On The Theme And Structure Of Edgar Lee Masters' "Spouse River Collection"

Edgar Lee Masters is an outstanding writer and unique poet in the history of modern American literature.He was an important member of the Chicago poets.His Spoon River Anthology has rich ideological content and unique art form.Based on the theme and structural features of Spoon River Anthology,this paper analyzes the various representations of the town in Spoon River Anthology under the tide of industrialization,and explores the poet's deep thoughts on freedom,democracy and equality.First of all,through the invasion of industrialization on the town,the transformation of the production mode,the transformation of the lifestyle and the change of the ideology and value system of the town residents are shown,so as to reflect the ambivalence of the poet in the process of industrialization.Secondly,through the emotional theme in the poems,the author reveals the repression of marriage and family,parents and children,and the relationship between villagers and villagers,and shows the poet's concern for freedom and equality.Furthermore,the theme of war shows the destruction of human beings by imperialism and capitalist society,which reflects the poet's yearning for democracy and peace.This paper also analyzed the space art in Spoon River Anthology: epitaph type character monologue show cemetery scene at the same time,also presents the key river specific geographical position and social space,poetry anthology of social space is dominated by money and power,bankers and executives in key river town in the upper position,the intellectuals and philosopher in a lower position.However,through the arrangement of specific chapters,Masters highlights the superior position of intellectuals and shows his attempt to counterbalance the influence of capital on the town with the power of culture.This structural design also reflects his reflection on modern civilization.In a word,Masters' Spoon River Anthology not only shows the regional customs of the Midwest,but also shows the poet's thinking on industrial civilization and modernity.Masters is not only a realist poet,but also a modernist poet.