Student Scholarship
Document Type
Research Paper
Abstract
The scepter's scale, inland is a collection of modern poetry and prose by Holly Zanville, presented in 1968. The work is characterized by its experimental structure, evocative imagery, and a recurring focus on physical sensations and existential themes. The document is organized into seven major sections, beginning with more abstract and surreal pieces that delve into childhood memories and the creative process.
In the early sections, Zanville uses visceral language to explore themes of identity and perception, often contrasting the mundane with the profound. For instance, a half-yet hour describes a narrator reflecting on a childhood clown and the patterns of leaves against a screen, while Creative, mister redefines the creative act not as labor but as an intense physical feeling. These sections frequently blend human and animal imagery, such as in The lion aged, which uses a lion to explore guilt and savage joy.
The middle of the collection shifts toward narrative-driven poetry and prose that addresses societal issues and mortality. Garbage on Thursday recounts a child’s fascination with garbage trucks and the sobering realization of death through the loss of a neighborly figure. Other pieces, such as A Matter with Death and Achilles’ wart, utilize classical allusions and stark imagery to contemplate the inevitability of the end and the vulnerability of the human form.
Later sections, including Camp Poems and The String-box Recital, draw on sensory experiences like swimming and jazz music to highlight moments of temporary freedom and connection. These works often conclude by returning to themes of cosmic indifference and the shared human condition, emphasizing that despite varied lives and struggles, individuals are blended in their final moments of realization and loss.
Research Highlights
Primary Figures: Holly Zanville, T.C. Render, and author Edward Albee.
Key Events: Presentation of literary work to the Lindenwood College English Department; documentation of summer camp instructional activities including swimming, fire-building, and nationalism ceremonies; medical observations of patients "Pearlie Whale" and "Cletie" at a blood clinic.
Date/Location: May 5, 1968; Lindenwood College, St. Charles, Missouri.
Archival Significance: This collection contains original poetry, short stories, and reflective essays exploring themes of identity, social dynamics, and human mortality; it includes creative responses to the teaching theories of T.C. Render and the plays of Edward Albee.
Publication Date
5-1968
Recommended Citation
Zanville, Holly, "The Scepter's Scale, inland" (1968). Student Scholarship. 160.
https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/student-research-papers/160
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
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