Mark Strand, poet, essayist, and art critic. Born in Prince Edward Island, Canada in 1934, he grew up and was educated mainly in the United States and South America. When he was young, he studied literature and art in many universities (he studied painting at Yale University and received a bachelor's degree in fine arts). After completing his master's degree in literature at the University of Iowa, he has lectured at many universities in the United States and Brazil to this day.
He is the author of 10 books of poetry, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning "A Man's Snowstorm" (1998), "Dark Harbor" (1993), and "The Endless Life" (1990). ), "Selected Poems" (1980), "Stories of Our Lives" (1973), and "Reasons for Moving" (1968), etc. He has also published two collections of essays, several translations, several treatises on contemporary art, and three books for children. In addition, he also edited and selected several volumes of poetry and essays. Since the critical acclaim of "Reasons to Move," Strand has won numerous awards for his writing, and in 1990 he was elected the second U.S. Poet Laureate.
Although he also devoted himself to novel creation, he is mainly known for his poetry. There are many poets who have influenced Strand's poetry, including Wallace Stevenson, Borges, etc. His poems are calm and clear, yet lack depth and penetrating power of language. Many of his works are full of surreal characteristics. On the one hand, he is committed to imitating dreams, and on the other hand, he is keen to introduce daily scenes. Like a prism placed between reality and reality, his poetry is both transparent and complex.
"The Paradox of the Self: On Double Consciousness in the Poetry of Mark Strand"
Summary: The paper analyzes the self in the poetry of the American poet Mark Strand The double consciousness and self-alienation explore the poet's concern for the living conditions of modern people. Strand belongs to American neo-surrealism and is deeply influenced by Latin American poetry and novels. His poems are good at exploring the subconscious realm, with a dreamy color and distinctive characteristics.
Keywords: Self-alienation, Surreal Double Consciousness Paradox
Mark Strand was born in Prince Edward Island, Canada in 1934. He studied at Antioch College and received the He received a Bachelor of Arts degree, studied fine arts at Yale University, and received a Master of Arts degree from the University of Iowa in 1962. He spent a year as a Fulbright scholar in Italy and later taught at the University of Iowa for three years. In 1965, he spent a year as a Fulbright lecturer at a Brazilian university, where he conducted research and was deeply influenced by contemporary Latin American poets. Strand moved frequently and taught at several American universities, including Columbia, Preston, Harvard, and the University of Utah, and is now a professor at the University of Chicago. He published poetry collections "Sleeping with One Eye Open" (1964), "Reason for Moving" (1968), "Darker" (1970), "The Story of Our Life" (1973), and "The Belated Moment" (1978), "Selected Poems" (1980), "Continuing Life" (1990), "Dark Port" (1993), "A Snowstorm" (1998, this book won the Pulitzer Prize in 1999) and other ten books . He has edited and selected several volumes including "The Best American Poems 1991". Translations include the collection of poems "Traveling in the Family" by Brazilian poet Carlos Drummond de Andrade and "The Insomnia of the Owl" by Spanish poet Rafael Alviti. Wrote three monographs on painting, "Real Art", "William Bailey" and "Hopper". He also published the novel "Mr. and Mrs. Baby" (1985) and three volumes of children's books. In 1990, Strand was elected Poet Laureate of the United States. In 2004, he won the Wallace Stevens Award from the Academy of American Poets, with a prize of US$100,000.