A Postmodernist Analysis Of Hyper-Textuality In Alice Oswald's Poem "Dunt : A Poem for a Dried Up River"

Abstract

This study explores the concept of hyper-textuality within Alice Oswald's "Dunt: A Poem for a Dried Up River," situating the poem within a postmodernist framework. The central problem of this analysis lies in understanding how Oswald's work embodies and challenges the notions of textuality, fragmentation, and intertextuality typical of postmodern literature. The aim is to uncover the ways in which hyper-textuality enhances the thematic concerns of environmental degradation and the impermanence of nature in "Dunt." The hypothesis posits that Oswald employs hyper-textuality not merely as a stylistic device but as a means to evoke a multifaceted dialogue between the poem and its surrounding cultural, ecological, and literary contexts. Guided by postmodern literary theory, the methodology encompasses a close reading of the text alongside comparative analyses with other works that explore similar themes of nature and loss. This approach is complemented by examining critical texts on hyper-textuality and postmodernism. Preliminary results indicate that Oswald's use of fragmented images, disjointed narratives, and allusions to various texts create a rich tapestry of meanings that invite readers to engage actively with the text, thus reinforcing the poem's central motifs of absence and ecological crisis. The findings contribute to a broader understanding of how contemporary poetry utilizes hyper-textuality as a vehicle for critical engagement with pressing environmental issues, suggesting that Oswald’s work is not only a lament for a dried-up river but also an intricate commentary on the interconnectedness of text, nature, and human experience in the postmodern landscape.