"I was reading the poems of Rochester. Rochester made himself out to be bisexual, but I think that was only to shock. Most of his poetry is sexual, even pornographic"
- Thom Gunn
About this Quote
Thom Gunn's quote recommends that the 17th century poet, John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester, was likely not bisexual, however instead utilized his poetry to shock and titillate his audience. Gunn indicates that Rochester's poetry was typically sexual and even pornographic in nature, which Rochester's claims of bisexuality were most likely exaggerated for the function of producing a scandalous reputation. This interpretation is supported by the truth that Rochester was known for his libertine way of life and his willingness to flout the conventions of his time. It is likely that Rochester utilized his poetry to reveal his own sexual desires and to shock his audience, rather than to make a declaration about his own sexuality.
This quote is written / told by Thom Gunn between August 29, 1929 and April 25, 2004. He/she was a famous Poet from United Kingdom.
The author also have 27 other quotes.
"I think Ginsberg has done more harm to the craft that I honor and live by than anybody else by reducing it to a kind of mean that enables the most dubious practitioners to claim they are poets because they think, If the kind of thing Ginsberg does is poetry, I can do that"
"Nothing truly convincing - which would possess thoroughness, vigor, and skill - has been written against the ancients as yet; especially not against their poetry"
"The dance can reveal everything mysterious that is hidden in music, and it has the additional merit of being human and palpable. Dancing is poetry with arms and legs"
"A book is sent out into the world, and there is no way of fully anticipating the responses it will elicit. Consider the responses called forth by the Bible, Homer, Shakespeare - let alone contemporary poetry or a modern novel"
