Chicago Of Sandburg, Sandburg Chicago

Carl Sandburg was the most prominent Biographer of Lincoln and representative of American New Poetry Movement.The period Sandburg lived was one of American industrialization,when America was swept by Western Movement.Unlike his contemporaries as Pound and Eliot who went abroad to get literary inspiration,Sandburg had a strong sense of nativeness.His thorough depiction of Chicago won himself the name of "Chicago poet." "Poet laureate for Industrial America" was the best and most appropriate title to justify his achievements.Of the more than ten volumes of poetry Sandburg created during his lifetime,the most widely read and criticized are from his Chicago period (1912-1926),especially Chicago Poems,in which Sandburg expresses his great concern for Chicago.Based on this,the thesis intends to make a tentative exploration to excavate the Chicago theme of his poetry,i.e. Sandburg's "Chicago complex," by adopting traditional methods of thematic studies and social historical studies."City in the literature" is not merely representation of city in the literary text,but also adds the writer's particular imaginative reality,i.e. the writer's evaluation of the city.City and literature share a mutual textuality.As city provides writing reality to literature,literary text simultaneously confers an imaginative reality upon city.The thesis consists of four chapters.Chapter 1 gives a brief introduction to Sandburg's "Chicago complex," i.e.the combination of his Chicago affinity and Chicago realization.Chapter 2 analyzes the formation of Sandburg's "Chicago complex." At least three elements are considered to contribute to this orientation:Sandburg's self-acceptance as realistic poet,his political and religious belief,and his cultural assimilation.Chapter 3 is a detailed exploration of Sandburg's representation of Chicago in Chicago Poems. By using specific images,such as people,fog and public cityscapes, Sandburg gives us his unique vision of Chicago reality.Chapter 4 excavates the evaluation of Chicago reflected in Chicago Poems:Chicago is a "city of big shoulders" and city of tomorrow.Finally the thesis draws to conclusion and confirms Sandburg's identity as "Chicago poet," thus warranting the saying "Chicago of Sandburg,Sandburg Chicago." When Chicago provides writing reality to Sandburg,Sandburg's confers upon Chicago an imaginative reality in Chicago Poems.