Fugitives (poets)

The Fugitives were a group of poets and literary scholars associated with Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, during the 1920s. They initially convened as a poetry discussion group in 1915 under the name "The Fugitive," publishing a literary magazine of the same name from 1922 to 1925. The group is notable for its transition from a Romantic, Southern literary aesthetic to a more modernist and intellectually rigorous approach to poetry.

Key members included John Crowe Ransom, Allen Tate, Robert Penn Warren, Donald Davidson, and Merrill Moore. Initially, their work often reflected traditional Southern themes and sentimentality. However, under the influence of modernist poets such as T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound, the Fugitives began to explore new forms and techniques, grappling with issues of tradition, modernity, and the perceived decline of Southern culture in the face of industrialization and social change.

The Fugitive magazine became a significant platform for their evolving ideas and published work by many prominent writers of the time. After the magazine ceased publication, several members continued to develop their literary careers, becoming influential figures in American literature and criticism.

The Fugitives' legacy extends beyond their individual contributions. They played a crucial role in the development of New Criticism, a literary theory that emphasizes close reading of texts and focuses on the internal structures and complexities of a work, rather than external factors such as biography or historical context. John Crowe Ransom, in particular, is considered a key figure in the emergence of New Criticism. The group's exploration of Southern identity and its relationship to American modernity also laid the groundwork for later Southern Renaissance writers.

While the Fugitives embraced certain aspects of modernism, they were also critical of what they saw as its destructive effects on traditional values and social order. This tension between tradition and modernity is a recurring theme in their poetry and critical writings. The Fugitive movement represents a significant chapter in the history of American poetry and literary criticism, marking a transition from regional literary traditions to a more sophisticated and intellectually engaged form of modernism.