Hart Crane

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An American poet known for the long poem The Bridge

proper noun
/hɑrt kreɪn/

: Hart Crane

Many critics consider Hart Crane to be one of the greatest American poets of his generation.

Examples

The innovative structure of 'The Bridge' makes Hart Crane's work both challenging and rewarding to study.
Did you read any poems by Hart Crane?
Hart Crane's poetry captures the complexity and promise of early twentieth-century America.
Many consider Hart Crane a pivotal figure in American poetry.
Hart Crane is celebrated for his unique imagery and profound themes in American poetry.
The influence of Hart Crane can be seen in the works of many contemporary poets.
In his poem 'The Bridge', Hart Crane explores the relationship between America and modernity.

Surface Forms

Hart Crane main

Morphology

Hart + Crane

This is a proper name referring to a specific individual (an American poet), so the meaning is referential rather than compositional. Knowing the constituent words 'Hart' and 'Crane' (which here have no lexical definitions) does not allow a learner to infer the person’s identity or biographical meaning, making the expression non-derivable from its parts.

Etymology

Hart Crane belongs to an American 'poet' who wrote a long poem called 'The Bridge' that tries to connect old and new America like a real bridge. So when people mention Hart Crane they mean a writer of bold, ambitious poems about America.