A White Melody In The Silence

Stephen Crane is one of the most talented and influential writers of America in the 1890s. Although Crane's fiction is widely read and criticized, there has been significant less written about his poetry. With the study of Crane's verse in this thesis, the author aims to help scholars and readers to learn the characters of Crane's poems, and intends to assure them that Crane has a high place in the history of American literature.This thesis is a lead-in to the realization of the vitality of Crane's poetry and to more academic studies. First, the author analyses the main themes of Crane's poems, probes the feelings and contradictory ideas embodied in the lines. Then, the thesis focuses on the symbols and images in Crane's poems. The author compares the techniques Crane applied in his poetry with that of symbolists and imagists. Listing the distinctions, the author stresses that Crane's verse is innovative and original. In addition, the author sums up the characters of crane's poetry, and highlights its importance and uniqueness. In the end, the author points out the limitation of this thesis and gives more research suggestions. Crane's poetry is fresh and experimental. It is still reprinted and studied today; still draws the attention of scholars, critics, and readers, even though more than one hundred years has passed. The originality and innovation of Crane's poetry should be realized and explored.