International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research

Authors
Adeelle S Judilla, Carmel VIP C Derasin

Abstract
This literary study assumes that Carl Sandburg’s select poems reveal his presence in the personae, addressing his readers through the visions’ affect via the images. The verbal data supporting this assumption are descriptively analyzed based on the theories of expressivism, affecivism, and formalism which are elaborated in the first three chapters of the study. Related literature and studies and the analysis of the five selected poems exhaust the evidence to support the assumption. Arriving at these findings revealed: there is a vivid manifestation of the writer’s presence through the personae. Sandburg’s presence is mirrored in the personae of his poems as there can be found a striking similarity in their personalities. The vision deeply affects the addressee via vivid and clear images. The addressee or reader undergoes a catharsis and produces a reader response. Five poems are produced as a textual response to the five poetic visions. In conclusion, it has been proven that Carl Sandburg’s select poems reveal his presence in the personae, addressing his readers through the visions’ affect via the images. Consequently, the following are recommended: The literary scholars should venture into discovering the presence of writers in their work by conducting expressivist-historicist critiques of less known poems; literary critics should view Sandburg’s poetry in a psycho-social manner in relation to themselves; and literary researchers should produce a formalistic reader response using or modifying the poetic style and vivid imagery of Sandburg.