Carl Sandburg: The Modernist Writer Modernist literature is a term applied to writings of the 20th century that was different and rejected of the 19th century styles. The Modernist writer such as Carl Sandburg, emphasized modernist characteristics by rejecting the distinction between high, low or popular culture, rejecting formal aesthetics to produce creative and spontaneity work, creating works where the reader did was not bound a fixed point of view or clear morals and impressionism and subjectivity was more present (Holman, 1972). The poem “Grass” by Carl Sandburg is very powerful but short and leaves much for the reader to ponder of how to interpret the subject as it both subjective yet sad. The theme of the poem suggests that grass is used to cover up the destruction of war and the deaths associated with it. That war after war is the same as he continues to name battles and it keeps repeating itself. In the beginning of the poem Carl writes “Pile the bodies high at Austerlitz and Waterloo” (poetryfoundation.org). These wars took place earlier in the 19th century and then later Carl goes onto mention Gettysburg, Ypres and Verdun. Which took place later in consecutive order, this symbolizes that history continues to repeat itself but man fails to recognize the death toll and bloodshed as the grass grows over all of it and then it is forgotten. He demonstrates this stating in two lines “Shovel them under and let me work” after naming each battle. That is the grass we cover all of this mess. What makes this even more subjective of modernist literature is he never discusses the purpose or necessity of the wars. Gettysburg during the Civil War was fought over slavery, although as one of the bloodiest wars in American history a national park was also established to remember this tragedy. Politics was not able to end slavery at that time in history and tragically war is another means of doing so, but where would slavery be today had this event not happened? “Two Years, ten years, and passengers ask the conductor: What place is this? Where are we now (poetryfoundation.org). In “Grass” Carl never touches upon this but the poem leaves one thinking how tragic and ignorant war is and will continue to do so as grass covers all up. This poem has no specifics regarding syllables of normal poems and mildly renders perhaps Carl’s personal mood without much else clearly stated. In Carl Sandburg’s “A Fence” several viewpoints can be taken which make it another modernistic piece whereas impressionism and symbolism are presented. Carl takes the reader through a new house being recently finished and now a new fence is being constructed. He writes “The palings are made of iron bars with steel points that can stab the life out of any man who falls on them” (London, 149). This fence is symbolized as very protective of what it is guarding. Should one attempt to go over the fence death is imminent. This fence will protect from “all vegabonds and hungry men and all wandering children look for a place to play” (London, 149). The fence presents an impression that emotionally people block out situations that are uncomfortable or unfavorable in life as such examples he stated. That it is easier to block them out as they do not exist then try to help. However man can’t block all problems out as he states toward the end of the poem, which gives a state of depression or ultimately death. “Passing through the bars and over the steel points will go nothing except Death and the Rain and To-morrow” London, 149). Given the time period that this was written, Carl’s view of government and previous writing of war such as “Grass” Carl could also symbolize that fence keeps both man in and out and our freedoms. The fence could represent slavery as men was kept from leaving the plantation and had little to look forward to and if escaped would result in death. This poem could also symobolize the Holocaust where Jewish people had to hide or be imprisoned or killed. Where a person is subject to punishment, death or their freedom is confined because of their views or way of life. The type of government a person lives in such democratic, dictatorship or communist. Should the citizen want to leave or not agree with how the ruler says he shall live, then is forced to live a certain way which lead to unhappiness or death in extreme or if tries to escape. The openness of his poems gives the reader the ability to reflect on a multitude of events or personal interpretation what the subject is. Carl Sandburg compared to 19th century writers that displayed an outline or third person point of view or moral that the reader could clearly understand is vastly different from Carl Sandburg’s writing style. He is displaying his personal mood but the reader is not just focused on the content but how to interpret the content he is conveying. His writing style also appeals to a vast audience because of his ability to let the reader contemplate over his work or view. It is not targeted for just the high culture or low culture, rich or poor, it is for all who appreciate modern writing style of subjective work.
Works Cited
Holman, Hugh. A Handbook to Literature (3rd edition). Indianapolis, IN: Bobbs-Merrill, 1972.
Sandburg, Carl. “Grass.” www.poetryfoundation.org. 2013 .
Sandburg, Carl. “A Fence.” American Literature Since the Civil War. Create edition. McGraw-Hill, 2011. 149. ebook.