30 likes | 222 Views
The Poetry of Li-Young Lee . m emory, language, family. Li-Young Lee. Born Aug 19, 1957 in Jakarta, Indonesia Maternal grandfather was China’s 1 st republican president Lee’s father was personal physician to Mao; exiled to Indonesia for anti-Communist views
E N D
The Poetry of Li-Young Lee memory, language, family
Li-Young Lee • Born Aug 19, 1957 in Jakarta, Indonesia • Maternal grandfather was China’s 1st republican president • Lee’s father was personal physician to Mao; exiled to Indonesia for anti-Communist views • 1958 – Lee’s father imprisoned in Indonesia for pro-Western views; family escapes to Hong Kong • 1964 – family immigrates for final time to U.S. • Lee’s father abandons medical practice to become Presbyterian minister • 1980s - began writing poetry while at U of Pittsburgh • 1986 – publication of Rose • Ethnic vs universal artist?
Poetic Images & Motifs • Image concrete description that evokes an abstract concept. Ex: a dark night and death • Motif reoccurring object, concept, structure that suggests the theme of a literary work. Ex: the blank book in Oscar Wao • What seems to be the most significant image in “The Gift”? What idea is conveyed by that image? Why? • What is the significance of the persimmon in the second poem? What are the different ways it reoccurs and why?