With his unique sense of humor and a hint of an Irish accent, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon led a discussion on the role of poetry in history and politics before a small group of students and professors from the Triangle area Thursday afternoon. The discussion took place in the Department of English, which sponsored the event.
Muldoon spoke about the importance of political discourse in daily life and how poetry absorbs politics. He claimed that politics “will inevitably be represented in every art form.”
The conversation continued into a discussion about art in American history and popular culture. When asked how the lack of history in America was affecting the culture, Muldoon refuted the question’s premise. “I really don’t think this country has a lack of history,” he said. “American literary tradition is extraordinary and we can be very proud of it.”
At several points during the hour-long conversation, Muldoon noted that art invents history in many ways. “I happen to believe that art must make something happen,” Muldoon said. “All art is about the dismantling of ideas.”
In response to a question, Muldoon said he never established the audience he was writing for. “The first person one tries to make sense with [as a writer] is oneself,” he said. “I write primarily for myself. I hope others will read them.”
Many of Muldoon’s poems stem from his reflections on his childhood. Having grown up in a time when political uproars were common in Ireland, Muldoon voiced his reactions to these events in his poetry.
Muldoon said the political strife in Ireland affected him more as a person than as a writer. “We were simply trying to make sense of ourselves as citizens,” Muldoon said. “That was something we were forced to do.”
Born in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, in 1951, Muldoon was educated at Queen’s University in Belfast. After working for BBC as a radio and television producer, Muldoon came to the United States in 1987. Since then, he has worked as a professor in the humanities at Princeton University and is now also a professor of poetry at the University of Oxford. In 2002, Muldoon published his latest collection of poetry, Moy Sand and Gravel, for which he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in poetry the following year.
Muldoon made several references to poets from both Irish and American cultures in sharing his ideas about trends of cultural changes seen in contemporary poetry.
“One of the most interesting things about Muldoon is this duality,” Eloise Gilster, Woman’s College ’66, said. “He is Irish and has spent time in the states. He knows both cultures and writes of them very well.”
Muldoon expressed a lot of pride in both cultures. “I love this country,” Muldoon said. “Everyone in this country, no matter what the hyphenation may be, can say ‘I am an American.’” He also praised the American-English language, calling it a “vital version of English.”
Despite the gravity of the topics discussed during the talk, Muldoon was able to keep the atmosphere cozy and light-hearted. “I think he’s a lot of fun,” said Peter Compitello, a student at North Carolina State University. “I’m glad he was able to lead the discussion here today.”
Muldoon concluded his visit to Duke Thursday night with a reading in the Rare Book Room of Perkins Library.
“It’s wonderful to have such an erudite and articulate poet who can speak of his work with such clarity and eloquence,” Associate Professor of English Michael Moses said.
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