EkphrasisEkphrasis

What is it?What is it?A literary description of or commentary on A literary description of or commentary on

a visual work of art.a visual work of art.Usually found in poetry.Usually found in poetry.

Four typesFour typesActualActualNotionalNotionalUnassessable Actual Unassessable Actual EkphrasisEkphrasis

EmblemEmblem

ActualActual Is best defined when the literature Is best defined when the literature

describes or comments on "a particular, describes or comments on "a particular, identifiable work.”identifiable work.”

Emma Lazarus’s “The New Colossus.”Emma Lazarus’s “The New Colossus.”

NotionalNotional Is best defined when a piece of literature Is best defined when a piece of literature

draws its inspiration from art that, prior to draws its inspiration from art that, prior to the writing of the poem, did not exist. the writing of the poem, did not exist.

Homer’s Shield of Achilles from Homer’s Shield of Achilles from The IliadThe IliadJohn Keats’ “Ode on a Grecian Urn”John Keats’ “Ode on a Grecian Urn”

Shield of AchillesShield of Achilles

““And first Hephaestus makes a great and And first Hephaestus makes a great and massive shield, blazoning well-wrought massive shield, blazoning well-wrought emblems across its surface… and across emblems across its surface… and across its vast expanse with all his craft and its vast expanse with all his craft and cunning the god creates a world of cunning the god creates a world of gorgeous immortal work.”gorgeous immortal work.”

Unassessable Actual EkphrasisUnassessable Actual Ekphrasis

Is best defined when literature is written Is best defined when literature is written about a piece of art that was in existence about a piece of art that was in existence at one time, but now it is either "lost or at one time, but now it is either "lost or untraceable." untraceable."

Elizabeth Bishop’s “Poem”Elizabeth Bishop’s “Poem”

EmblemEmblem

a picture is "accompanied" by text that a picture is "accompanied" by text that serves to connect a motto, proverb, or serves to connect a motto, proverb, or something similar to itsomething similar to it

Gasden’s FlagGasden’s FlagLewis Carroll’s “The Mouse’s Tale”Lewis Carroll’s “The Mouse’s Tale”

Other EkphrasisOther Ekphrasis

MusicMusicProseProse

Ekphrasis in MusicEkphrasis in Music

Paul Simon’s Paul Simon’s Kodachrome Kodachrome

The Cure’s Picture of The Cure’s Picture of YouYou

Ekphrasis in ProseEkphrasis in Prose

The Scarlet Letter – EmblemThe Scarlet Letter – Emblem

"All around, there were monuments carved "All around, there were monuments carved with armorial bearings; and on this simple with armorial bearings; and on this simple slab of slate—as the curious investigator may slab of slate—as the curious investigator may still discern, and perplex himself with the still discern, and perplex himself with the purport—there appeared the semblance of an purport—there appeared the semblance of an engraved escutcheon. It bore a device, a engraved escutcheon. It bore a device, a herald’s wording of which might serve for a herald’s wording of which might serve for a motto and brief description of our now motto and brief description of our now concluded legend; so sombre is it, and concluded legend; so sombre is it, and relieved only by one ever-glowing point of relieved only by one ever-glowing point of light gloomier than the shadow: light gloomier than the shadow: 'On a field, 'On a field, sable, the letter A, gules'sable, the letter A, gules'..

Moby Dick – actual ekphrasisMoby Dick – actual ekphrasis ““It so chanced that the doubloon of the Pequod was a It so chanced that the doubloon of the Pequod was a

most wealthy example of these things. On its round most wealthy example of these things. On its round border it bore the letters, REPUBLICA DEL border it bore the letters, REPUBLICA DEL ECUADOR: QUITO. So this bright coin came from a ECUADOR: QUITO. So this bright coin came from a country planted in the middle of the world, and country planted in the middle of the world, and beneath the great equator, and named after it; and it beneath the great equator, and named after it; and it had been cast midway up the Andes, in the unwaning had been cast midway up the Andes, in the unwaning clime that knows no autumn. Zoned by those letters clime that knows no autumn. Zoned by those letters you saw the likeness of three Andes' summits; from you saw the likeness of three Andes' summits; from one a flame; a tower on another; on the third a crowing one a flame; a tower on another; on the third a crowing cock; while arching over all was a segment of the cock; while arching over all was a segment of the partitioned zodiac, the signs all marked with their usual partitioned zodiac, the signs all marked with their usual cabalistics, and the keystone sun entering the cabalistics, and the keystone sun entering the equinoctial point at Libra.”equinoctial point at Libra.”

A simple exercise in the creation of A simple exercise in the creation of ekphrastic poetryekphrastic poetry

Exercise – Longfellow’s “The Cross Exercise – Longfellow’s “The Cross of Snow”of Snow”

In the long, sleepless watches of the night,In the long, sleepless watches of the night,A gentle face--the face of one long dead--A gentle face--the face of one long dead--Looks at me from the wall, where round its head Looks at me from the wall, where round its head The night-lamp casts a halo of pale light.The night-lamp casts a halo of pale light.Here in this room she died, and soul more whiteHere in this room she died, and soul more whiteNever through martyrdom of fire was ledNever through martyrdom of fire was ledTo its repose; nor can in books be readTo its repose; nor can in books be readThe legend of a life more benedight.The legend of a life more benedight.There is a mountain in the distant WestThere is a mountain in the distant WestThat, sun-defying, in its deep ravinesThat, sun-defying, in its deep ravinesDisplays a cross of snow upon its side.Displays a cross of snow upon its side.Such is the cross I wear upon my breastSuch is the cross I wear upon my breastThese eighteen years, through all the changing scenesThese eighteen years, through all the changing scenesAnd seasons, changeless since the day she died. And seasons, changeless since the day she died.