Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Lana Turner at Versailles" is a poem by Alice Notley, first published in her 1978 collection "Descent of Alette". Notley is known for her innovative approach to poetry and her exploration of feminist and political themes.

Explanation:

The poem "Lana Turner at Versailles" is a tribute to the American film actress Lana Turner, who was a popular icon of the 1940s and 1950s. The poem is set at the Palace of Versailles in France, which was the location for Turner's film "A Life of Her Own" in 1950. The speaker reflects on Turner's glamor and beauty, and compares her to the grandeur and extravagance of the palace.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: Free verse, with irregular line lengths and stanza breaks.
• Theme: Glamour, beauty, film, art, history.
• Imagery: Descriptions of the Palace of Versailles, Turner's appearance and acting, film scenes.
• Tone: Reverent, admiring, nostalgic.
• Sound: Assonance, alliteration, repetition, occasional rhyme.
• Language: Rich, ornate, sensory.
• Figurative language: Metaphors, similes.
• Structure: Irregular stanzas and line lengths, with occasional repetition and refrains.
• Symbolism: The palace represents the opulence and excess of Hollywood, while Turner embodies the ideal of beauty and glamour.
• Emotion: The poem evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing for a bygone era of glamour and beauty.

Conclusion:

Alice Notley's "Lana Turner at Versailles" is a tribute to the timeless beauty and glamour of Lana Turner, as well as to the grandeur and extravagance of Hollywood's Golden Age. Through rich and ornate language, the poem captures the essence of Turner's iconic status and the allure of the film industry, while also reflecting on the power of beauty and art to captivate and enchant us.

Poem Snippet:

"Lana Turner has collapsed!

I was trotting along and suddenly

it started raining and snowing

and you said it was hailing

but hailing hits you on the head

hard so it was really snowing and

raining and I was in such a hurry

to meet you but the traffic

was acting exactly like the sky

and suddenly I see a headline

LANA TURNER HAS COLLAPSED

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...