Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Ballade of Aesthetic Adjectives" is an intriguing poem by Andrew Lang, a prolific Scottish poet, literary critic, and folklorist. The poem, from Lang's broader oeuvre that bridged the 19th and 20th centuries, engages with the aesthetic movement of the late 19th century. This movement was defined by a celebration of beauty and art for its own sake, and it was marked by an intense use of emotive and descriptive language, often characterized by a particular set of adjectives.

In this poem, Lang takes a playful, satirical stance on the stylistic conventions of the aesthetic movement. He examines the almost formulaic use of adjectives, such as 'subtle,' 'sweet,' 'ghastly,' and 'gray,' that were frequently employed by aesthete poets to imbue their works with emotion and aesthetic qualities.

Lang's choice of a ballade, a French verse form, fits well with the subject of aestheticism, which was often associated with continental, and especially French, artistic sensibilities. The ballade structure, with its repeated refrain, enables Lang to drive home his critique through repetition, underlining the overused 'intense' that was dear to the aesthetes.

The poem employs satire, humor, and irony as key devices to convey its critique. The humor comes through in the hyperbolic presentation of the aesthetes' reliance on adjectives: "Prince, it is surely as good as a play / To mark how the poets and painters agree; / But of plumage aesthetic that feathers the jay, / 'Intense' is the adjective dearest to me!"

The irony is clear in the poem's refrain. 'Intense' represents the overwrought emotional expressiveness that was characteristic of the aesthetic movement. By calling it the 'dearest,' Lang ironically positions it as the embodiment of the excesses of the aesthetic style.

Moreover, Lang uses alliteration throughout the poem, giving it a rhythmic quality. This is seen in phrases like "ghastly, and grimly, and gaunt, and gray," which also serve to satirize the adjective-heavy style of the aesthetic poets.

In conclusion, Lang's "Ballade of Aesthetic Adjectives" serves as a playful critique of the aesthetic movement's stylistic conventions. Through irony, humor, and alliteration, Lang draws attention to the excessive reliance on certain adjectives, offering a clever commentary on the trends of his literary contemporaries. His adept manipulation of the ballade form underlines his message, making the poem a witty exploration of late 19th-century aestheticism.

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