Lyric essay
Lyric Essay is a subgenre of essay writing, which combines qualities of poetry, essay, memoir, and research writing.
The lyric essay is considered high art, and often requires work and association on behalf of the reader.[1]
Proponents of the lyric essay classification insist it differs from prose poetry in its reliance on association rather than line breaks and juxtaposition.[2]
Form
Lyric essays are also unique in their reliance on form. Two types of lyric essay forms exist: found form and invented form. Found form borrows the form of an external frame, such as foot notes or indexes, to bring about the meaning of the essay. Invented form can take any shape and organization which the writer creates to further communicate the essay.
Publications
The most prominent publication which focuses on lyric essay is the Seneca Review.
Prominent Lyric Essayists
- Mary Margaret Alvarado
- Eula Biss
- Jenny Boully
- Giannina Braschi
- Hélène Cixous
- John D'Agata
- Joan Didion
- Amy Leach
- Dinty Moore
- Maggie Nelson
- Michael Ondaatje
- Elena Passarello
- Lia Purpura
- David Shields
- Jennifer Sinor
- Deborah Tall
- Anne Carson
- David Foster Wallace
External Resources
- Purdue OWL: The Lyric Essay
- Seneca Review: The Lyric Essay
- Manipulations of the World: On The Lyric Essay