Walter de la Mare, a distinguished 19th-century British poet, is renowned for his evocative and imaginative works that often explore themes of the mysterious and the mystical. He stands out in the landscape of British poetry, not just for his lyrical dexterity, but for his ability to capture the profound emotional and philosophical depths of human existence. Although his career spanned much of the 20th century, de la Mare’s poetic foundations were firmly rooted in the 19th century, both in terms of his early influences and the broader cultural movements that shaped his work. This article delves into the life and poetry of Walter de la Mare, providing an in-depth analysis of his contributions to British poetry, and examining how he remains one of the most influential and intriguing figures in the history of English literature.
Early Life and Influences
Born on April 25, 1873, in Kent, England, Walter de la Mare was a child of the Victorian era, a period that was rich in cultural development and intellectual ferment. He was the son of a successful merchant, and his early education reflected the tastes and values of his upper-middle-class background. As a child, de la Mare was exposed to the works of various prominent poets, many of whom had a significant impact on his literary style. Among these influences were the Romantic poets, whose exploration of nature, emotion, and the supernatural would later find echoes in de la Mare’s own work.
Despite his privileged upbringing, de la Mare was known for his introspective and reclusive nature. He often preferred the company of books and his imagination over the social life that might have been expected of him. As a young man, he attended St. Paul’s School in London, where he showed an early interest in literature and poetry. He later worked as a clerk at a publishing company, which provided him with the means to pursue his literary ambitions. His professional life, while practical, was ultimately secondary to his passion for writing, and he spent much of his free time composing poetry.
De la Mare’s early exposure to the great works of English literature, especially the works of William Blake, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Edgar Allan Poe, helped shape his poetic vision. Like many of the British poets who came before him, de la Mare was drawn to the mystical and the otherworldly. His work often explores the tension between the known and the unknown, the visible and the invisible, and the real and the imagined. These themes would remain central to his work throughout his career.
Literary Career
Walter de la Mare’s literary career began in earnest with the publication of his first volume of poetry, Songs of Childhood (1902), a collection that established him as an important voice in British poetry. This early work was characterized by its lyrical simplicity and its ability to evoke a sense of wonder and mystery. The poems in Songs of Childhood were often whimsical, but beneath their surface charm lay a deeper exploration of themes like innocence, the passage of time, and the mysteries of the human experience.
De la Mare’s next major work, The Listeners (1912), marked a significant development in his poetic style. The title poem of this collection is one of his most famous, and it exemplifies his fascination with the unknown and the supernatural. In the poem, a solitary traveler arrives at a house in the wilderness and knocks on the door, only to be met with an eerie silence from the inhabitants. The tension between the living and the dead, the known and the unknown, is palpable in the poem, and it showcases de la Mare’s mastery of atmosphere and mood.
De la Mare continued to explore these themes throughout his career, moving from one poetic form to another. His later work, which included collections like Poems (1916), The Veil (1921), and Collected Poems (1942), demonstrated his versatility and his ability to adapt his style to suit different poetic forms. While his early works were more straightforward in their treatment of mystical and philosophical themes, his later poetry became more complex and layered, often incorporating elements of symbolism and surrealism.
De la Mare’s work was not confined to poetry alone. He was also a prolific writer of prose, including short stories, novels, and children’s literature. His most famous work of prose is perhaps The Riddle and Other Stories (1923), a collection of short stories that reflect his interest in the eerie and the mysterious. His fiction often dealt with the uncanny, exploring the boundary between the known world and the hidden forces that lie just beneath the surface of everyday life.
Themes in De la Mare’s Poetry
One of the central themes in the work of Walter de la Mare is the exploration of the supernatural and the mysterious. His poetry frequently engages with ideas of ghosts, spirits, and the otherworldly, and many of his most famous poems reflect a fascination with the unknown. This interest in the supernatural can be traced back to his early life, as well as to the broader cultural context of the 19th century, which was marked by a growing interest in spiritualism and the occult.
In addition to the supernatural, de la Mare’s poetry often explores the theme of childhood and the innocence associated with it. Many of his poems focus on the experience of childhood, whether in the form of an idealized vision of innocence or as a means of exploring the darker, more mysterious aspects of the world. His poetry often evokes a sense of wonder and imagination, capturing the fleeting and ephemeral quality of childhood experiences. This theme is especially evident in works like Songs of Childhood, where de la Mare uses childlike imagery and language to explore the mysteries of life.
Another recurring theme in de la Mare’s poetry is the passage of time and the inevitability of death. Many of his poems meditate on the fragility of life and the inevitability of change. His fascination with time is often reflected in his exploration of memory and the way in which the past shapes the present. In poems like The Haunted House and The Darkling Thrush, de la Mare captures the sense of melancholy that accompanies the passage of time, as well as the fleeting nature of human existence.
Finally, de la Mare’s work often deals with the tension between the known and the unknown, the visible and the invisible. His poetry frequently explores the idea that there is more to reality than meets the eye, and that much of life’s meaning is hidden beneath the surface. This theme is most evident in poems like The Listeners and The Ghost, where the boundaries between the living and the dead, the real and the imagined, are blurred. In these poems, de la Mare suggests that the world is full of mysteries that cannot be fully understood, and that there is always more to discover beyond the realm of the known.
De la Mare’s Place in British Poetry
Walter de la Mare holds a unique and significant place in the history of British poetry. While his work is often associated with the modernist movement, his style and themes were also deeply rooted in the traditions of 19th-century British poetry. He can be seen as both a product of his time and a poet who transcended the limitations of his era.
As a 19th-century British poet, de la Mare was influenced by the Romantic poets who preceded him, particularly in his interest in nature, the supernatural, and the power of the imagination. At the same time, his work also reflects the concerns of early 20th-century British poetry, particularly in its exploration of modernist themes like alienation and the breakdown of traditional forms and structures. His poetry is often marked by a sense of uncertainty and ambiguity, which places him in the company of other modernist poets who were grappling with the disorienting changes of the 20th century.
De la Mare’s influence on later poets is also noteworthy. His ability to evoke mood and atmosphere, as well as his exploration of the mysterious and the otherworldly, had a profound impact on the poets who followed him. His works influenced a wide range of poets, from the imagists to the symbolists, and his legacy can be seen in the work of poets like T.S. Eliot and W.B. Yeats, both of whom were deeply interested in the supernatural and the metaphysical.
Conclusion
Walter de la Mare’s contributions to British poetry remain significant and enduring. His work continues to captivate readers with its lyrical beauty, its exploration of the mysterious, and its profound engagement with the human experience. As a 19th-century British poet, de la Mare stands as a bridge between the past and the future of British poetry, drawing on the traditions of the Romantic and Victorian poets while also anticipating the modernist movement that would define much of 20th-century literature.
His poetry remains relevant today, as it speaks to the timeless themes of life, death, and the unknown. Whether through his haunting depictions of the supernatural or his meditations on the nature of memory and time, de la Mare’s work offers a window into the mysteries of existence that continues to resonate with readers across generations. His place in the pantheon of British poets is secure, and his legacy as one of the most intriguing and imaginative figures in English literature is assured.
Walter de la Mare’s poetry will undoubtedly continue to be read, studied, and admired by generations to come, serving as a testament to the power of the written word to capture the wonders and mysteries of the world. His work stands as an example of the depth and beauty of 19th-century British poetry, offering a unique and lasting contribution to the literary tradition of Britain.
