| Summary: | Kim Kirim was the most prominent figure ~n the Korean literary world during the 1930s. He was a poet and critic, well versed in major western literary theories and poems of that time, and a pioneer in employing the techniques of western Modernism in literature. Kim believed the Modernism of western poetry could be very useful to reinvigorate the Korean poetry of the time. This study compares several important concepts of modern western poetics and poetry, as understood by Kim Kirim, with those of the western poets and critics who originally created and employed these new concepts. Kim's poetics are analyzed in detail to trace his theoretical understanding of western literary criticism and to show how he used them in building theories of modern Korean poetry. Several of his "misconceptions" exist unquestioned even at present and are strongly influencing modern Korean poetry. It is therefore essential in understanding the present state of Korean poetry that one begin with a study of Kim Kirim, since he contributed so much to providing new models for Korean poetry. This· work begins with a discussion of the nature of Korean poetry before the influence of Modernism. A discussion of elements of new poetics in Korea as introduced by Kim with special attention to areas of possible misinterpretation, leads the way to analysis indetail of "Kisangdo", Kim's most famous work, in relation to Eliot's poem "The Waste Land". Poetic concepts of unity, rhythm, and objectivity in modern poetry are the final areas of focus due to the importance that both Kim and the western Modernists placed on them
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