georgian poets embraced traditional poetic forms such as sonnets and odes, employing regular rhyme schemes and meters. They sought to revive and uphold traditional poetic techniques.

Personal Expression: The poets of this movement emphasized personal experiences and emotions. They explored themes of love, loss, and nostalgia, often drawing inspiration from their own lives and surroundings.

Optimism and Patriotism: Georgian poets portrayed a sense of optimism and patriotism, especially during the years leading up to World War I. Their poems often expressed a strong attachment to England and a belief in its greatness.

Accessibility: Georgian Poetry aimed to reach a broader audience, using language that was more accessible compared to the complex and abstract styles of the preceding Symbolist movement.

Poetry between the two World Wars:

The years between the two world wars (1918-1940) are rich in poetic activity. As in the pre- war period, so also now, tradition and Innovation exist side by side.  The imagists, symbolists and surrealists continue to produce work of merit while the traditionalists continue largely in the Victorian and Georgian traditions. There are also poets who combine tradition with innovation, and even the most daring innovators are not entirely free from traditional influences. In the words of S.C. Chew, poetry during the period “became obscure, experimental, irregular antagonistic to did act language of small potteries, with much dependence upon complex, unstable, and fleeting as sometimes to become incomer sensible to the writers the moles.” Difficulty even obscurity, characterizes the poetry of the period, it is poetry for the learned few and not for the many, the average reader. It is a question whether poetry became difficult because the public had abandoned it or whether the public abandoned it because it had become difficult. It is full that new urges and the new aspirations need a new mode and technique of expression, and hence there is much experimentation with verse meter and symbolism. The poetry of this time also refutes the pessimism, frustration and disillusionment of the nitro-was year, and there are few poets who do not shoe an awareness of the misery and sintering caused by the war, and the problems it had lift behind in its wake.

Features of Inter-war Poetry:

Modernist Influences: Inter-war poets were influenced by the broader modernist movement, which sought to break away from traditional literary conventions. They experimented with form, language, and subject matter, often incorporating fragmented narratives and unconventional structures.

Fragmentation and Disillusionment: The horrors of World War I and the subsequent disillusionment with society influenced Inter-war poets. Their works reflected a fragmented and fragmented world, exploring themes of alienation, disillusionment, and despair.

Social and Political Commentary: Inter-war poetry engaged with social and political issues of the time. Poets often critiqued the societal norms, the impact of war, and the changing role of individuals in an industrialized and rapidly changing world.

Psychological Depth: Inter-war poets delved into the human psyche and explored themes of identity, inner turmoil, and the complexities of human emotions. They often employed stream-of-consciousness techniques and introspective introspection.

Experimental Language and Imagery: Poets of this period embraced innovative language and imagery, employing metaphors, symbolism, and allusions to convey complex emotions and ideas. They sought to challenge conventional language and evoke powerful sensory experiences.

Conclusion:

While Georgian Poetry celebrated traditional forms and focused on personal expression and patriotism, Inter-war Poetry was influenced by modernist experimentation and reflected the disillusionment and fragmentation of the post-war period. Both movements made significant contributions to English poetry and left a lasting impact on the literary landscape of the time.

What We Have Discussed here:

👉Georgian Poetry: Nature and Romanticism; Traditional Forms; Personal Expression; Optimism and Patriotism; Accessibility

👉Inter-war Poetry: Modernist Influences; Fragmentation and Disillusionment; Social and Political Commentary; Psychological Depth; Experimental Language and Imagery

Ardhendu De

Reference: (Recenly Updated)

1. Parry, J. J. (1949). [Review of A Literary History of England, by A. C. Baugh]. The Journal of English and Germanic Philology, 48(1), 147–149. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27715010

2. Samuel Claggett Chew - Wikipedia. (2021, February 7). Samuel Claggett Chew - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Claggett_Chew

3. English literature of the twentieth century : Collins, Arthur Simons, 1899- : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive. (n.d.). Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/englishliteratur0000coll

4. ALBERT. (2000). History of English Literature (Fifth Edition) [English]. OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS.