Smith- Poetry and the Reformed tradition Flashcards
According to the text, what is a good “working” definition of poetry? (Smith)
The text suggests that poetry is a unique way of using language, where words are stripped down to their essence, allowing their multiple meanings to interact and create an experience that is “more felt than processed”. Poetry is a “reduction” of language to its most potent form. It is also defined by the way a poet decides where lines begin and end.
What is the role of “enjambment” in poetry, according to the text? (Smith)
The text explains that enjambment, or the way a poet chooses where to end one line and start another, is a key way that poets can “attune us to language anew”. It is a way to create pauses and breaks in the flow of language, contributing to the unique rhythm and meaning of a poem.
How does the text describe a “Reformed aesthetic”? (Smith)
A Reformed aesthetic, according to the text, affirms the significance of the “aesthetic” or “artful” as its own good, not just as a means to communicate messages or theological truths. It views the aesthetic as a fundamental aspect of creation and human life. This aesthetic is not optional, but plays an irreplaceable role in human life. It activates our imaginations through play and “allusive suggestiveness”.
What does the text mean by “allusivity” in poetry? (Smith)
The text defines allusivity as the way that words and images in poetry “tickle and tug our imaginations” rather than meeting us directly. It suggests that poetry brings the “nuancefulness” and suggestiveness of words to the foreground, allowing us to see things in a new way. The text notes that poetry is the “most intense experience of allusivity in language”.
How does the text connect poetry with the idea of “shalom”? (Smith)
The text suggests that aesthetic and poetic blessings are “sprinkled throughout our common life,” bending it toward shalom, which is understood as a state of wholeness and peace. It views poetry as a means to engage with and appreciate the diversity and nuances of the world around us.
According to the text, how did the Protestant Reformation influence art? (Smith)
The text states that the Protestant Reformers rejected the dichotomy of sacred and secular, affirming the “sanctification of ordinary life”. This led artists to shift their focus from biblical narratives to everyday landscapes and common vocations. The text points to painters like Vermeer and Rembrandt, who focused on ordinary people rather than the nobility, as examples of this shift.
What does the text say about art as “action”? (Smith)
The text argues that art is not just for contemplation but is also a form of action intended to “get something done”. Art is described as a way of acting in and on the world. Poetry, like other art forms, is a means of performing and enacting in a distinct way.
What is the significance of the phrase “Nothing human is alien to me” in the context of the Reformed tradition? (Smith)
The phrase “Nothing human is alien to me,” which is attributed to the ancient Roman poet Terence, is used to emphasize that the Reformed Christian can appreciate and engage with all aspects of humanity. The text states that poets often bring aspects of humanity closer to us than prose.
How does the text describe the relationship between poetry and “common grace?” (Smith)
The text asserts that a Reformed understanding of common grace means we should be open to the value and beauty of poetry from a wide range of voices, not just those from within the Reformed tradition. This includes the poetry of those with other faiths, or no faith, because the Spirit of beauty can be found in surprising places. The text suggests that such openness can renew and challenge our own understanding of language and the world
