Memory in Poetry and Literature

Paper Summary:

The magic of the human memory can be used as a powerful, informative, and insightful device in fiction and poetry. Characters and ideas develop and grow with time, and memory is a function by which these devices can provide us with valuable information. This paper examines how the role of memory enhances the reading experience by looking at ?Once Upon a Time When We were Colored? by Clifton Taulbert, "Salvation on Sand Mountain" by Dennis Covington, ?Blue Wedding? by Lee Smith, ?Carpenter Bee? by Natasha Trethewey, and "Ellen Foster" by Kay Gibbons.

From the Paper:

"Clifton Taulbert, author of Salvation on Sand Mountain, uses memory to personalize history. Clifton's technique utilizes memory to play an important role in the history of society, especially that of St. Marks? church in the town of Glen Allan. In fact, Taulbert tells us, "And whether north or sought, large or small, the colored church was a totally black experience" (Taulbert 281). That statement leads Taulbert on a journey into history as he remembers the people who shaped his personality as a boy. For example, Mother Byrd was influential to the members of the congregation, but her "demands for perfection and self-respect and her high hopes for the colored race will always be with me" (283). In addition, Mother Byrd was a proponent for black pride long before it became fashionable? (284). We also learn about the sister-workers. Clifton's characters provide most of the excitement in this story, which help us visualize the scenes."

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