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A classic poem – indeed, probably the classic poem – of the ‘Beat Generation’, active in the 1950s. The poem, which Ginsberg wrote in August 1955, came to summarise, and epitomise, the mood of post-war America and the feelings of countless members of the young generations growing up in that decade.
The collection that follows offers a sampling of work by poets associated with the Beat generation, including Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, Michael McClure, and Diane Di Prima, along with essays, audio recordings, and discussions about their work and suggestions for further reading.
- Definition and Explanation of Beat Generation
- Origin of The Name “Beat Generation”
- Beat Generation Characteristics
- Examples of Writing from The Beat Generation
- Importance of The Beat Generation
- Related Literary Terms
- Other Resources
The Beat Generation was a movement that was focused on rethinking the way that writers regarded contemporary culture, the past, and the future. The writing the came out of the Beat Generation explored, more freely than ever, the human condition. This meant writing openly about sex, love, and in addition to darker topics. The most important writers ...
The name “Beat Generation” was introduced by Jack Kerouac, one of the original founders of the group. He used it as a way to allude to the perceptions of the group as underground and anti-conformist. The word “beat”, Kerouac said, was actually first used by Herbert Huncke and Kerouac appropriated it to mean “upbeat.” The group also liked the associ...
Sexual liberation and exploration.Portraying the human condition clearly.Experimentation with psychedelic drugs.Rejection of materialism‘Howl’ by Allen Ginsberg
‘Howl’ is without a doubt Ginsberg’s best-known poem. It’s also known as ‘Howl for Carl Solomon,’ and was published in 1956 in Howl and Other Poems. The poem is separated into three parts and a footnote. The first part is the most commonly read. It was described as Ginsberg as “a lament for the Lamb in American with instances of remarkable lamb-like youths.” Ginsberg wanted the poem to express the pent-up frustrations of his generation and the artistic possibilities.Here are a few lines from...
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
On the Road is considered to be one of the great American novels. It was published in 1957 and is based on the writer’s travel with his friends across the United States. The novelis a defining work of the Beat Generation and has been ranked as one of the most important books of the 20th century. Here are two lines from the novel that help define it:
Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs
Naked Lunch is a 1959 novel written by William S. Burroughs, one of the leading members of the Beat Generation. It is made out of vignettesand can be read in any order. The vignettes/chapters are taken from Burroughs’ personal experience. In the novel, readers will encounter passages about drug addiction, including heroin, morphine, and more. It has been included in several lists of the best novels of the 21st century. Here are a few lines from the book:
The Beat Generation is one of the defining movements of American poetry and one of the most important parts of the broader modernist movement. Its influence can be seen in the hippie movement of the following decades and the development of music, film, and visual arts. The Beat Generation is often cited as influential in the demystification of drug...
Novel: a long, written, fictional narrative that includes some amount of realism.Imagism: a literary movement of the early 20th century. The proponents were interested in the use of precise imageryand clear language.Read: Allen Ginsberg’s poemsWatch: What is the Beat Generation?Listen: Allen Ginsberg Reads ‘Howl’Sep 5, 2016 · Perhaps the most influential poem of the Beat Generation, ‘Howl’ is an epic poem written by Allen Ginsberg in 1955. The poem contains many extensive and explicit references to illegal drugs and sexual activities, making it widely controversial during its time.
Allen Ginsberg was an acclaimed poet and a leading figure of the Beat Generation whose radical literary works and advocacy for social change left an indelible mark on American counterculture. Ginsberg first came to public attention in 1956 with the publication of Howl and Other...
May 3, 2004 · These poets would become known as the Beat Generation, a group of writers interested in changing consciousness and defying conventional writing. The Beats were also closely intertwined with poets of the San Francisco Renaissance movement, such as Kenneth Rexroth and Robert Duncan .
Allen Ginsberg was an acclaimed poet and a leading figure of the Beat Generation whose radical literary works and advocacy for social change left an indelible mark on American counterculture. Ginsberg first came to public attention in 1956 with the publication of Howl and Other Poems (City Lights…
