Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

John Updike’s poem "Agatha Christie and Beatrix Potter" is a delightful tribute to two iconic British authors, known respectively for their contributions to the mystery and children's literature genres. Through his verse, Updike captures the quintessential English countryside charm that permeates both Christie’s murder mysteries and Potter’s animal tales, weaving together their distinctive literary worlds with affection and a playful wit.

The poem begins by addressing both authors as "Many-volumed authoresses / In capacious country dresses," immediately evoking images of traditional, perhaps slightly old-fashioned, rural life. This opening sets a tone of warmth and familiarity, celebrating the authors not only for their prolific output but also for their embodiment of a certain timeless, bucolic Englishness.

Updike’s admiration is expressed through his appreciation of their "cheerful art and nearly / Perfect craft," acknowledging their mastery in storytelling and their ability to create worlds that, while idyllic, are layered with complexity and intrigue. The mention of "cheerful art" and "perfect craft" highlights the skill with which both Christie and Potter developed their narratives and characters, crafting stories that have endured in popularity over the decades.

The poem then delves into the settings and characters typical of Christie's and Potter's works. Christie is known for her small village settings where sinister undercurrents disrupt the peaceful surface, and Potter for her vividly realized animal characters who inhabit similarly quaint but less menacing landscapes. Updike cleverly intertwines these elements: the "hedgerow, stile, and barrow," and the "cabbage, leek, and marrow," which could belong in either author's universe. The "prim postmistress" who snickers and the suspicion cast humorously on "murder in the vicar" are nods to Christie’s penchant for locating dark deeds in seemingly benign environments.

Moving to Potter’s territory, Updike references her beloved character Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and the "berry-beaded brambles" she might traverse, alongside the "attics in the village / Where mice plot alibis and pillage." Here, he captures the charming anthropomorphism and gentle adventure that define Potter's stories, while playfully suggesting a crossover of Christie's mystery plots with Potter’s animal antics.

The closing lines, "God bless you, girls, for in these places / You give us cozy scares and chases / That end with innocence acquitted—Except for Cotton-tail, who did it," encapsulate the poem’s spirit. Updike thanks the authors for the comfort and excitement found in their books, where typically, order is restored and innocence prevails—except, humorously, in the case of Potter’s Cotton-tail, whom Updike whimsically accuses of some unknown crime, blending Christie’s mystery elements with Potter’s characters.

Overall, John Updike’s "Agatha Christie and Beatrix Potter" is a playful and loving homage that celebrates these authors' contributions to literature. By drawing parallels between their distinct genres, Updike highlights the underlying connections in their work—the detailed settings, the rich characterizations, and the moral universes they created, all while maintaining a tone of lighthearted reverence and deep affection for their enduring legacies.

POEM TEXT: https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1960-11-26/flipbook/052/

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