Place, Trauma, and Form in Contemporary Poetry

• Gabriella Saylor, English, University of Delaware

• Christopher Penna, English, University of Delaware

Poetry centered on the experience of trauma often considers the interplay between the traumatic event and the places associated with it. Likewise, traditional poetic forms, such as the sonnet and sestina, employ structure and sound in particular ways that the poet may utilize in order to emphasize significant facets of trauma and/or aspects of place. Place and trauma have both been common themes in English poetry throughout its history, and poetic form has historically been used to establish sonic patterns as well as support the thematic content of a poem. However, I have yet to encounter a critical analysis of poetry that considers the intersection of all three elements. Through analysis of contemporary poetry collections concerning trauma and/or place, as well as secondary texts on poetic form and craft, I consider the relationships between trauma, place, and form in the poetic context. In addition, through study of both traditional and contemporary uses of form, I examine the ways in which contemporary poets have pushed the boundaries of traditional form through variations on existing forms as well as inventions of new approaches to structure. Moreover, the texts consulted for this project reveal how elements of poetic craft, such as imagery and voice, are used to represent the ways in which the physicality and dynamics of place echo the physical and emotional experiences of trauma, as well as how memory is tied to place. Additionally, my observations of the application of poetic form and structure demonstrate how structural elements, such as syntax, repetition, white space, and punctuation, underscore the poet’s depiction of place and/or the speaker’s experience of trauma. This project provides insight into how the tools of poetic technique may be effectively used in writing about trauma through the lens of place.