Poets are artists and therefore very creative people. But their artistic faculty does not - in most cases - conjure out of nothing. Poets are influenced by many different things. Almost all lyricists name some other members of their art who directly or indirectly made an impact on their very own work - who they used as a kind of an idol or who even aroused their interest in poetry. Robert Hayden is no exception. He admits to be influenced by poets such as Keats , Byron, Carl Sandburg, Countee Cullen and more.
Naturally poets are also influenced by their surroundings, namely nature, landscape, history and of course by people, especially by friends and family members. For Hayden, and probably almost all other poets, poems serve as a means of coming to terms with particular situations. Robert Hayden’s upraising was not exactly typical; his parents separated soon after his birth and he was brought up by poor foster-parents. He states that the “greatest discouragement” were the circumstances he lived in: His family neither had money nor education; at the age of forty he had to find out that his foster-parents had never formally adopted him and the worst thing were the “conflicts, the quarrelling, the tensions that kept us most of the time on the edge of some shrill domestic calamity.” (Both McCluskey 138)
This term paper aims at illustrating how Robert Hayden – in his poems - coped with his family background and his position between the people who loved him and who struggled about being loved most in turn. To fully understand the emotions of Robert Hayden and his attitude towards his foster-parents and his mother I will – in the first chapter - provide a depiction of his youth and his relationship between him and his natural parents and foster parents.
I chose to concentrate on three poems; two from the collection A Ballad of Remembrance because they emerged at a point in Hayden’s life where he felt he needed to recall to his past and besides these poems illustrate a portrayal of his foster parents. In the second chapter I will present a description of his foster mother and father on the basis of information taken from these two poems.
The third chapter will, on the basis of the third poem ‘Names’, illustrate Robert Hayden’s identical crisis which emerged from his discovery that he had not been adopted legally.
Finally I will evaluate the information gained from chapters one to three and present a summary of how Robert Hayden coped with his greatest discouragement.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Robert Hayden and his Family
- Poems and Portrayals
- Portrayal of Mr. William Hayden
- Portrayal of Mrs. Sue Hayden
- The question of identity
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to illustrate how Robert Hayden grappled with his family background and his complex relationships with his foster parents and biological mother. It analyzes how his experiences shaped his poetry and his sense of identity.
- Robert Hayden's difficult childhood and family relationships
- The portrayal of Hayden's foster parents in his poetry
- Hayden's exploration of identity and belonging
- The influence of Hayden's family on his poetic development
- The use of poetry as a means of coping with difficult experiences
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introduction sets the stage for the analysis of Robert Hayden's life and work, emphasizing the influence of his family and personal experiences on his poetry. It introduces the central question of how Hayden dealt with his challenging upbringing and the impact this had on his creative output. The paper focuses on three poems from "A Ballad of Remembrance" to illustrate Hayden's coping mechanisms.
Robert Hayden and his Family: This chapter details Hayden's early life, his parents' separation, and his upbringing by his foster parents, William and Sue Ellen Hayden. It describes the family's socio-economic circumstances, their home environment, and Hayden's early experiences with poverty, social isolation (due to his myopia), and the religious environment he grew up in. The chapter highlights the tension between his intellectual pursuits and his foster father's expectations, suggesting an early struggle for identity and acceptance.
Poems and Portrayals: This chapter analyzes two poems from "A Ballad of Remembrance" to explore Hayden's portrayal of his foster parents, William and Sue Ellen. It examines how these poems reveal the complexities of his relationship with them, showcasing a mixture of love, resentment, gratitude, and a recognition of their limitations. The analysis considers how Hayden uses poetic techniques to convey his emotional landscape and explores the impact of their strict religious upbringing on him. It delves into how these portrayals reflect his struggles with identity and belonging.
The question of identity: This chapter focuses on the poem "Names" to examine Robert Hayden's identity crisis stemming from the revelation that he had not been legally adopted. The analysis will explore how this late discovery impacted his sense of self and his relationship with his past. It will delve into how the poem reflects his feelings of displacement and the ongoing search for his place in the world. The chapter further elaborates on how this revelation connects to the overall themes of identity and belonging explored earlier.
Keywords
Robert Hayden, family relationships, poetry, identity, belonging, foster parents, childhood, "A Ballad of Remembrance," coping mechanisms, identity crisis, socio-economic background, religious upbringing.
Robert Hayden's Family and Identity: A Poetic Exploration - FAQ
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes how Robert Hayden's family background and complex relationships with his foster parents and biological mother shaped his poetry and sense of identity. It examines how he grappled with his challenging upbringing and used poetry as a coping mechanism.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include Robert Hayden's difficult childhood, his portrayal of his foster parents in his poetry, his exploration of identity and belonging, the influence of his family on his poetic development, and the use of poetry as a means of coping with difficult experiences.
Which poems are analyzed in the paper?
The paper primarily focuses on poems from Robert Hayden's "A Ballad of Remembrance," specifically examining the portrayals of his foster parents, William and Sue Ellen Hayden. It also analyzes the poem "Names" to explore Hayden's identity crisis.
What aspects of Robert Hayden's family life are discussed?
The paper details Hayden's early life, his parents' separation, his upbringing by his foster parents, the family's socio-economic circumstances, their home environment, and Hayden's experiences with poverty, social isolation, and a strict religious upbringing. It also addresses the tension between his intellectual pursuits and his foster father's expectations.
How does the paper analyze Hayden's portrayal of his foster parents?
The analysis explores the complexities of Hayden's relationship with his foster parents, revealing a mixture of love, resentment, gratitude, and a recognition of their limitations. It examines how poetic techniques are used to convey his emotional landscape and the impact of their religious upbringing on him.
What is the significance of the poem "Names"?
The poem "Names" is crucial in exploring Robert Hayden's identity crisis stemming from the late discovery that he had not been legally adopted. The analysis examines how this impacted his sense of self and his relationship with his past, focusing on his feelings of displacement and his search for belonging.
What is the overall conclusion of the paper?
The paper concludes by illustrating how Robert Hayden’s complex family dynamics profoundly influenced his poetic work and his ongoing struggle to define his identity and sense of belonging. It highlights the use of poetry as a powerful tool for processing difficult experiences and expressing complex emotions.
What are the key words associated with this paper?
Key words include: Robert Hayden, family relationships, poetry, identity, belonging, foster parents, childhood, "A Ballad of Remembrance," coping mechanisms, identity crisis, socio-economic background, religious upbringing.
What is included in the provided preview?
The preview offers a comprehensive overview including the title, table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What is the intended audience for this academic paper?
This paper is intended for academic use, facilitating the structured and professional analysis of themes related to Robert Hayden's life and work.
- Quote paper
- Wiebke Formann (Author), 2006, Family portrayals in "A Ballad Of Remembrance" - How Robert Hayden dealt with his "Greatest Discouragement", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/78338
