Baudelaure and Mallarme

Poems are limitless, infinite and timeless. They exist in forms that we aren’t aware of. They comment on emotions that we haven’t felt yet. They talk about events that we haven’t yet seen and those that won’t ever occur. Various poets over the centuries have attempted to modify the very form of poetry. Two examples of such poets are Charles Baudelaure and Stephane Mallarme. Conventional poetry has been predefined and perhaps even redefined over time to read a certain way and contain some degree of rhythm. However, there have been poets who have attempted to reinvent the form of poetry and have even achieved success in doing so. Poetry at times has fallen victim to the writings of poets such as Charles Baudelaure and Stephen Mallarme who, to an extent, have been able to redefined poetry in an unconventional way.

The Spleen of Paris, written by Charles Baudelaure is a significant piece of literature. The Spleen of Paris is an unconventional form of poetry in more ways than one. It contains 51 short prose poems. These poems are in no particular order and contain no beginning nor any end. These poems, are very similar to actual conversations, hence the aspect of unconventionality applies almost immediately. As these poems resemble conversations and such, rhythm is not present either. Lack of rhythm also adds to the idea of an attempt to reformulate the art of poetry and questioning its very form. Baudelaure extended poetry implying that poetry can now be allowed to imitate prose. It is apparent that Charles Baudelaure attempted to reformulate the art of poetry and was successful to a certain extent, thereby, giving meaning to the term prose poems.

A Throw Of Dice, written by Stephane Mallarme is another example of an unconventional form of poetry. Mallarme used topography, page design and incorporated that into his poem. In a sense, he used the spaces in between the lines of the poems to separate time and his thoughts. He used his tone, syntax and diction in conjunction with the page layout of the poem to enhance the affect of his words upon the readers of the poem. This was an extremely unconventional method of writing poetry and had not been seen before, hence it suggests that Mallarme, as Baudelaure before him, had accomplished for topographical poetics what Baudelaure had done for prose poetry.

Poetry cannot be defined or even classified. It can however, be subject to further changes. Both, Baudelaure and Mallarme had great influences on poetry. Baudelaure changed both, the way a poem should read like and look like. Poetry had always been in different forms of poetry, but never prose. Baudelaure changed the look of poetry where he made it acceptable for poetry to look like a simple conversations. He also made it acceptable for poetry to read like a conversation, an aspect of poetry that had not been exposed prior to Baudelaure.

Mallarme introduced another aspect of poetry which had not existed to poetics before. Mallarme introduced his theories through his poetry. One of Mallarme’s theory was that “nothing lies beyond reality, but within this nothingness lie the essence of perfect forms. It is the task of the poet to reveal and crystallize these essences…These theories were unheard of prior to Mallarme’s works. Mallarme also believed that poem is not made with ideas, but with words, henceforth …a poem should be read as an object independent of the world in which it existed…This is yet another idea, or rather concept behind poetry that was new and would influence poetry to come.

There have been many poets that have greatly influenced poetry. There are those that influence it on a great scale and then there are those that significantly change it, extend its abilities, influence it and eventually, reformulate the manner in which it should be read and its appearance. Charles Baudelaure and Stephane Mallarme both, influenced, extended, and reformulated poetry on an international level. Charles Baudlaure, through his work, permitted prose to be classified as poetry, hence the term, prose poems. Never before had prose with its likeness to simple conversation, had been categorized under poetry. However, due to the impact Charles Baudelaure had on poetry, his prose was allowed to be classified as poetry, thereby, extending the predefined notions of what poetry is allowed to read like and look like. Prose poems of Baudelaure did not contain any stanzas or any sort of predefined structure; however that did not matter anymore. Those notions that were previously widely accepted now became irrelevant. The ideas contained within Baudelaure’s literature served the purpose of poetry. The thought process behind Baudelaure’s work served the purpose of poetry. The inner depth stemming from his experiences, the sadistic nature and the tone fulfilled the purpose that is called poetry. Stephane Mallarme similarly, influenced poetry. Stephane Mallarme brought forth with him, new theories along with his poetry. Stephane Mallarme brought with him the reasons behind his poetry.

Not only that, but Mallarme showcased with his work a different look and style of poetry. Never before had there been poetry that had a visual impact as Mallarme’s poetry in A Throw of Dice. Mallarme used imagery in conjunction with his words to further enhance the reader’s experience of his poetry. Mallarme’s theories were unprecedented. One of the more well-known theories, as described above, separated poetry from personal experiences and from all that existed. He allowed poetry to be completely independent. He claimed that poems are created with words rather than with ideas. A theory that had not previously existed. He further derived from the abovementioned theory that therefore, a poem should be read as an object that is independent of the world in which it exists. These abstract concepts defined by Mallarme had never before surfaced nor were ever contemplated. This fact alone suggests the impact that Mallarme had on poetry stemming from his theories alone. Due to Mallarme’s theories regarding his literary works and visual techniques incorporated into his literary works, he had a significant affect on poetry. Stephane Mallarme, as had Charles Baudelaure done before him, also permitted poetry to look differently than it had before him and in addition, he changed the whole psyche that existed behind poetry. Poetry no longer was a tool to be controlled by the human emotions; rather, poetry now was a tool that would be controlled by the words contained within it. Words would drive poems now, not the human emotions associated behind the poem stemming from experiences or desires.

Charles Baudelaure and Stephane Mallarme both significantly impacted poetry worldwide. They discovered forms of poetry that were previously unknown to anyone else. Perhaps this is one of the reasons that Baudelaure is termed the father of poetry. Both Baudelaure and Mallarme interrogated the very form of poetry, as it was known to them and were able add different forms to the branch of poetry. Whether it was prose of Baudelaure or topographical poetics of Mallarme, both men attempted to reformulate the very notion of what a poem should look like or read like and both men achieved success.

In closing, I feel that both, Charles Baudelaure and Stephen Mallarme achieved success in a category none ever thought possible. Due to the works of Charles Baudelaure and Stephen Mallarme, poetry now had a redefined image. Prose was now poetry. Theories now existed behind poetry. Most important of all, in my opinion, was the theory that poems were no longer enslaved to the thoughts of the writer but the words contained within it. Poetry had gone from conventional forms to an unconventional form and syntax. Poetry would now be influenced by the words expressed in the poem rather than emotions of the author, poetry would now be dependent on words rather than human sentiments of the writer.

I feel that the presence of Charles Baudelaure and Stephen Mallarme was not just an additional to poetry but their presence in the realm of poetry was a necessity. Every now and then, there are those who revolutionize a certain field for the better. Those individuals in the case of poetry are both, Charles Baudelaure and Stephen Mallarme. These men modified poetry, revolutionized, redefined and reinvented poetry. Individuals such as Charles Baudelaure and Stephen Mallarme are essential to literature. Individuals who question the manner in which we perceive literature are a necessity because without these individuals, there would be no growth. Poetry expanded and developed due to the presence of individuals like Baudelaure and Mallarme.