Ekphrasis

What is it? A literary description of or commentary on a visual work of art. A literary description of or commentary on a visual work of art. Usually found in poetry. Usually found in poetry.

Four types Actual Actual Notional Notional Unassessable Actual Ekphrasis Unassessable Actual Ekphrasis Emblem Emblem

Actual Is best defined when the literature describes or comments on "a particular, identifiable work.” Is best defined when the literature describes or comments on "a particular, identifiable work.” Emma Lazarus’s “The New Colossus.” Emma Lazarus’s “The New Colossus.”

Notional Is best defined when a piece of literature draws its inspiration from art that, prior to the writing of the poem, did not exist. Is best defined when a piece of literature draws its inspiration from art that, prior to the writing of the poem, did not exist. Homer’s Shield of Achilles from The Iliad Homer’s Shield of Achilles from The Iliad John Keats’ “Ode on a Grecian Urn” John Keats’ “Ode on a Grecian Urn”

Shield of Achilles “And first Hephaestus makes a great and massive shield, blazoning well-wrought emblems across its surface… and across its vast expanse with all his craft and cunning the god creates a world of gorgeous immortal work.” “And first Hephaestus makes a great and massive shield, blazoning well-wrought emblems across its surface… and across its vast expanse with all his craft and cunning the god creates a world of gorgeous immortal work.”

Unassessable Actual Ekphrasis Is best defined when literature is written about a piece of art that was in existence at one time, but now it is either "lost or untraceable." Is best defined when literature is written about a piece of art that was in existence at one time, but now it is either "lost or untraceable." Elizabeth Bishop’s “Poem” Elizabeth Bishop’s “Poem”

Emblem a picture is "accompanied" by text that serves to connect a motto, proverb, or something similar to it a picture is "accompanied" by text that serves to connect a motto, proverb, or something similar to it Gasden’s Flag Gasden’s Flag Lewis Carroll’s “The Mouse’s Tale” Lewis Carroll’s “The Mouse’s Tale”

Other Ekphrasis Music Music Prose Prose

Ekphrasis in Music Paul Simon’s Kodachrome Paul Simon’s Kodachrome The Cure’s Picture of You The Cure’s Picture of You

Ekphrasis in Prose

The Scarlet Letter – Emblem "All around, there were monuments carved with armorial bearings; and on this simple slab of slate—as the curious investigator may still discern, and perplex himself with the purport—there appeared the semblance of an engraved escutcheon. It bore a device, a herald’s wording of which might serve for a motto and brief description of our now concluded legend; so sombre is it, and relieved only by one ever-glowing point of light gloomier than the shadow: 'On a field, sable, the letter A, gules'. "All around, there were monuments carved with armorial bearings; and on this simple slab of slate—as the curious investigator may still discern, and perplex himself with the purport—there appeared the semblance of an engraved escutcheon. It bore a device, a herald’s wording of which might serve for a motto and brief description of our now concluded legend; so sombre is it, and relieved only by one ever-glowing point of light gloomier than the shadow: 'On a field, sable, the letter A, gules'.

Moby Dick – actual ekphrasis “It so chanced that the doubloon of the Pequod was a most wealthy example of these things. On its round border it bore the letters, REPUBLICA DEL ECUADOR: QUITO. So this bright coin came from a country planted in the middle of the world, and beneath the great equator, and named after it; and it had been cast midway up the Andes, in the unwaning clime that knows no autumn. Zoned by those letters you saw the likeness of three Andes' summits; from one a flame; a tower on another; on the third a crowing cock; while arching over all was a segment of the partitioned zodiac, the signs all marked with their usual cabalistics, and the keystone sun entering the equinoctial point at Libra.” “It so chanced that the doubloon of the Pequod was a most wealthy example of these things. On its round border it bore the letters, REPUBLICA DEL ECUADOR: QUITO. So this bright coin came from a country planted in the middle of the world, and beneath the great equator, and named after it; and it had been cast midway up the Andes, in the unwaning clime that knows no autumn. Zoned by those letters you saw the likeness of three Andes' summits; from one a flame; a tower on another; on the third a crowing cock; while arching over all was a segment of the partitioned zodiac, the signs all marked with their usual cabalistics, and the keystone sun entering the equinoctial point at Libra.”

A simple exercise in the creation of ekphrastic poetry

Exercise – Longfellow’s “The Cross of Snow” In the long, sleepless watches of the night, A gentle face--the face of one long dead-- Looks at me from the wall, where round its head The night-lamp casts a halo of pale light. Here in this room she died, and soul more white Never through martyrdom of fire was led To its repose; nor can in books be read The legend of a life more benedight. There is a mountain in the distant West That, sun-defying, in its deep ravines Displays a cross of snow upon its side. Such is the cross I wear upon my breast These eighteen years, through all the changing scenes And seasons, changeless since the day she died. In the long, sleepless watches of the night, A gentle face--the face of one long dead-- Looks at me from the wall, where round its head The night-lamp casts a halo of pale light. Here in this room she died, and soul more white Never through martyrdom of fire was led To its repose; nor can in books be read The legend of a life more benedight. There is a mountain in the distant West That, sun-defying, in its deep ravines Displays a cross of snow upon its side. Such is the cross I wear upon my breast These eighteen years, through all the changing scenes And seasons, changeless since the day she died.