Representation of Feelings in Two Books: The Anatolikon/To the City by John Ash

English (OpenAlex)

This study examines the representation of emotions in the poetry of John Ash with a focus on his collection entitled Two Books: The Anatolikon/To the City (2002). Through an in-depth analysis of selected poems, the study explores Ash’s encounters with ancient Greek cities, the impact of migration, and the use of metafiction. The study also considers Ash’s portrayal of historical events and the attribution of emotions to ancient cities and highlights his role as a semihistorian. Furthermore, it examines the relationship between emotions and thoughts and traces its origins to the emergence of Romanticism and the shift in the literature from strict rationality to the reliance on emotions. Within these compositions, his personas manage the preservation and history of ancient cities that pose historical significance in the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires and Armenia in poetry. Intentionally obfuscating the differentiation between reality and history, Ash invites readers to navigate the dynamic interplay between the plain present and the echoes of an ancient era. Positioned within the history of British poetry, Ash is recognized as a contemporary postmodern poet. A dualistic approach characterizes his poetic works in which one facet is marked by the emotive expressions of his speakers, particularly regarding the antiquated urban landscapes they visit. His philosophical musings on poetics, history, and poetry mark the other facet of his poetry. This study aims to examine Ash’s postmodern inclinations in light of his utilization of emotions and ideas in the poems of Two Books: The Anatolikon/To the City.