Title
Sleeping with the Dictionary (Volume 4) (New California Poetry),New
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Harryette Mullen's fifth poetry collection, Sleeping with the Dictionary, is the abecedarian offspring of her collaboration with two of the poet's most seductive writing partners, Roget's Thesaurus and The American Heritage Dictionary. In her mnage trois with these faithful companions, the poet is aware that while Roget seems obsessed with categories and hierarchies, the American Heritage, whatever its faults, was compiled with the assistance of a democratic usage panel that included black poets Langston Hughes and Arna Bontemps, as well as feminist author and editor Gloria Steinem. With its arbitrary yet determinant alphabetical arrangement, its gleeful pursuit of the ludic pleasure of word games (acrostic, anagram, homophone, parody, pun), as well as its reflections on the politics of language and dialect, Mullen's work is serious play. A number of the poems are inspired or influenced by a technique of the international literary avantgarde group Oulipo, a dictionary game called S+7 or N+7. This method of textual transformationwhich is used to compose nonsensical travesties reminiscent of Lewis Carroll's 'Jabberwocky'also creates a kind of automatic poetic discourse.Mullen's parodies reconceive the African American's relation to the English language and Anglophone writing, through textual reproduction, recombining the genetic structure of texts from the Shakespearean sonnet and the fairy tale to airline safety instructions and unsolicited mail. The poet admits to being 'licked all over by the English tongue,' and the title of this book may remind readers that an intimate partner who also gives language lessons is called, euphemistically, a 'pillow dictionary.'
⚠️ WARNING (California Proposition 65):
This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
For more information, please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
- Q: What is the theme of 'Sleeping with the Dictionary'? A: The theme revolves around the playful exploration of language, its categories, and hierarchies, as well as the political implications of language and dialect. It reflects on the relationship between African Americans and the English language through various poetic techniques.
- Q: Who is the author of 'Sleeping with the Dictionary'? A: The author is Harryette Mullen, recognized for her innovative approach to poetry and language.
- Q: How many pages does 'Sleeping with the Dictionary' have? A: The book contains 104 pages.
- Q: What type of binding does this book have? A: This edition of 'Sleeping with the Dictionary' is bound in paperback.
- Q: When was 'Sleeping with the Dictionary' published? A: The book was published on February 22, 2002.
- Q: What poetic techniques are used in the book? A: Mullen employs various poetic techniques, including acrostics, anagrams, homophones, and parodies, as well as the Oulipo technique S+7 or N+7 for textual transformation.
- Q: Is 'Sleeping with the Dictionary' suitable for all readers? A: While the book can be enjoyed by a wide range of readers, its playful use of language and experimental forms may appeal more to those interested in poetry and linguistic exploration.
- Q: What literary influences are present in Mullen's work? A: Mullen's work is influenced by a variety of literary traditions, including Shakespearean sonnets, fairy tales, and modern communication formats such as airline safety instructions.
- Q: What can readers expect in terms of content style? A: Readers can expect a mix of serious themes and playful language games, resulting in a unique poetic discourse that challenges conventional interpretations of language.
- Q: Does the book include any illustrations or images? A: The product details do not mention any illustrations or images; it primarily focuses on the text and poetic content.