Norman MacCaig

Norman MacCaig (14 November 1910 ? 23 January 1996) was a Scottish poet. His work is known for its humour, simplicity of language and great popularity.

Work

Early

MacCaig's first two books were deeply influenced by the New Apocalypse movement of the thirties and forties, one of a number of literary movements that were constantly coalescing, evolving and dissolving at that time. Later he was to all but disown these works, dismissing them as obscure and meaningless. His poetic rebirth took place with the publication of Riding Lights in 1955. It was a complete contrast to his earlier works, being strictly formal, metrical, rhyming and utterly lucid. The timing of the publication was such that he could have been associated with The Movement, a poetic grouping of poets at just that time. Indeed many of the forms and themes of his work fitted with the ideas of The Movement but he remained separate from that group, perhaps on account of his Scottishness?all of the movement poets were English. One label that has been attached to MacCaig and one that he seemed to enjoy (he was an admirer of John Donne) is Metaphysical.

Related Topics:
New Apocalypse - The Movement - John Donne - Metaphysical.

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Later

In later years he relaxed some of the formality of his work, losing the rhymes and strict metricality but always strove to maintain the lucidity. He became a free verse poet with the publication of Surroundings in 1966. Seamus Heaney has said his work 'is an ongoing education in the marvellous possibilities of lyric poetry.' Whilst Ted Hughes wrote, 'whenever I meet his poems, I'm always struck by their undated freshness, everything about them is alive, as new and essential, as ever.' Another poet, beside Donne, that MacCaig claimed was a great influence on his work was Louis MacNeice. Although he never lost his sense of humour, much of his later work, following the death of his wife, in 1990, is more sombre in tone. The later poems appear to be full of heartbreak but they never become pessimistic.

Related Topics:
Free verse - Seamus Heaney - Ted Hughes - Louis MacNeice

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