R.S. Thomas: Conceding an Absence Images of God Explored - Hardcover

Shepherd, E.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0312160984 ISBN 13: 9780312160982

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan, 1996

Synopsis

R.S. Thomas's presentation of God has given rise to controversy and dissent. Exploring Thomas's techniques of creating his images of God, Elaine Shepherd addresses the problems surrounding the language of religion and of religious poetry. Refusing to limit herself to conventionally religious poems, and drawing on material from the earliest work to Counterpoint and beyond, she identifies the challenges with which Thomas confronts his readers. The sequence of close readings engages the reader in an exploration of language and image: from the image of woman as constructed by the Impressionist to the non-image of the mystical theologian.

About this title

About the Author

ELAINE SHEPHERD

From the Back Cover

R. S. Thomas's presentation of God has given rise to controversy and dissent. In exploring Thomas's techniques of creating his image of God, Elaine Shepherd addresses the problems surrounding the language of religion and of religious poetry. After a consideration of the possibilities of both the positive and negative ways of imaging God and the problematics of religious poetry as a genre, a sequence of close readings engages the reader in an exploration of language and image. Each chapter focuses on a significant image, examining its construction and its potential to stand as an image for God, from the image of woman as constructed by the Impressionists to the non-image of the mystical theologian.

Edition details

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Publication date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0312160984
• ISBN 13: 9780312160982
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 229