Definition
Howl is a long-form poem written by American poet Allen Ginsberg, first published in 1956. It is a quintessential work of the Beat Generation and is widely regarded as a landmark of mid‑twentieth‑century American literature.
Overview
The poem was composed in the early 1950s and first appeared in the avant‑garde literary magazine The Poetry before being issued as a standalone book by City Lights Publishers in 1956, with a preface by poet and publisher Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Howl gained notoriety for its explicit language and graphic depiction of sexuality, drug use, and mental illness, which led to a 1957 obscenity trial. The court ruled in favor of the poem, citing its "redeeming social importance," thereby establishing an important precedent for freedom of expression in the United States. The work has since been anthologized, studied in academic curricula, and performed publicly worldwide.
Etymology/Origin
The title “Howl” derives from the verb “to howl,” meaning to emit a long, mournful cry, typically associated with wolves or humans expressing pain, grief, or protest. Ginsberg selected the term to evoke a collective, anguished outcry against the conformity and repression he perceived in post‑war American society. The poem’s structure is loosely modeled on Walt Whitman's free‑verse style, particularly Leaves of Grass, which Ginsberg admired and referenced throughout the work.
Characteristics
- Form and Length: Howl consists of three main sections and a concluding “Footnote to Howl.” The first two sections are extensive, free‑verse passages; the third is a brief, repetitive incantation; the footnote is a prose-like litany.
- Style: The poem employs long, unpunctuated lines, a rapid, breath‑like rhythm, and frequent anaphora (“who …”). It blends the personal with the universal, interweaving autobiographical details with broader cultural critique.
- Themes: Central concerns include alienation, sexual freedom, spirituality, the destructive effects of capitalism, oppression of non‑conformists, and the search for transcendence.
- Imagery and Language: Ginsberg utilizes vivid, often surreal imagery (e.g., “angelheaded hipsters,” “Moloch”) and candid references to drug use, homosexuality, and mental institutions. The poem’s diction alternates between colloquial slang and prophetic diction.
- Cultural Impact: Howl inspired subsequent generations of poets, musicians, and artists. It has been set to music, adapted for stage readings, and referenced in visual art. Its publication also contributed to the rise of the countercultural movements of the 1960s.
Related Topics
- Beat Generation literature
- Allen Ginsberg (biography, other works)
- Lawrence Ferlinghetti and City Lights Publishers
- 1957 Howl obscenity trial
- Walt Whitman’s influence on modern poetry
- Countercultural movements of the 1950s‑1960s
- Censorship and free‑speech law in the United States
Howl continues to be studied as a seminal example of mid‑twentieth‑century poetic innovation and social critique.