Inspirational Quotes by Allen Tate (American Poet, Essayist)

Allen Tate (1899–1979,) born John Orley Allen Tate, was an American poet, essayist, and social commentator. He played a significant role in the Southern Literary Renaissance and held the prestigious position of poet laureate 1943–44. For 35 years, he was married to the novelist Caroline Gordon.

Born in Winchester, Kentucky, Tate became a poet during the 1920s and 1930s, renowned for his contemplative and often introspective style. His poetry skillfully blended modernist techniques with a deep sense of Southern identity and the influence of European literary traditions. Frequently, his works explored the yearning to counter disbelief with faith, leading him to convert to Catholicism in 1950. Some of his notable poetry collections include Mr. Pope and Other Poems (1928,) The Mediterranean and Other Poems (1936,) Winter Sea (1945,) and Collected Poems 1919–76 (1977.)

Tate played a pivotal role in shaping American literary discourse as a critic. He was a prominent figure associated with the Fugitive Movement, a collective of Southern poets and critics dedicated to reinvigorating Southern literature. Tate’s incisive analysis and unwavering defense of tradition against the excesses of modernism were evident in his critical essays, compiled in books such as Reactionary Essays on Poetry and Ideas (1936) and Essays of Four Decades (1968.)

In addition to his literary pursuits, Tate made notable contributions as an editor, overseeing esteemed literary journals such as The Fugitive (1922–25) and Sewanee Review (1944–45.) He also shared his expertise as a professor at various universities, including Princeton (1939–42) and Minnesota (1952–68.) Among his diverse writings are biographies of Stonewall Jackson and Jefferson Davis and critical works like On the Limits of Poetry (1948,) establishing him as a prominent advocate of New Criticism.

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