46 Rita Dove
In This Chapter
Author Background
Rita Dove is an acclaimed American poet, writer, and educator. Rita Dove was born on August 28, 1952, in Akron, Ohio, United States. She grew up in a close-knit African American family and was encouraged to pursue her interests in literature and the arts from a young age. Dove attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where she studied English and graduated summa cum laude in 1973.
Writing Career
Dove published her first collection of poetry, The Yellow House on the Corner, in 1980; it received critical acclaim and established her as a prominent voice in contemporary poetry. She went on to publish numerous collections of poetry, including Thomas and Beulah (1986), which won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, and On the Bus with Rosa Parks (1999). In addition to poetry, Dove has also written plays, novels, essays, and edited anthologies.
Themes in Her Work
Dove’s poetry often explores themes of history, culture, identity, race, and personal experiences. Her writing is known for its lyrical quality, vivid imagery, and musicality, drawing inspiration from a range of literary traditions and poetic forms. Dove’s work frequently engages with social and political issues, and she is celebrated for her ability to merge the personal and the universal in her poetry.
Awards and Accolades
Rita Dove has received numerous awards and honors throughout her career, including the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, the National Humanities Medal, and the National Medal of Arts. She served as the United States Poet Laureate from 1993 to 1995, becoming the first African American and the youngest person to hold the position at the time. Dove has had a distinguished academic career, teaching at various institutions, including Arizona State University and the University of Virginia. She has also served as a visiting writer and lecturer at universities and institutions around the world, sharing her expertise and passion for poetry with aspiring writers and students.
Legacy
Rita Dove’s work has had a significant impact on contemporary American literature, with her poetry exploring themes of history, race, and identity in a rich and accessible manner. She has been an influential figure in promoting diversity and inclusivity in the literary world and advocating for the importance of poetry as a means of expression and understanding.
Answer the following true or false questions to test your knowledge of Rita Dove’s life and career.
Follow the links below to read poetry selections from Rita Dove and then use the discussion questions provided to dig deeper into each poem, exploring their literary techniques, historical context, and their relevance to wider discussions about themes of culture, identity and race.
“Persephone, Falling”
“Persephone Falling” by Rita Dove is a thought-provoking poem that reimagines the myth of Persephone and explores themes of identity, choice, and transformation.
https://poets.org/poem/persephone-falling
- Explore the mythological references in the poem. How does Rita Dove draw on the story of Persephone and her abduction by Hades? What elements of the myth does she emphasize or reinterpret in her poem?
- Discuss the theme of transformation in the poem. How does Dove depict Persephone’s transformation from a young girl picking flowers to the queen of the underworld? What insights does the poem offer about the nature of change and its impact on identity?
- Reflect on the use of imagery and sensory details in the poem. How does Dove’s language and descriptions evoke a vivid and tangible experience? How do these images contribute to the overall mood and atmosphere of the poem?
- Analyze the poetic devices employed in the poem. How does Dove’s use of metaphors, similes, and other literary devices enhance the meaning and impact of the poem? How does the poem’s structure and rhythm contribute to its emotional resonance?
- Discuss the themes of power, agency, and choice in the poem. How does Dove explore the dynamics between Persephone and Hades? What insights does the poem offer about power dynamics in relationships and the concept of personal autonomy?
- Reflect on the poem’s exploration of female identity and empowerment. How does Dove present Persephone as a complex and multidimensional character? What messages or lessons can be drawn from Persephone’s journey and her eventual embrace of her role as queen of the underworld?
“Girls on the Town, 1946”
“Girls on the Town, 1946” by Rita Dove is a poem that explores the experiences and emotions of women during a night out.
https://poets.org/poem/girls-town-1946
- Explore the theme of liberation and freedom in the poem. How does Rita Dove depict the sense of freedom and independence experienced by the girls in the poem? What elements of the post-World War II era are reflected in their behavior and attitudes?
- Discuss the significance of the setting and time period in the poem. How does the poem capture the atmosphere and social dynamics of the year 1946? What insights does it offer about the experiences of women during that time?
- Reflect on the use of imagery and descriptive language in the poem. How does Dove’s language and sensory details bring the scene to life? What do the images of dancing, music, and laughter contribute to the overall mood and tone of the poem?
- Analyze the role of friendship and camaraderie in the poem. How does Dove explore the bond between the girls in the poem? What insights does the poem offer about the power of female friendships and the support they provide?
- Discuss the poem’s exploration of identity and self-expression. How do the girls in the poem assert their individuality and independence? How does the poem challenge societal expectations and stereotypes placed on women?
- Reflect on the ending of the poem and its implications. What does the final line, “then home they’d go, decorously alone,” suggest about the limitations and societal pressures faced by the girls? What broader messages or reflections does the poem offer about gender roles and societal norms?
“Incantation of the First Order”
Incantation of the First Order” by Rita Dove is a poem that delves into themes of transformation and change.
https://poets.org/poem/incantation-first-order
- Explore the theme of identity in the poem. How does Rita Dove depict the journey of self-discovery and the search for identity? What insights does the poem offer about the complexity and fluidity of personal identity?
- Discuss the significance of language and communication in the poem. How does Dove play with language and wordplay to convey meaning? What do the repeated phrases and incantatory style contribute to the overall effect of the poem?
- Reflect on the use of imagery and sensory details in the poem. How does Dove’s vivid and evocative language create a sensory experience for the reader? What do the images and descriptions in the poem reveal about the speaker’s inner thoughts and emotions?
- Analyze the poem’s structure and form. How does the organization of the poem contribute to its meaning and impact? How does the repetition of certain phrases or lines enhance the overall rhythm and musicality of the poem?
- Discuss the idea of transformation and empowerment in the poem. How does the speaker’s journey of self-discovery and embracing their own power unfold? What does the poem suggest about the importance of self-acceptance and self-empowerment?
- Consider the relationship between the individual and the collective in the poem. How does Dove explore the connection between personal identity and larger social and cultural contexts? What insights does the poem offer about the role of community and heritage in shaping one’s sense of self?
Sources
Dove, Rita. “Persephone, Falling.” Mother Love. W.W. Norton, 1995, https://poets.org/poem/persephone-falling
Dove, Rita. “Girls on the Town, 1946.” American Poets. Spring/Summer 2020, https://poets.org/poem/girls-town-1946
Dove, Rita. “Incantation of the First Order.” Poem-a-Day. Academy of American Poets, 18 Oct. 2021, https://poets.org/poem/incantation-first-order
Evans, Mari. Rita Dove: A Biography. University Press of Mississippi, 2019.
“Rita Dove.” Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/rita-dove.
“Rita Dove.” Academy of American Poets, www.poets.org/poet/rita-dove.
Tate, Claudia, ed. Rita Dove: The Poet and Her Work. University of Michigan Press, 2016.
Imagery is visual symbolism, or figurative language that evokes a mental image or other kinds of sense impressions.
An eminent poet traditionally appointed for life as a member of the British royal household. More broadly, the position has evolved to include a poet appointed to, or regarded unofficially as holding, an honorary representative position in a particular country, region, or group.
A myth is a traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events.
A theme is a central topic, subject, or message within a narrative.
In literature, mood is the atmosphere of the narrative. Mood is created by means of setting, attitude, and descriptions.
A metaphor is a figure of speech that, for rhetorical effect, directly refers to one thing by mentioning another. It may provide clarity or identify hidden similarities between two different ideas. Metaphors are usually meant to create a likeness or an analogy.
A simile is a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid (e.g., as brave as a lion, crazy like a fox ).
Rhythm can be described as the beat and pace of a poem. The rhythmic beat is created by the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line or verse.
Tone is the attitude that a character or narrator or author takes towards a given subject.
