Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Christopher Pearse Cranch's poem "Young Poet's Advice" is a somewhat satirical take on the shifting norms of poetry and the quest for relevance in an ever-changing literary landscape. The poem adheres to the structure of a 'Ballade,' a French form that typically consists of three eight-line stanzas and a shorter four-line Envoi, all ending with a refrain. In this case, the refrain is "That is fading forgotten away," serving as a consistent reminder of the ephemeral nature of literary fame and styles.

The poem begins by advising the young poet to study contemporary English bards who are "all the rage," indicating that current popularity should dictate the direction of one's own writing. It suggests a move away from solemnity toward a more "piquant and gay" style. This can be seen as either earnest advice or gentle mockery of the fickle, trend-driven nature of public taste.

The second stanza drops names of poets like Lang, Gosse, and Dobson, presumably Andrew Lang, Edmund Gosse, and Austin Dobson, popular literary figures of their day. It insists that young poets should emulate their wittiness and aim to "stand on the popular stage," a metaphor suggesting that public visibility is the ultimate goal. Here the poem aligns with the 19th-century penchant for 'Vers de Société,' a lighter, more social form of poetry that was easily digestible and enjoyed a wide audience.

The third stanza and the Envoi encapsulate the crux of the poem's satirical edge. The speaker notes that even the poem itself is a 'Ballade' and suggests that 'Vers de Société' is the best form of poetry for earning a 'wage,' despite how it may infuriate 'purists.' The Envoi's final advice to the young poet is to disregard the wisdom of "the seer and the sage" and to conform to popular forms. The term "'Afflatus' and Nature," refers to the inspired or divine breath that was traditionally considered the source of poetic inspiration. The speaker cheekily suggests that such high-minded concerns "don't pay."

The style of the poem is rather self-referential, adhering to the form it recommends and filled with literary allusions that would be well-understood by the well-read audience of Cranch's time. The structure of the 'Ballade,' with its repeated refrain and the Envoi at the end, adds a formal rigor to what is essentially a piece critiquing the fickleness of public taste. The poem thus becomes a paradox: a traditionally structured critique of the merits of traditionalism in a rapidly changing literary world.

Overall, "Young Poet's Advice"" serves as both advice and warning, a piece that speaks to the tension between artistic integrity and public acclaim. It humorously outlines the compromises and tactical moves one might consider for literary success while quietly questioning the real value of such success. It's an insightful glimpse into the anxieties and compromises surrounding literary creation and reception, themes as relevant today as they were in Cranch's time.

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