[stylist] history and religion

Thu May 9 17:02:51 UTC 2013

Eve,
Bridgit sent you correct information about the book on which following
"Spoon River" poetry evolved into more widespread use.
I am glad you like the poem. I have copied and will paste a bit more history
of the "Spoon River." This one does not mention that it is free verse with
no necessity for rhyme or meter, though I have done them both ways. If you
like to write monologues, or soliloquies, it would be natural to try one.
Just make sure your person is speaking from the grave, and not still living.
I will send you another, at your request,  published, about "Sweet Justice,"
whom I considered as speaking from the grave after the O.J. trial. 
Good luck.
Jackie

Spoon River poetry from Wickopedia. Each following poem is an epitaph of a
dead citizen, delivered by the dead themselves. They speak about the sorts
of things one might expect: some recite their histories and turning points,
others make observations of life from the outside, and petty ones complain
of the treatment of their graves, while few tell how they really died.
Speaking without reason to lie or fear the consequences, they construct a
picture of life in their town that is shorn of façades. The interplay of
various villagers — e.g. a bright and successful man crediting his parents
for all he's accomplished, and an old woman weeping because he is secretly
her illegitimate child — forms a gripping, if not pretty, whole.
The subject of afterlife receives only the occasional brief mention, and
even those seem to be contradictory.
The work features such characters as Tom Merritt, Amos Sibley, Carl Hamblin,
Fiddler Jones and A.D. Blood. Many of the characters that make appearances
in Spoon River Anthology were based on real people that Masters knew or
heard of in the two towns in which he grew up, Petersburg and Lewistown,
Illinois. Most notable is Ann Rutledge, regarded in local legend to be
Abraham Lincoln's early love interest though there is no actual proof of
such a relationship. Rutledge's grave can still be found in a Petersburg
cemetery, and a tour of graveyards in both towns reveals most of the
surnames that Masters applied to his characters.
Other local legends assert that Masters' fictional portrayal of local
residents, often in unflattering light, created a lot of embarrassment and
aggravation in his hometown. This is offered as an explanation for why he
chose not to settle down in Lewistown or Petersburg.
Spoon River Anthology is often used in second year characterization work in
the Meisner technique

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Eve Sanchez
Sent: Monday, May 06, 2013 9:14 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] history and religion

That was really beautiful. I have never heard of this method, Spoon
River. I think I would loke to learn more about it. Do your spaces and
breaks have significance? It seems to be a visual form of poetry along
with the music to the heart. Thank you so much for sharing this and we
will not tell anyone. Good luck on your contest. Eve

On Mon, May 6, 2013 at 10:13 AM, Jacqueline Williams
<jackieleepoet at cox.net> wrote:
> Bridgit,
> I am fascinated by your perspective, so like my own. I was fortunate to
take
> a Religions of the World in college, and have added a few since then that
> were not addressed, such as Bahai.
> Also, I read several books on Anne Bolyn, and just this year wrote a
"Spoon
> River" poem about her. That is a form that is "a voice from the dead."
> I am attaching it. I have submitted to Florida, the NFSPS annual contest,
so
> I am unsure that I should send it to you. However, perhaps your heredity
> takes precedence!
> Jackie
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
> Pollpeter
> Sent: Sunday, May 05, 2013 12:21 PM
> To: stylist at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [stylist] history and religion
>
> Eve,
>
> What you say is true about Celtic not necessarily pertaining to pagan.
> Though past Celtic traditions are deeply rooted to its religious
> aspects, so it can be synonymous. I'm interested in a variety of
> subjects, history and religion being towards the top. I prefer to learn
> about religions from the perspective of a given religion as opposed to
> another religion's view of a different perspective. I'm fascinated by
> these subjects and the power and struggles religion has played a part of
> in world history.
>
> I minored in history at university, my emphasis being medieval and
> Renaissance history. I've always felt compelled to know about the past
> and be somehow connected to that past. My husband and I are very into
> family trees right now, and we recently discovered that I may be related
> to Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's second wife who was beheaded. I've always
> been fascinated by this character and felt more drawn to her than other
> of Henry's wives. So that I may be a descendent of hers somehow is
> exciting beyond words to me. Yes, I'm a history nerd, grin.
>
> I think the world, and God, are bigger than anyone can comprehend. I
> choose to not place either in a box and try to keep an open mind. I'm
> fascinated by learning in general and finding a connection to the past.
> I've attempted going back to university to study religion, but my life
> doesn't currently afford me this opportunity at this point in time.
>
> Bridgit
> Message: 5
> Date: Sat, 4 May 2013 17:23:34 -0700
> From: Eve Sanchez <3rdeyeonly at gmail.com>
> To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Harry Potter and Celtic tradition
> Message-ID:
>
> <CACdbYKUxcMXm3jsCytNzBDxCfKEC3X2Kpm4A9-06iPigYPB87A at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> hahaha   "Bless you." for sneezing that is. haha   No seriously, I do
> not want to say anything that will offend anyone as I so easily could,
> but I totally commend you for your understanding and open mindedness. As
> for the Celtic ref; I am not most people. Celtic tradition is Pagan, but
> Pagan is not necessarily Celtic. That was my point and how I look at
> things in life. I know of people who follow the Norse traditions and
> though I respect their rights, I do not at all agree with any of the
> teachings what so ever. Yes there are similarities in Deity, but that is
> about it. It is just not something that I could back. I am just saying
> this as an example as to why I say Pagan rather than Celtic unless you
> are speaking specifically of the Celtic histories and/or traditions.
> But, still, the main thing you should take from this is that I love your
> willingness to learn the controversial histories that many Christians
> overlook or deny. Kudos. Eve
>
>
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