The Nature of Native American Poetry

by Norma C. Wilson

Overview

The beginning of the twenty-first century marks the maturation of the voices of indigenous poets in the United States. Norma Wilson's appealing and accessible collection of essays is both an introduction to and an enthusiastic celebration of the poetic vistas inhabited by modern Native American writers.

Wilson's scope is both broad and specific as she draws from contemporary criticism, tribal histories and folklore, interviews with writers, and, of course, from the poetry itself. Her study is firmly grounded in the oral traditions and personal and tribal histories of the eight poets on whom she focuses—Carter Revard, N. Scott Momaday, Simon Ortiz, Lance Henson, Roberta Hill, Linda Hogan, Wendy Rose, and Joy Harjo. A final chapter on the "new generation" considers younger poets such as Sherman Alexie, Cheryl Savageau, Tiffany Midge, and Elizabeth Woody, among others.

At the same time, Wilson's broad understanding of the literary heritage of East, West, and First nations allows her to place Native American poetry in global and historical context. Wilson points out Native American writers have been influenced by such well-known Western "canon" poets as Blake, Whitman, and Ginsberg. Her study further elucidates the clear mark that Native American literature, culture, and oral-poetic traditions have left on five centuries of British and American literature.

The Nature of Native American Poetry is a guidebook mapping the modern rhythms of our ancient literary landscape.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780826322593
Publisher:	University of New Mexico Press
Publication date:	12/01/2000
Edition description:	1ST
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.41(d)
Lexile:	1330L (what's this?)

About the Author

Norma C. Wilson is professor of English and American Indian Studies at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. She is the co-editor of One-Room Country School: South Dakota Stories.

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgments	vii
	Preface	ix
Chapter 1	The Nature of Native American Poetry	1
Chapter 2	The Mythic Continuum: The Poetry of Carter Revard	15
Chapter 3	Affirmations of Identity: The Poetry of N. Scott Momaday	31
Chapter 4	Language as a Way of Life: The Poetry of Simon J. Ortiz	45
Chapter 5	Spirit Voices: The Poetry of Lance Henson	65
Chapter 6	An Instrument for Song: The Poetry of Roberta Hill	77
Chapter 7	Translating the World: The Poetry of Linda Hogan	87
Chapter 8	Nesting in the Ruins: The Poetry of Wendy Rose	99
Chapter 9	The Ground Speaks: The Poetry of Joy Harjo	109
Chapter 10	The New Generation	123
	Bibliography	135
	Index	145

Editorial Reviews

"This book serves as a usable addition to the growing list of studies in a flourishing area of contemporary literature."

a . . . illuminating and reader-friendly . . . a

"Norma C. Wilson's introduction to the present state of Native American poetry appears at an appropriate moment, when a new millennium and a substantial body of evidence suggest that some stock can be taken in our judgment of what might be called the older generation of Native American poets, those who were born in the 1930s and 1940s and achieved their critical reputations in the last quarter of the twentieth century. . . . She is to be congratulated for having written a book, which actually can be read. It probably will not appear particularly sophisticated to those academics who seem to regard literary discussion as a self-indulgent excuse for mutual incomprehensibility, but those readers who really want and deserve a convenient introduction to what makes Native American poets unique and yet situated within a larger poetic and cultural tradition will owe a debt of gratitude to Norma Wilson for providing it."

From the Publisher

An introduction to and celebration of modern Native American poets. Essays on eight poets draw from contemporary criticism, tribal histories, interviews with writers, and from the poetry itself, and highlight the mutual influences linking Native American, British, and American literature. Poets profiled include Carter Revard, Simon Ortiz, Wendy Rose, and Joy Harjo. A final chapter on the new generation considers younger poets such as Sherman Alexie, Elizabeth Woody, and Tiffany Midge. Includes b&w photos of poets. Wilson teaches English at the University of South Dakota. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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