Literary Critics

I will begin by discussing the genre of poetry because it is very different from the classic novels and short stories read in school. Poetry is defined as, “writing that formulates a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience in language chosen and arranged to create a specific emotional response through meaning, sound, and rhythm.” This form of expression has helped readers adapt to new ways of thinking and understanding each other. Poems use many forms of figurative language to help tell a story to the reader while imposing strong emotions to that reader. These figurative elements include imagery, rhythm, word choice, and many more. However, the evolving acceptance of mental health in society has sparked many poets with a way to express their struggles and emotions.

With many mental illnesses comes an overwhelming feeling of being misunderstood and alone. With poetry, the readers are able to relate their struggles and experiences with the writer. According to MindWise Innovations, a mental health treatment center, poetry has the power to provide comfort, shared experiences, and change. With Rupi Kaur’s poetry, she shares her trauma and personal struggles with depression and anxiety. Kaur’s poetry can help those by providing support and, “letting us (the readers) know that we are not going through these personal struggles alone.” Poets like Kaur have helped break the stigma about mental health by talking about it and including those themes in their poetry.

Kaur’s poetry can be defined as confessional poetry which is, “when the first-person speaker relates her own thoughts and experiences.” Kaur's poems are about her experiences with rape, sexual assault, and other traumatic events that have happened in her life. Kaur’s books are composed of sections that contain poems about that topic. For example, In her 2020 book, home body the sections are titled mind, heart, rest, and awake. The book takes the reader through the journey of healing and the ups and downs of life. But does Kaur’s poetry merely summarize traumatic events in hopes that someone has gone through the same? It is said that she, “often over simplifies these subjects ( rape, sexual assault, trauma) as well as the process of overcoming them.” This simplicity almost makes it possible for everyone to relate to her poetry in some way. Her poetry, “frequently just defines these issues for what they are, rather than providing any sort of insight.” This style of poetry has made many critics frustrated with the new generation of poets for not continuing the traditional ways of writing.

Some believe that her poetry is too simple and, “easy to digest.” They believe Kaur generalizes her poems too much and, “gives her readers the false illusion of depth.” This led critics to wonder what the true definition of poetry was, and if it could be flexible and molded to different styles. Kaur’s poetry is different from most poems because, “it focuses more on universality than specific details.” Her books consist of short poems and anecdotes paired with doodles drawn by her. These simple drawings show a sense of personalization and intimacy between the poet and the reader. That connection can cause the reader to feel more emotion from her poems. This style of poetry has made critics speak out about her validity as a poet. While some critics think her poetry, “merely capitalizes on lazy techniques,” others think that, “just because her writing is short and minimalistic does not mean that Kaur is not a true poet.” When reading her poetry, you can see her passion for writing and her love of creativity. It’s as if you can, “feel a presence behind the poem,” that helps guide the reader through their struggles.

Lastly, the topic of how Kaur rose to fame must be talked about. Kaur began her career by posting her poems on Tumblr, a social media platform, in 2012. She then started posting on Instagram and gained tremendous support from her fans and followers. Many other poets also began posting on Instagram, thus the label, “Instapoet” was created. However, this new platform for poets has been met with harsh criticism. While some believe that instapoets, “set aside the hefty, over-sophisticated language of traditional poetry,” and help readers by, “allowing their words to be easily consumed by readers,” others believe that it's not true poetry. They think that instapoets, “don’t rely on critics and reviewers,” for analysis and commentary. Also, it is also important to acknowledge the fact that intapoets are accused of posting their poems online just for the money. Although they do earn money from their posts, many of the poets claim that the support they get just from the readers connecting to their poems is rewarding enough.