Difference between an “autobiography in prose” and “one in verse”
A concrete difference between an “autobiography in prose” and “one in verse” probably consists of the fact that the second one is, in many ways, less linked to its narrator than the first one and therefore it ends up raising, even through the use of rhetoric, the personal story of the narrator to a personal and universal story at the same time, as it occurs in Prelude by Wordsworth and throughout the autobiographical poetry where, despite the universality of the narrating “I”, we will not stop to identify that “I” with the author of the poem. (From: Menotti Lerro, Autobiographical Poetry in England and Spain, 1950-1980: Narrating Oneself in Verse, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, p. 175).
A concise and substantial distinction between “autobiography in prose” and “autobiography in verse”.
In other words, wanting to give a concise definition regarding a substantial distinction between “autobiography in prose” and “autobiography in verse”, it could be said that the first differs from the second, as its contents can be either, only personal or aspire to universality, whereas the latter must propose a text that is both personal and universal. (From: Menotti Lerro, Autobiographical Poetry in England and Spain, 1950-1980: Narrating Oneself in Verse, p. 177)
Supremacy of the “autobiography in verse” compared with an “autobiography in prose”.
It is possible to talk about the absolute value and supremacy of the “autobiography in verse” (therefore of a poetic, other than autobiographical work), only when the mere narration of the personal facts is reworked in order to be able to achieve the poetic status that will allow a greater accuracy even in outlining an individual story, especially with regards to the feelings that the characters feel and transmit. So, if we want to use poetry for the purpose of narrating the events of a subject, and this is true not only for autobiographies but for the whole autobiographical poetry, it is necessary that the autobiographer elevates his own personal story to a universal story, without limiting himself exclusively to a faithful narration of facts (which can, instead, be done in prose), but by having the aim, the same one of all poetry, to challenge the centuries through the exemplariness of language and of the proposed lesson (otherwise there is the risk of creating a simple narration with the useless characteristic of starting a new paragraph – thus creating the verse – at about half way, instead of at the end). (From: Menotti Lerro, Autobiographical Poetry in England and Spain, 1950-1980: Narrating Oneself in Verse, pp. 175-176).
Menotti Lerro:
- Master of Arts – University of Reading, Uk (The Body and Representation).
- PHD – University of Salerno (Autobiographical Poetry in England and Spain).
- Degrees – Foreign Languages and Literatures and Italian Studies.