Ars_Poetica

Ars Poetica People often assume that all poetry should possess a deeper meaning. In “Ars Poetica,” by Archibald Macleish, he states his opinions on how a poem should be written and the types of elements it should include. MacLeish employs simple imagery and contrasting diction to criticize the many aspects of modern poetry. The poet uses simple imagery to convey his views on the proper emotional elements that a modern poem should possess. He uses these symbols to convey the idea that the words in a poem maybe physical, but the ultimate meaning should be intangible. The essence of a poem lies in the images it uses. MacLeish uses the symbol of “an empty doorway” as an entrance to higher knowledge. The empty doorway has no one standing in the way. In other words, no one should be able to force one particular interpretation of a poem on someone. Anyone can take a certain poem and interpret it anyway they wish. Pathetic fallacy in the second stanza enforces the idea that “a poem should be motionless in time.” MacLeish uses the moon as a continuous symbol of the affect poetry should have on people. “The moon releases twig by twig the night-entangled trees,” suggests that a poem should illuminate new ideas for people. People should have the ability to think at a deeper level or search for deeper meaning after reading a poem. The poet uses “the flight of birds” to convey the idea that a poem should be wordless. Typically, a bird Ferrell 2 conveys a symbol of freedom. MacLeish could have chosen from a large amount of symbols to convey the idea that a poem should be wordless, but he uses “the flight of birds.” This action symbolizes wordlessness, as well as freedom. A poem should make the reader “fly as high” as they want when they possess the freedom to interpret the poem as they wish. MacLeish uses contrasting diction to portray his thoughts on the proper structure of a poem. The paradoxical words such as “mute” or “dumb” or “wordless” are used throughout the poem. A poem could not be wordless, then it would not have the ability to communicate at all. Emotions, such as love, can be described with words, but the feeling cannot be expressed in words. MacLeish states that a poem should not just describe, but provoke thoughts, visions, and emotions in the reader. The meaning of a poem should be expressed implicitly and not in sentences. Also, the poem advocates “motionlessness.” Nevertheless, it continues on and the poet goes on to describe his meaning. By contradicting himself in the poem, MacLeish conveys his opinions of how a poem should be constructed. When MacLeish states, “A poem should not mean but be,” he simply means that a poem is what it is. A specific meaning for one poem does not exist. He further states that a poem “should be equal to not true.” He says that a poem can be inaccurate for some, but true for others. A poem should not have to convey a specific truth, but provoke the reader to interpret and reflect on the meaning of the poem. MacLeish concludes that all the elements of what a poem “should be” that are implanted in the poem make it beautiful. A poem becomes a way of seeing through the senses and it should hold a different meaning for each individual person.