The poetry of Tristan Corbiere with particular reference to influences, prosody and style

Abstract

In Chapter I of this thesis, I have indicated the principal influences on Corbiere's poetry. Firstly, I have shown that the non-literary influences are of primary importance and inspired the majority of Corbiere's poems. Of these, Brittany is of outstanding significance, being the first and most permanent of all the influences: it has inspired two complete sections of his work. Next, in Chapter II, I have dealt with the literary influences showing that, in spite of Corbiere's claims of independance, both Romantic poetry and Parnassian poetry are clearly reflected in Les Amours Jaunes. Indeed, references are made to all the major poets of his century. In Chapter III, on prosody, I have analysed the various forms used by Corbiere, indicating where he was following tradition, where he was simply breaking the rules in a search for greater freedom, and where he was experimenting with new forms. In Chapter IV, I have shown that certain aspects of Corbiere's style are original, such as his use of imagery, his vocabulary, the oral quality of his poetry, and his use of punctuation. He experimented in his use of language in order to attain novel effects. Irony has permeated all aspects of Corbiere's work. Finally, in Chapter V, I have outlined the influence of Corbiere on later poets. Much of his work seems akin to that of the Symbolists and Decadents. Either this is merely coincidence, due to the fact that Corbiere and these writers followed current literary trends, or it may be that Vorbiere has actually influenced the later work of the Symbolists and Decadents. Corbiere's influence can be seen most clearly in the work of the "Fantaisistes": Francis Carco, P.-J. Toulet, Tristan Dereme and Andre Salmon. More interesting, perhaps, is Corbiere's influence abroad: both Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot drew inspiration from Les Amours jaunes.