During the Day, Professor Kendall Will Talk About Poetry in Both the First and the Second

Programme

During the day, Professor Kendall will talk about poetry in both the First and the Second World Wars.

His academic input will be interspersed with some meditative reflection as well as time and space for personal contemplation.

The day will be further enhanced bya musical interlude containing evocative pieces current at the time.

Tea/coffee/water and biscuits will be provided but please bring a packed lunch.

Weather permitting, participants may enjoy being at Corpus Christi which contains ancient and beautiful buildings and has an unrivalled position, overlooking gardens and meadows and is only 5 minutes’ walk from the centre of Oxford.

Some handouts on the texts to be discussed will be provided but participants are welcome to bring their own texts. A suggested reading list will be sent before the day.

Event Facilitators:

Professor Tim Kendall’s principal area of research is twentieth centurypoetry. Recent publications and broadcasts include Poetry of the First World War: An Anthology (OUP,October 2013) and a 1-hour arts documentary,IvorGurney: The Poet who Loved the WarBBC,2014;

With Philip Lancaster, he is editing Gurney's complete literary works in three volumes for OUP, the 6th edition of the Norton Anthology of Poetrywith Mary Jo Salter and Margaret Ferguson, for publication in 2017; and also for OUP, Poetry of the Second World War. His current monograph project is a study of William Golding.

The Revd Georgie Simpsonis an experienced spiritual director, leads quiet retreat days and organises talks on various spiritual traditions. She tries to connect literature, poetry, art and music with spirituality. Her overall aim is to promote spiritual growth and encourage people to deepen their faith and have a more profound sense of meaning and purpose in their lives.

Booking Form

Poetry of the World Wars:

‘We will remember them’

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Revd Georgie Simpson

St Michael at the North Gate

Cornmarket, Oxford OX1 3EY

07803 031 977

What is OCSG?

The Oxford Centre for Spiritual Growth, based at the Church of St Michael at the North Gate, exists to encourage people to explore the deeper meaning of life and the spiritual aspect of what it is to be human.

We aim to offer a variety of approaches and events, involving reflective practice and increasing awareness of self, others and reality.

For further details:

Tel: 07803 031 977

email:

This day at Corpus Christi College has been enabled by courtesy of Professor Valentine Cunningham, Emeritus Fellow of English Language and Literature at the College

If you are interested in attending, please complete the booking form, either on paper or online. We will gladly keep you informed about other events offered by OCSG if you wish – please let us know.

MCMXIV

Never such innocence,

Never before or since,

As changed itself to past

Without a word – the men

Leaving the gardens tidy,

The thousands of marriages

Lasting a little while longer:

Never such innocence again.

(Philip Larkin 1964)

The Soldier

If I should die, think only this of me:

That there’s some corner of a foreign field

That is for ever England.

(Rupert Brooke 1914)

Christ and the Soldier

“Lord Jesus, ain’t you got no more to say?!

Bowed hung that head below

the crown of thorns.

The soldier shifted, and picked up his pack,

And slung his gun, and stumbled on his way.

(Siegfried Sassoon 1916)

Dulce Et Decorum Est

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks

Knock-kneed, coughing like hags,

we cursed through sludge,

Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs

And towards our distant rest began to trudge.

(Wilfrid Owen 1917-18)

Goodbye

Yet when all’s done you’ll keep the emerald

I placed upon your finger in the street;

And I will keep the patches that you sewed

On my old battledress tonight, my sweet.

(Alun Lewis 1945)

OCSG presents

Poetry of the World Wars:

We will remember them

A reflective study day

on Armistice Day 2017

led by Tim Kendall

Professor of English Literature at Exeter University

Saturday, 11th November 2017

10 am – 4 pm

Corpus Christi College, Oxford

£35 including refreshments

(Concessions may be available)

Quoting Wordsworth, the late Jon Stallworthy underlined the emotive power of poems about war, embracing the whole of human experience: ‘the spontaneous overflow of powerful feeling - hope and fear; exhilaration and humiliation; hatred – not only for the enemy, but also for generals, politicians, and war-profiteers; love – for fellow soldiers, for women and children left behind, for country (often) and cause (occasionally).’