Poetry and perspective in Kate Tempest’s 'Brand new ancients' and 'Let them eat chaos'

Abstract

This dissertation discusses the importance of sympathy in narratives told through multiple perspectives with the scope of eliciting fairer judgement of individuals, situations and ideas. The exploration is conducted through an analysis of Kate Tempest’s poetry, specifically her two long poems Brand New Ancients (2013) and Let Them Eat Chaos (2016). The introduction serves to indicate where Tempest’s work stands in the broader literary scene, taking note of the way she adapts to contemporary demands in the way literature is delivered to an audience. This leads the discussion towards the notion of sympathy, where the attempt of texts such as those of Tempest is to encourage readers to sympathise not only with one perspective but multiple ones. The second chapter will deal with the importance of this form of dialogism and why it is included in the texts. After evaluating its importance, chapter three will consider the ways the multiple perspectives of different individuals are implemented in the texts through a narratological analysis. The final chapter will be dedicated to a close reading of the texts, further fortifying the argument of the dissertation by giving examples of what the readers can obtain by sympathising and adhering to the different perspectives of the characters. The conclusion aims to echo Tempest’s words contending that love is the answer; love in the form of sympathy. It highlights the importance to consider each and every perspective in order to understand, learn and overcome problems which arise in every individual’s life.