Ted Hughes's Expressionism: the Encyclopaedic Range and Maverick Utterance of England's Greatest Twentieth Century Poet

Lead Research Organisation: University of Huddersfield
Department Name: School of Arts and Humanities

Abstract

Ted Hughes (1930-1998) is one of the most important English language poets of the twentieth century. He published over a hundred books, including collections of poetry, translations, plays, stories, libretti, collaborations with artists and experimental works. Within that range he adopted a variety of styles, modes and registers that have been variously identified as mythic, elegiac, narrative, autobiographical, confessional, devotional and formal. The range of content Hughes drew on, including myth, conflict, nature & landscape, religion, the occult, philosophy and autobiography), and themes he addressed (vitality/violence, ecology, male/female relationships, grief, guilt and bereavement and issues of meaning and purpose to name but a few) embody a similar catholicity.

The encyclopaedic diversity of Hughes's outputs has generated scholarly responses as varied as the work itself, but within that richness and plurality there is sometimes a sense that the essential Hughes is missing - what is it that is truly distinctive about Hughes's work, which marks him out as a major poet? Where does his main achievement lie? This research will answer that question by identifying Hughes's dominant mode as Expressionist and arguing that his best, most characteristic and most important work is written in the Expressionist mode. The research will present an understanding of Expressionism as a broad movement or tendency across the arts in which the artist is concerned to articulate the truth as he or she sees it under the influence of a strong, visionary subjectivity, rooted in an all important 'inner-life'. For the Expressionist artist, Naturalistic, Impressionistic or Realist representations of subject matter are inadequate, leading to the deployment of a range of techniques - hyperbole, distortion, symbolism, abstraction, typology - in the quest to express 'the truth'.

The identification of Hughes as an Expressionist poet will also allow a more precise identification of his secondary modes, giving a holistic overview of his achievement, and enabling a number of limiting interpretations or misconceptions about Hughes to be challenged. For example, although the research will take into account the importance of Hughes's relationship with his first wife Sylvia Plath and his subsequent partner Assia Wevill, and the traumatic impact of their suicides on his life and work, the research will eschew reductive biographical readings and use the identification of Expressionism as Hughes's dominant mode to critique the rather crude 'mythic'/'elegiac' binary ('mythic' = obscure, symbolic, arcane, 'bad'; 'elegiac' = personal, moving, accessible, 'good') that has recently begun to emerge in Hughes studies. The research will also catalyse new approaches to Hughes's animal and nature poetry, much of which (for example, 'Wind', 'Pike' and 'The Howling of Wolves') does not simply derive from the precise observations of an 'experienced countryman' as is often implied, but is characterised by the transformative and didactic subjectivity typical of Expressionism. The research will also challenge the common conception of Hughes as a parochial 'Little England' establishment figure, (obsequious poet laureate, tweedy fisherman and 'traditional' nature poet), demonstrating that he was a socially and culturally engaged, international artist of global stature.

Finally, the research will enable the development of pedagogical resources and related in-person and online seminars ('The Expressionist Poetry Workshop' (TEPW)), that will encourage poets in community, University and other contexts to write in the Expressionist mode, using Expressionistic techniques, challenging the current limiting dominance of the autobiographical mode and the 'relatable' first-person lyric. Associated with the workshop will be a national competition, with successful entries being published in an anthology: 'Visionary Subjectivity: Poems from the Expressionist Poetry Workshop'

Publications

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Title Writing the Apocalyptic Landscape: the Expressionist Poetry Workshop 
Description The 'Writing the Apocalyptic Landscape' creative writing (poetry) workshops comprised/comprises several elements: a five session 'in person' sequences of workshops; a five session online iteration of the workshops; freely downloadable workshop materials; a poetry competition; the publication of an anthology (in September, 2024); and a number of opportunities for successful entrants to read their work at launches and events (2024/25). 18 attended the in person workshops, 54 the online iteration and around 200 (estimate) have downloaded the pedagogical materials. The contract with Valley Press for anthology publication is signed and a timeline for editing and book production has been established. The novel element of 'Writing the Apocalyptic Landscape' is the way in which course materials engage participants (poets at all levels of ability, from published poets to complete beginners) with Expressionist, experimental and avant-garde models, encouraging them to go 'beyond the lyric' and attempt more ambitious work. Participants' work produced during the workshops, and submissions to the poetry competition to date show real impact, and many participants have said that the course took them out of their comfort zones and encouraged them to explore their subjectivities in a way not typical of contemporary poetry workshops. 
Type Of Art Creative Writing 
Year Produced 2023 
Impact An anthology will be published in September, 2024 and the course materials are now available for free download from the website. 
URL https://research.hud.ac.uk/institutes-centres/tedhughes/expressionism/creativewriting/
 
Description British Library: Symposium 
Organisation The British Library
Department Archives and Manuscripts
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution I organised, hosted a symposium, 'Ted Hughes's Expressionism: Visionary Subjectivity' in partnership with the BL's Helen Melody. I organised the conference - invited key speakers, led and managed the CfP process and organised the day. I also gave the keynote.
Collaborator Contribution The BL provided the expertise of Helen Melody, venue, advertising & marketing, technical & administrative support and a small display of archival items.
Impact Symposium, 15th September, 2023.
Start Year 2023
 
Description 'Ted Hughes's Expressionism: Visionary Subjectivity'; British Library Conference (free to the general public) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Around 90 members of the public attended the conference at the British Library. Around 20 accessed the recording of the event. Lively discussion punctuated the event after the panels and the whole event. The hitherto novel assertion that Ted Hughes is an Expressionist artist provoked much debate, and gained traction. Many attendees asked if there were plans for a publication including the conference papers, and some of the attendees subsequently attended the 'Writing the Apocalyptic Landscape' activities. I was particularly pleased that Ted Hughes's wife, Carol, attended and seemed very happy with proceedings.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://research.hud.ac.uk/institutes-centres/tedhughes/expressionism/symposium/
 
Description Writing the Apocalyptic Landscape: The Expressionist Poetry Workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The 'Writing the Apocalyptic Landscape' creative writing (poetry) workshops comprised/comprises several elements: a five session 'in person' sequences of workshops; a five session online iteration of the workshops; freely downloadable workshop materials; a poetry competition; the publication of an anthology (in September, 2024); and a number of opportunities for successful entrants to read their work at launches and events (2024/25). 18 attended the in person workshops, 54 the online iteration and around 200 (estimate) have downloaded the pedagogical materials. The contract with Valley Press for anthology publication is signed and a timeline for editing and book production has been established.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023,2024
URL https://research.hud.ac.uk/institutes-centres/tedhughes/expressionism/creativewriting/