This dissertation is structured around five Australian mystical poets: Ada Cambridge,
John Shaw Neilson, Francis Webb, Judith Wright and Kevin Hart. It examines the
varieties of Western Christian mysticism upon which these poets draw, or with which
they exhibit affinities. A short prelude section to each chapter considers the thematic
parallels of their contemporaries, while the final chapter critically investigates
constructions of Indigeneity in Australian mystical poetry and the renegotiated
mystical poetics of Indigenous poets and theologians.
The central argument of this dissertation is that an understanding of Western
Christian mysticism is essential to the study of Australian poetry. There are three
sub-arguments: firstly, that Australian literary criticism regarding the mystical
largely avoids the concept of mysticism as a shifting notion both historically and in
the present; secondly, that what passes for mysticism is recurringly subject to poorly
defined constructions of mysticism as well as individual poetsÂ’ use of the mystical
for personal, creative or ideological purposes; thirdly, that in avoiding the concept of
a shifting notion critics have ignored the increasing contribution of Australian poets
to national and international discourses of mysticism.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/207658 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Davidson, Toby, tdavidso@deakin.edu.au |
| Publisher | Deakin University. School of Communication and Creative Arts |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | http://www.deakin.edu.au/disclaimer.html), Copyright Toby Davidson |
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