关键词: 爱默生; 奥尔弗斯; 诗人; 三重身份; 美国诗歌; 美国文学

Abstract:

“The Poet” is an essential essay on Emerson’s viewpoint of poet, in which Emerson creates an image of an ideal poet and explores its essence and function. This image derives from the Greek mythological figure, a model of poet and musician, Orpheus. For a further understanding of Emerson’s concept of poet, the relationship between the poet model Orpheus and Emerson’s view of poet is discussed in this paper by taking the social and cultural conditions of America in the 19th century into consideration. Based on close reading of the major essays and with support from the other works of Emerson, the paper points out that Emerson depicts a poet with triple identities modeled after the traditional image of Orpheus and born in the social context of America: a representative man—the transformation of Orpheus’ comprehensive power; a seer and prophet—the transformation of Orpheus’ wisdom and inspiration; a sayer and language creator—the transformation of Orpheus’ creativity of language and art. The poet figure designed by Emerson, which is an American version of Orpheus, reflects Emerson’s calling for an American national poet and the independence of American literature, as well as promotes the development of the 19th century American literature.

Keywords: Emerson; The Poet; triple identities; Orpheus; American poetry; American literature