THE EVOLUTION OF POETIC THOUGHT AND ITS ROLE IN CONTEMPORARY POETRY: A STUDY OF LOUISE GLÜCK’S “AMERICAN ORIGINALITY: ESSAYS ON POETRY”

This study examines the evolution of poetic thought in Louise Glück’s essay collection American Originality: Essays on Poetry (2017) and its significance in the context of contemporary poetry. As a continuation of the aesthetic and theoretical perspectives first articulated in Proofs and Theories (1994), the work reflects Glück’s mature engagement with the nature of poetic influence, the craft of writing, and the tension between originality and tradition. Through a close reading of selected essays, this research highlights Glück’s nuanced approach to self-reflection, her exploration of the poet’s role in shaping literary discourse, and her dialogue with canonical and modern voices. The findings demonstrate that American Originality not only reaffirms Glück’s established aesthetic positions but also reinterprets them in light of shifting cultural and literary landscapes, thereby solidifying her place as a critical voice in contemporary poetics.