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Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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The Alpha and Omega of Brennan's The Wanderer
2011
single work
criticism
— Appears in: JASAL , vol. 11 no. 2 2011; 'The influence of Nietzsche's Also Sprach Zarathustra on Christopher Brennan's poem The Wanderer has been underestimated. It is especially apparent in the epigraph, and the poems (86 and 99) which open and close the sequence. The inner quest described in The Wanderer is generally held to have been a failure, but a revaluation in the light of the Nietzschean influence, incorporating a recension of the crucial poem 99, reveals a different story. The annular nature of the quest as described in the epigraph derives from Nietzsche's notion of Eternal Return , on which he confessed Zarathustra to be founded. Themes from Zarathustra dominate poem 86, and recur in poem 99. The line in the latter 'no ending of the way, no home, no goal', which has been widely interpreted as a confession of failure of the quest, is demonstrated to have been sourced from Zarathustra, where it does not bear that inference at all, but rather of triumph over doubt. The pivotal word 'withhold' in poem 99 is shown to be used in its archaic and neutral sense of 'hold within', rather than its modern sense of 'refuse to give up'. The Wanderer's quest is a success to approximately the same degree as that of Nietzsche's hero. Such clarity as to Brennan's achievement is essential if he is to attain the global reputation which many would argue he deserves.' (Author's abstract)
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Brennan's The Forest of Night
1971
single work
review
— Appears in: Southerly , vol. 31 no. 2 1971; (p. 155-160)
— Review of A Study of Christopher Brennan's 'The Forest of Night' 1970 single work criticism -
[Review] The Letters of Hugh McCrae [and] A Study of Christopher Brennan's 'The Forest of Night'
1971
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Literary Studies , October vol. 5 no. 2 1971; (p. 214-218)
— Review of The Letters of Hugh McCrae 1970 selected work correspondence ; A Study of Christopher Brennan's 'The Forest of Night' 1970 single work criticism -
The Forest of Night
1970
single work
review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 26 September 1970; (p. 13)
— Review of A Study of Christopher Brennan's 'The Forest of Night' 1970 single work criticism -
[Review] A Study of Christopher Brennan's 'The Forest of Night'
1970
single work
review
— Appears in: Poetry Magazine , October vol. 18 no. 5 1970; (p. 46)
— Review of A Study of Christopher Brennan's 'The Forest of Night' 1970 single work criticism
-
[Review] The Letters of Hugh McCrae [and] A Study of Christopher Brennan's 'The Forest of Night'
1971
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Literary Studies , October vol. 5 no. 2 1971; (p. 214-218)
— Review of The Letters of Hugh McCrae 1970 selected work correspondence ; A Study of Christopher Brennan's 'The Forest of Night' 1970 single work criticism -
Current Poetry
1970
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , October vol. 9 no. 12 1970; (p. 341)
— Review of Tense Mood and Voice 1969 selected work poetry ; A Study of Christopher Brennan's 'The Forest of Night' 1970 single work criticism ; There, Behind the Lids 1970 selected work poetry -
[Review] A Study of Christopher Brennan's 'The Forest of Night'
1970
single work
review
— Appears in: Poetry Magazine , October vol. 18 no. 5 1970; (p. 46)
— Review of A Study of Christopher Brennan's 'The Forest of Night' 1970 single work criticism -
The Forest of Night
1970
single work
review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 26 September 1970; (p. 13)
— Review of A Study of Christopher Brennan's 'The Forest of Night' 1970 single work criticism -
Brennan's The Forest of Night
1971
single work
review
— Appears in: Southerly , vol. 31 no. 2 1971; (p. 155-160)
— Review of A Study of Christopher Brennan's 'The Forest of Night' 1970 single work criticism -
The Alpha and Omega of Brennan's The Wanderer
2011
single work
criticism
— Appears in: JASAL , vol. 11 no. 2 2011; 'The influence of Nietzsche's Also Sprach Zarathustra on Christopher Brennan's poem The Wanderer has been underestimated. It is especially apparent in the epigraph, and the poems (86 and 99) which open and close the sequence. The inner quest described in The Wanderer is generally held to have been a failure, but a revaluation in the light of the Nietzschean influence, incorporating a recension of the crucial poem 99, reveals a different story. The annular nature of the quest as described in the epigraph derives from Nietzsche's notion of Eternal Return , on which he confessed Zarathustra to be founded. Themes from Zarathustra dominate poem 86, and recur in poem 99. The line in the latter 'no ending of the way, no home, no goal', which has been widely interpreted as a confession of failure of the quest, is demonstrated to have been sourced from Zarathustra, where it does not bear that inference at all, but rather of triumph over doubt. The pivotal word 'withhold' in poem 99 is shown to be used in its archaic and neutral sense of 'hold within', rather than its modern sense of 'refuse to give up'. The Wanderer's quest is a success to approximately the same degree as that of Nietzsche's hero. Such clarity as to Brennan's achievement is essential if he is to attain the global reputation which many would argue he deserves.' (Author's abstract)
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A.R. Chisholm's Study of Brennan's `The Forest of Night'
1970
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Meanjin Quarterly , Summer vol. 29 no. 4 1970; (p. 516-522)
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