Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Ignatius Royston Dunnachie Campbell's poem "On Professor Drennan's Verse" is a brief but pointed satire that cleverly critiques an academic figure, presumably Professor Drennan, through the juxtaposition of formal academic titles and a failed relationship with the poetic Muse. The poem is concise, composed of just four lines, but its wit lies in the use of double meanings and the contrast between intellectual achievement and artistic failure.

The speaker immediately questions, "Who forced the Muse to this alliance?" suggesting that Professor Drennan’s attempt at poetry is unnatural or coerced. The Muse, traditionally a symbol of artistic inspiration, appears here as a reluctant participant in the professor’s creative efforts, implying that his poetry lacks genuine passion or spontaneity. The word "forced" intensifies this idea, hinting that the professor, in his pursuit of poetry, may be out of his depth, attempting something for which he is ill-suited.

The second line offers a cutting description of the professor as "A Man of more degrees than parts." Here, Campbell deftly critiques the modern emphasis on academic qualifications over innate talent or creative ability. "Degrees" refers to the professor’s formal educational accomplishments, but "parts" suggests an inner capability or essence, implying that the professor's qualifications do not match his actual ability, particularly in the realm of poetry. This line underscores the tension between formal education and artistic expression, a common theme in critiques of academic poets who may rely more on intellectual rigor than emotional resonance.

The third line, "The jilted Bachelor of Science," further develops the professor's persona by portraying him as rejected by the very field of science, which he presumably once pursued. The use of the word "jilted" casts the professor in a somewhat pathetic light, as one who has been abandoned or spurned. The phrase “Bachelor of Science” carries a double meaning: it refers both to the academic degree and to the professor’s solitary, unsuccessful relationship with the field of science. There is an underlying suggestion that his scientific pursuits were unsatisfactory or unfulfilling, leading him to turn, perhaps desperately, to the arts.

Finally, the poem closes with "And Widower of Arts," a line that ties the professor’s failure in both fields together. A widower, having lost a spouse, suggests that the professor once had a relationship with the arts but has now been left alone, bereft of creativity or inspiration. The metaphor of a "widower" suggests a permanent and irreversible separation, contrasting with the temporary nature implied by "jilted." This ending intensifies the sense of the professor’s failure, not just in the scientific realm, but also in his pursuit of the arts. The shift from "Bachelor" to "Widower" subtly indicates a progression from hope to loss, reinforcing the idea that the professor’s dabbling in poetry was not only misguided but also ultimately unsuccessful.

The poem's structure, a single quatrain, mirrors its sharp, focused critique. The rhyme scheme, ABAB, lends the poem a tight, formal quality, which complements its subject matter—an academic figure trapped in formalism and unable to break into the true essence of art. The consistent rhythm gives the poem a sense of finality, much like the professor’s inevitable artistic failure.

In essence, Campbell’s poem is a witty commentary on the often uneasy relationship between academia and creativity. By portraying Professor Drennan as a man of intellectual accomplishments but little true artistic talent, the poem underscores the idea that degrees and qualifications cannot replace the innate inspiration required for genuine artistic expression. The Muse, forced into an alliance with the professor, remains distant and uncooperative, leaving him as both a "Bachelor of Science" and a "Widower of Arts"—a man of education, but without the gift of creativity.

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