Comments & Themes

Topics for research and critical analysis:

• Define the stylistic elements which identify Charles Bernstein’s work as innovative. To what extent is this detail in the attached poems.

• From the standpoint of style, what distinguishes prose from poetry in the excerpt taken from “Artifice of Absorption? To what extent can the poet use the devices of prose?

• Compare Charles Bernstein’s attached poems. Which impresses you as more poetic.

• Compare Charles Bernstein with one or more experimental poets —Pound, Zukofsky, Olson, John Ashbery. In what respects do the latter authors surpass Bersntein? In what way does he remain superior?

• Analyze some references or scenes from the standpoint of poetic technique and effectiveness.

• Analyze imagery, action, perception, and consider the philosophical and social issues raised in Charles Bernstein’s work.