continues Walcott’s exploration of the long narrative poem, a journey which had begun with

(1973) and had continued, taking new directions, with

(1990) and

(2000).

is an autobiography, the story of the making of the poet and painter on his native island in his early life. The subsequent narrative poems have a strong component of autobiography, with

returning more comprehensively to that genre. It is itself a story of journeys and returns, its basic trajectory tracing journeys of the poet in the outside world and his return to his island home. The physical journeys also involve journeys of the imagination and journeys into memory; they constitute an attempt to define his poetic location and identity. The main…

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Citation: Baugh, Edward . "The Prodigal: A Poem". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 12 May 2009 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=24673, accessed 23 November 2024.]

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