Thursday, December 12, 2019

Harold Bloom: Critic and Orphic Reader

Harold Bloom: Critic and Orphic Reader

He died at 89 not too long ago. He describes himself and the proclaimed poet Hart Crane as "orphic".

Orpheus was a hero of Greek mythology who was supposed to possess superhuman musical skills. With his legendary lyre, he was said to be able to make even the rocks and trees dance around. In fact, when his wife Eurydice died, he was nearly able to use his lyre to secure her return from the underworld. Later on, according to legend, he was killed at the bidding of Dionysus, and an oracle of Orpheus was established that came to rival the oracle of Apollo at Delphi. Because of the oracle of Orpheus, orphic can mean "oracular." Because of Orpheus' musical powers, orphic can mean "entrancing."
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orphic

He loved poetry, he loved literature, which some of which he considered great.

Not too happy with J.K. Rowling and Stephen King.

Shakespeare, Cervantes, Melville, Hawthorne? And many others.

or·​phic | \ ˈȯr-fik
\

Definition of orphic


1 capitalized : of or relating to Orpheus or the rites or doctrines ascribed to him

I guess so, this Yalie.

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