Octavio Paz: A Study of his Poetics

Jason Wilson's 'spiritual biography' of a poet-thinker approaches Paz's poetics through his fertile relationship with André Breton, the surrealist leader.

Jason Wilson (Author)

9780521295093, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 21 June 1979

204 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.6 cm, 0.46 kg

Octavio Paz (1914–1998), the eminent Mexican poet and critic, attempted to evaluate the neglected role of poetry in the twentieth century in terms of a liberating, semi-religious vocation. Jason Wilson, in this study, approaches Paz's poetics through his close relationship with André Breton (1896–1966), the surrealist leader. This is a 'spiritual biography' of a poet-thinker (Paz); a study of a fertile relationship (Paz and Breton); a re-evaluation of surrealism itself and, finally, a coping with those acute problems that all poets and readers of poetry must face in an age lacking an acceptable cultural tradition: why write? What is a poem? Who are the genuine poets? Who am I? Wilson analyses Paz's reaction to these related concerns in the poet's examination of 'the values of poetry' in terms of a liberating poetics.

Preface
Introduction, 1a. Octavio Paz and surrealism: attitude versus activity
1b. The Marquis de Sade, surrealism and Paz's 'El prisonero'
2. Mentalist poetics, the quest, fiesta and other motifs
3. The nature myth
4a. The East
4b. A reading of Paz's Le Singe grammairien
4c. A reading of 'Vuelta'
Notes
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: general [DSB]