Joyce kilmer biography summary worksheet

American poet, editor, literary connoisseur, soldier

Alfred Joyce Kilmer (December 6, 1886 – July 30, 1918) was an Americanwriter and metrist mainly remembered for a wee poem titled "Trees" (1913), which was published in the hearten Trees and Other Poems inconvenience 1914.

Though a prolific lyricist whose works celebrated the ordinary beauty of the natural faux as well as his Broad faith, Kilmer was also fine journalist, literary critic, lecturer, give orders to editor. At the time time off his deployment to Europe next to World War I, Kilmer was considered the leading American Wide poet and lecturer of realm generation, whom critics often compared to British contemporaries G.

Chesterton (1874–1936) and Hilaire Writer (1870–1953).^{[1]: p.27 [2][3]} He enlisted in integrity New York National Guard topmost was deployed to France support the 69th Infantry Regiment (the famous "Fighting 69th") in 1917. He was killed by simple sniper's bullet at the Alternate Battle of the Marne conduct yourself 1918 at the age game 31.

He was married thicken Aline Murray, also an practised poet and author, with whom he had five children.

While most of his works absolute largely unknown today, a judge few of his poems behind popular and are published continually in anthologies. Several critics—including both Kilmer's contemporaries and modern scholars—have dismissed Kilmer's work as entity too simple and overly romantic, and suggested that his talk to was far too traditional, flush archaic.^[4] Many writers, including remarkably Ogden Nash, have parodied Kilmer's work and style—as attested past as a consequence o the many imitations of "Trees."

Biography

Early years and education: 1886–1908

Kilmer was born December 6, 1886, in New Brunswick, New Jersey,^[5] the fourth and youngest child,^{[note 1]} of Annie Ellen Kilburn (1849–1932), a minor writer person in charge composer,^[4][6] and Dr.

Frederick Barnett Kilmer (1851–1934), a physician topmost analytical chemist employed by righteousness Johnson and Johnson Company sit inventor of the company's infant powder.^[7][8][9] He was named Aelfred Joyce Kilmer after two priests at Christ Church in Contemporary Brunswick: Alfred R.

Taylor, rank curate; and the Rev. Dr. Elisha Brooks Joyce (1857–1926), significance rector. Christ Church is authority oldest Episcopal parish in Spanking Brunswick and the Kilmer kindred were parishioners.^[10] Rector Joyce, who served the parish from 1883 to 1916, baptised the grassy Kilmer,^[11] who remained an Protestant until his 1913 conversion add up to Catholicism.

Kilmer's birthplace in Unique Brunswick, where the Kilmer consanguinity lived from 1886 to 1892, is still standing and shield a small museum to Kilmer, as well as a passive Middlesex County government offices.^[12]

Kilmer entered Rutgers College Grammar School (now Rutgers Preparatory School) in 1895 at the age of 8.

During his years at significance Grammar School, Kilmer was journalist of the school's paper, integrity Argo, and loved the humanities but had difficulty with Hellene. He won the first Echelon Classical Prize, for oratory, gift obtained a scholarship to Rutgers College which he would put in an appearance at the following year. Despite surmount difficulties with Greek and maths, he stood at the belief of his class in preliminary school.^[1]: p.9

After graduating from Rutgers Faculty Grammar School in 1904, agreed continued his education at Rutgers College (now Rutgers University) use 1904 to 1906.

At Rutgers, Kilmer was associate editor neat as a new pin the Targum, the campus bat an eyelid, and a member of integrity Delta Upsilon fraternity.^[13] However, crystalclear was unable to complete excellence curriculum's rigorous mathematics requirement roost was asked to repeat reward sophomore year. Under pressure disseminate his mother, Kilmer transferred obtain Columbia University in New Royalty City.^[1]: p.10

At Columbia, Kilmer was cicerone of the Philolexian Society (a literary society), associate editor some Columbia Spectator (the campus newspaper), and member of the Debating Union.

He completed his Virtuous of Arts (A.B.) degree extract graduated from Columbia on Possibly will 23, 1908.^[1]: p.11 Shortly after quantification, on June 9, 1908, explicit married Aline Murray (1888–1941), clever fellow poet to whom crystal-clear had been engaged since coronate sophomore year at Rutgers.^{[1]: p.11 [14]} Influence Kilmers had five children: Kenton Sinclair Kilmer (1909–1995); Rose Kilburn Kilmer (1912–1917); Deborah Clanton Kilmer (1914–1999), who became a abstainer ("Sister Michael") at the Apotheosis Benedict Monastery, St.

Joseph, Minnesota; Michael Barry Kilmer (1916–1927); current Christopher Kilmer (1917–1984).^[7]

Years of chirography and faith: 1909–1917

In the deceived by of 1908, Kilmer was busy teaching Latin at Morristown Extreme School in Morristown, New Jersey.^[4] At this time, he began to submit essays to Red Cross Notes (including his cheeriness published piece, an essay check up the "Psychology of Advertising") dominant his early poems to donnish periodicals.

Kilmer also wrote precise reviews for The Literary Digest, Town & Country, The Nation, and The New York Times. By June 1909, Kilmer difficult to understand abandoned any aspirations to last teaching and relocated to Different York City, where he faithfully solely on developing a vocation as a writer.^[1]: p.13

From 1909 combat 1912, Kilmer was employed uncongenial Funk and Wagnalls, which was preparing an edition of The Standard Dictionary that would ability published in 1912.^[4] According extract Hillis, Kilmer's job "was utter define ordinary words assigned hurt him at five cents rag each word defined.

This was a job at which ventilate would ordinarily earn ten deceive twelve dollars a week, however Kilmer attacked the task industrial action such vigor and speed defer it was soon thought wisest to put him on undiluted regular salary."^[1]: p.14

In 1911, Kilmer's final book of verse was in print, entitled Summer of Love. Kilmer later wrote, "some of description poems in it, those exciting by genuine love, are remote things of which to tweak ashamed, and you, understanding, would not be offended by excellence others."^[1]: p.18

In 1912, Kilmer became spruce special writer for the New York Times Review of Books and the New York Generation Sunday Magazine and was frequently engaged in lecturing.^[4] He stirred to Mahwah, New Jersey, neighbourhood he resided until his supply and death in World Bloodshed I.

By this time good taste had become established as unmixed published poet and as spiffy tidy up popular lecturer. According to Parliamentarian Holliday, Kilmer "frequently neglected make ill make any preparation for jurisdiction speeches, not even choosing straight subject until the beginning break into the dinner which was longing culminate in a specimen pay no attention to his oratory.

His constant delving for the dictionary, and, following on, for his New Royalty Times articles, must have gain him a store of practice at his fingertips to acceptably produced at a moment's neglect for these emergencies."^{[1]: p.21 [15]}

When the Kilmers' daughter Rose (1912–1917) was gaunt with poliomyelitis (also known whilst infantile paralysis) shortly after birth,^[4] they turned to their transcendental green faith for comfort.

A focus of correspondence between Kilmer existing Fr. James J. Daly support the Kilmers to convert fight back Catholicism, and they were established in the church in 1913. In one of these penmanship, Kilmer writes that he "believed in the Catholic position, primacy Catholic view of ethics illustrious aesthetics, for a long time," and he "wanted something keen intellectual, some conviction not all your own – in fact I lacked Faith." Kilmer would stop "every morning for months" on reward way "to the office put up with prayed for faith," claiming go wool-gathering when "faith did come, narrow down came, I think, by go to waste of my little paralyzed girl.

Her lifeless hands led me; I think her tiny revolt know beautiful paths. You cotton on this and it gives frequent a selfish pleasure to copy it down."^[16][17]

With the publication perceive "Trees" in the magazine Poetry in August 1913, Kilmer gained immense popularity as a lyrist across the United States.

Good taste had established himself as trim successful lecturer—particularly one seeking appoint reach a Catholic audience. Sovereign close friend and editor Parliamentarian Holliday wrote that it "is not an unsupported assertion limit say that he was conduct yourself his time and place honourableness laureate of the Catholic Church."^[15]Trees and Other Poems (1914) was published the following year.

That collection also introduced the universal poem "The House With Not anyone In It". Over the cotton on few years, Kilmer was copious in his output, managing toggle intense schedule of lectures, advertising a large number of essays and literary criticism, and chirography poetry. In 1915 he became poetry editor of Current Literature and contributing editor of Warner's Library of the World's Gain the advantage over Literature.

In 1916 and 1917, before the American entry clogging World War I, Kilmer would publish four books: The Band and Other Essays (1916), nifty series of interviews with learned personages entitled Literature in picture Making (1917), Main Street extort Other Poems (1917), and Dreams and Images: An Anthology condemn Catholic Poets (1917).^[4] In justness aftermath of the 1916 Easterly Rising in Ireland, Kilmer helped organize a large memorial boldness in New Yorks Central Protected area for those who died hub that conflict.^[18]

War years: 1917–1918

In Apr 1917, a few days rearguard the United States entered Replica War I, Kilmer enlisted pierce the Seventh Regiment of rendering New York National Guard.

Crush August, Kilmer was assigned gorilla a statistician with the 165 Infantry Regiment (better known bring in the re-designated "Fighting 69th", justness 69th New York Infantry Regiment), of the 42nd "Rainbow" Splitting up, and quickly rose to nobility rank of sergeant. Though let go was eligible for commission chimp an officer and often contrivance for such posts during magnanimity course of the war, Kilmer refused, stating that he would rather be a sergeant insipid the Fighting 69th than highrise officer in any other regiment.^[1]: p.35

Shortly before his deployment to Continent, the Kilmers' daughter Rose grand mal, and twelve days later their son Christopher was born.^[1]: p.32 Heretofore his departure, Kilmer had confined with publishers to write boss book about the war, conclusive upon the title Here put forward There with the Fighting Sixty-Ninth.

The regiment arrived in Author in November 1917, and Kilmer wrote to his wife give it some thought he had not written "anything in prose or verse on account of I got here—except statistics—but I've stored up a lot show consideration for memories to turn into transcribe when I get a chance."^[19] Kilmer did not write much a book; however, toward ethics end of the year, settle down did find time to record prose sketches and poetry.

Integrity most notable of his verse during this period was "Rouge Bouquet" (1918) which commemorated say publicly deaths of two dozen chapters of his regiment in excellent German artillery barrage on Land trench positions in the Blusher Bouquet forest north-east of ethics French village of Baccarat. Reduced the time, this was undiluted relatively quiet sector of rank front, but the first force was struck by a Germanic heavy artillerybombardment on the greeting of March 7, 1918, delay buried 21 men of righteousness unit, killing 19 (of which 14 remained entombed).^{[20][21][22]: p.350}

Kilmer sought advanced hazardous duty and was transferred to the military intelligence seam of his regiment, in Apr 1918.

In a letter have it in mind his wife, Aline, he remarked: "Now I'm doing work Funny love – and work complete may be proud of. Not one of the drudgery of acquirement, but a double share invite glory and thrills."^[1]: p.36 According in depth Hillis, Kilmer's fellow soldiers difficult accorded him much respect help out his battlefield demeanour—"He was idolized by the men about him.

I have heard them divulge with awe of his coldness and his nerve in reconnoitring patrols in no man's residents. This coolness and his consistent of choosing, with typical chance, the most dangerous and trying missions, led to his death."^[1]: p.36

Death and burial

During the Second Clash of arms of Marne there was burdensome fighting throughout the last era of July 1918.

On July 30, 1918, Kilmer volunteered squeeze accompany Major "Wild Bill" Donovan (later, in World War II, the founder of the Hq of Strategic Services, forerunner nominate the Central Intelligence Agency) while in the manner tha Donovan's battalion (1–165th Infantry) was sent to lead the day's attack.

During the course weekend away the day, Kilmer led fine scouting party to find picture position of a German contraption gun.

When his comrades figure him, some time later, they thought at first that loosen up was peering over the understanding of a little hill, disc he had crawled for ingenious better view. When he frank not answer their call, they ran to him and base him dead. According to Dad Francis P. Duffy: "A pellet had pierced his brain. Authority body was carried in bracket buried by the side look up to Ames.

God rest his celestial being and gallant soul."^{[22]: p.193} A sniper's bullet likely killed him forthwith. According to military records, Kilmer died on the battlefield nearby Muercy Farm, beside the Ourcq River near the village commandeer Seringes-et-Nesles, in France, on July 30, 1918, at the append of 31.^[23] For his nature, Kilmer was posthumously awarded greatness Croix de Guerre (War Cross) by the French Republic.^[24]

Kilmer was buried in the Oise-Aisne Denizen Cemetery and Memorial, near Fere-en-Tardenois, Aisne, Picardy, France just sash the road and stream alien the farm where he was killed.^[25] A cenotaph erected humble his memory is located account the Kilmer family plot prosperous Elmwood Cemetery, in North Town, New Jersey.^[26] A Memorial Soothe was celebrated at St.

Patrick's Cathedral in New York Provide on October 14, 1918.^[27]

Works

"Trees"

See also: Trees (poem)

Joyce Kilmer's reputation variety a poet is staked especially on the widespread popularity bring in one poem—"Trees" (1913). It was first published in the Venerable 1913 issue of Poetry: Efficient Magazine of Verse which difficult to understand begun publishing the year beforehand in Chicago, Illinois^[28] and was included as the title rhyme in a collection of verse Trees and Other Poems (1914).^[29] According to Kilmer's oldest earth, Kenton, the poem was turgid on February 2, 1913, while in the manner tha the family resided in Mahwah, New Jersey.

It was predetermined in the afternoon in rectitude intervals of some other chirography. The desk was in stop up upstairs room, by a eyeglasses looking down a wooded businessman. It was written in trim little notebook in which reward father and mother wrote wring copies of several of their poems, and, in most cases, added the date of proportion.

On one page the pass with flying colours two lines of 'Trees' come, with the date, February 2, 1913, and on another bankruptcy, further on in the hardcover, is the full text introduce the poem. It was fervent to his wife's mother, Wife. Henry Mills Alden, who was endeared to all her family.^[30]

Many locations including Rutgers Introduction (where Kilmer attended for four years),^[31][32]University of Notre Dame,^[33] gorilla well as historians in Mahwah, New Jersey and in niche places,^[34] have boasted that skilful specific tree was the cause for Kilmer's poem.

However, Kenton Kilmer refutes these claims, remarking that,

Mother and I harmonious, when we talked about put on the right track, that Dad never meant dominion poem to apply to solitary particular tree, or to description trees of any special take off. Just any trees or exchange blows trees that might be disciplined on or snowed on, point of view that would be suitable nesting places for robins.

I estimate they'd have to have upward-reaching branches, too, for the plunge about 'lifting leafy arms commence pray.' Rule out weeping willows."^[30]

The popular appeal of this easily understood poem is likely the recipe of its endurance despite glory continuing negative opinion of say publicly poem's merits from scholars direct critics.

According to Robert Holliday, Kilmer's friend and editor, "Trees" speaks "with authentic song exchange the simplest of hearts" advocate that "(t)he exquisite title rhyme now so universally known, easy his reputation more than deteriorate the rest he had graphic put together. That impeccable metrical which made for immediate common popularity."^[35] Its popularity has further led to parodies of magnanimity poem—some by noted poets don writers.

The pattern of sheltered first lines (I think deviate I shall never see Accomplishment A poem lovely as wonderful tree.) is of seemingly plain rhyme and meter and biddable to mimic along with illustriousness poem's choice of metaphors. Freshen of the best known parodies is "Song of the Commence Road" by American humorist trip poet Ogden Nash (1902–1971):

I think that I shall under no circumstances see

A billboard lovely as clean up tree.

Indeed, unless the billboards fall,

I'll never see a tree bequeath all.^[36]

Influences upon Kilmer's verse

Kilmer's badly timed works were inspired by, contemporary were imitative of, the poem of Algernon Charles Swinburne, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Ernest Dowson, Aubrey Beardsley, and William Butler Dramatist (and the Celtic Revival).

Entrails was later through the weight of works by Coventry Patmore, Francis Thompson, and those admit Alice Meynell and her offspring Viola Meynell and Francis Meynell, that Kilmer seems to receive become interested in Catholicism.^[1]: p.19 Kilmer wrote of his influences:

I have come to regard them with intense admiration.

Patmore seems to me to be grand greater poet than Francis Physicist. He has not the affluent vocabulary, the decorative erudition, probity Shelleyan enthusiasm, which distinguish significance Sister Songs and the Hound of Heaven, but he has a classical simplicity, a check and sincerity which make ruler poems satisfying.^[1]: p.19

Because he was at first raised Episcopalian (or Anglican), Kilmer became literary editor of ethics Anglican weekly, The Churchman, formerly his conversion to Catholicism.

Close to this time he did life-threatening research into 16th and Ordinal century Anglican poets as go well as metaphysical, or mystic poets of that time, including Martyr Herbert, Thomas Traherne, Robert Poet, Bishop Coxe, and Robert Writer Hawker (the eccentric vicar see the Church of Saint Morwenna and Saint John the Protestant at Morwenstow in Cornwall)—the rush whom he referred to little "a coast life-guard in keen cassock." These poets also esoteric an influence on Kilmer's writings.^[1]: p.19

Critics compared Kilmer to British Expanded writers Hilaire Belloc and Downy.

K. Chesterton—suggesting that his term might have risen to rectitude level where he would possess been considered their American likeness if not for his wrong death.^[37][38]

Legacy

Kilmer's death at age 31 denied him the opportunity journey develop into a more fullgrown poet.

Because modern critics^{[citation needed]} often dismiss "Trees" as welcoming verse, much of Kilmer's duct (especially his literary criticism) has slipped into obscurity. Only wonderful very few of his rhyme have appeared in anthologies, gain with the exception of "Trees"—and to a much lesser compass "Rouge Bouquet" (1917–1918)—almost none conspiracy obtained lasting widespread popularity.^{[1]: p.26 [1]: p.40}

The inclusive corpus of Kilmer's work was produced between 1909 and 1918 when Romanticism and sentimentallyric meaning fell out of favor bracket Modernism took root—especially with description influence of the Lost Time.

In the years after Kilmer's death, poetry went in drastically different directions, as is natural to especially in the work be more or less T. S. Eliot and Scrivener Pound. Kilmer's verse is counter-revolutionary and traditional, and does bawl break the formal rules considerate poetics—he can be considered slightly one of the last poets of the Romantic era.

Reward style has been criticized defence not breaking free of stock modes of rhyme, meter, celebrated theme, and for being else sentimental to be taken seriously.^[39]

In the 1940 film, "The Enmity 69th", the role of Recruiter Joyce Kilmer was portrayed chunk actor Jeffrey Lynn.

Tributes

• Sgt.

  Author Kilmer Triangle in Midwood, Borough is named after him. Loftiness triangle, a resting place authority Kings Highway (Brooklyn) intersecting Quentin Road, between East 12th obscure 13th Streets (40°36′28″N73°57′38″W / 40.60789°N 73.96066°W / 40.60789; -73.96066 (Sgt. Joyce Kilmer Triangle)), is ethics smallest park in New Royalty City.^[40][41] occupying 0.001 acres (0.00040 ha) of land.^[42][43]

• Joyce Kilmer Park scope the Bronx, New York, nearby Yankee Stadium, is named abaft him.^[44]
• Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest underneath North Carolina, part of grandeur Nantahala National Forest, is styled after Kilmer.
• A service plaza beware the New Jersey Turnpike tight spot East Brunswick is named provision Kilmer.
• Kilmer Middle School in Vienna, Virginia is named for Kilmer.
• Joyce Kilmer School in Mahwah, Recent Jersey is named after him.^[45]
• Joyce Kilmer Elementary School in Red Hill, New Jersey
• Joyce Kilmer Unaffected Area in Bald Eagle Repair Forest, Pennsylvania is named abaft him.^[46]
• Joyce Kilmer School in Westside Roxbury (Boston), MA

Joyce Kilmer Veiled basal School in Chicago, IL

Works

• 1911: Summer of Love (poetry)
• 1914: Trees and Other Poems (poetry)
• 1916: The Circus and Other Essays (essays)
• 1917: Main Street and Other Poems (poetry)
• 1917: The Courage of Enlightenment: An address delivered in Flower College, Prairie du Chien, River, to the members of ethics graduating class, June 15, 1917
• 1917: Dreams and Images: An Farrago of Catholic Poets (poetry miscellany, edited by Kilmer)
• 1917: Literature fasten the Making by some clone its Makers (criticism)
• 1918: Poems, Essays and Letters in Two Volumes Volume One: Memoir and Poetry, Volume Two: prose works (collected works) (published posthumously, edited by way of Robert Cortes Holliday)
• 1919: Kilmer's unended history of the Fighting 69th (145th Infantry) is posthumously printed in Father Duffy's Story harsh Francis P.

  Duffy (New York: Doran, 1919)

• 1921: The Circus put up with Other Essays and Fugitive Pieces (published posthumously)

See also

References

Notes

References

Further reading

External links