R.S. Thomas

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiii

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Elaine Shepherd

   Pages 1-10

3. Reading the Image

   • Elaine Shepherd

   Pages 11-48

4. Landscape as Image

   • Elaine Shepherd

   Pages 49-88

5. Myth and Science as Images of God

   • Elaine Shepherd

   Pages 89-127

6. The Via Negativa

   • Elaine Shepherd

   Pages 128-156

7. Counterpoint

   • Elaine Shepherd

   Pages 157-185

8. Conclusion

   • Elaine Shepherd

   Pages 186-189

9. Back Matter

   Pages 190-216

   PDF

R.S. Thomas's presentation of God has given rise to controversy and dissent. Exploring Thomas's techniques of creating his images of God, Elaine Shepherd addresses the problems surrounding the language of religion and of religious poetry. Refusing to limit herself to conventionally religious poems, and drawing on material from the earliest work to Counterpoint and beyond, she identifies the challenges with which Thomas confronts his readers. The sequence of close readings engages the reader in an exploration of language and image: from the image of woman as constructed by the Impressionist to the non-image of the mystical theologian.

• bibliography
• counterpoint
• drawing
• god
• knowledge
• landscape
• language
• poem
• poetry
• religion
• British and Irish Literature

ELAINE SHEPHERD

Policies and ethics