Stéphane Mallarmé (1842–98) was a French poet. He was an originator (with Paul Valéry) and a leader of the Symbolist movement in poetry. He made use of elaborate symbols and metaphors in his work and experimented with rhythm and syntax by transposing words and omitting grammatical elements.
Born in Paris, Mallarmé taught English in various schools in Paris and elsewhere and visited England on several occasions. He translated Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven as Le Corbeau (1875.)
Mallarmé was the master of the Symbolist writers in France. His poetic theories and difficult, allusive poems distinguished him from the public but won him intense admiration within the circle of his initiates. L’Après-midi d’un faune (1876, ‘A Faun’s Afternoon,’) which inspired the prelude by French composer Claude Debussy, and Hérodiade (1869) are two of his best-known poems.
Mallarmé’s Les Dieux antiques (1880, ‘The Ancient Gods,’) Poesies (1899,) and Vers et prose (1893) were admired by the ‘decadents.’ In the second half of the 20th century, he has been much admired by the Structuralists.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Stephane Mallarme
There is only beauty—and it has only one perfect expression—poetry. All the rest is a lie—except for those who live by the body, love, and, that love of the mind, friendship. For me, Poetry takes the place of love, because it is enamored of itself, and because its sensual delight falls back deliciously in my soul.
—Stephane Mallarme
Topics: Poets, Poetry
The poetic act consists of suddenly seeing that an idea splits up into a number of equal motifs and of grouping them; they rhyme.
—Stephane Mallarme
Topics: Poets, Poetry
Poetry is the language of a state of crisis.
—Stephane Mallarme
Topics: Crises
All thoughts emit a throw of dice
—Stephane Mallarme
Topics: Thoughts
Dreams have as much influence as actions
—Stephane Mallarme
Topics: Dreams
The pure work implies the disappearance of the poet as speaker, who hands over to the words.
—Stephane Mallarme
Topics: Literature, Books
Everything in the world exists to end up in a book.
—Stephane Mallarme
Topics: Reading, Books
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