Contemporary Poetry

student resources 241

dialect

Often referred to as ‘idiom’, a language or manner of speaking
indicative of a particular class or regional identity. In poetry,
the term frequently denotes a deviation from so-called standard
English.

dub poetry

Allied to the Caribbean practice of speaking while ‘DJing’, often
called toasting. Dub poetry is often performed with music depend-
ent on a strong reggae beat, and is also associated with ideas of
spontaneity and political responsibility. Dub poets in the past
have used their poetry to comment on social inequities, racism and
violence.

ecocriticism

The study of literature and the environment with the aim of pro-
viding solutions for endangered environments. The work often
stresses its interdisciplinary nature. In the past ecoliterature would
often focus on idealised depictions of landscape and wilderness.
Increasingly ecocriticism and literature take into account the eco-
nomic and political forces which harm the earth’s sustainability.

electronic writing

Writing which is digitally ‘born’ and not literature which has been
digitised. Often the practitioners embrace new media in innovative
ways, combing text with audio and visual imageries. Practices we
might associate with electronic writing forms could be interactive
fi ction, generative texts, installation video and sound poetry.

elegy

Poetry of a commemorative nature, often to mark a death or
express an experience of mourning and loss.