ARTHUR RIMBAUD 1854 1891 Arthur Rimbaud was a

ARTHUR RIMBAUD 1854 - 1891

Arthur Rimbaud was a French poet who : - influenced modern litterature and arts - inspired various musicians - prefigured surrealism

Jean Nicolas Arthur Rimbaud • Born on October 20 th 1854 in Charleville, Ardennes • He strarted writing poems while still in primary school • He stopped completely before he turned 21 • He was mostly creative in his teens (17 – 20) • He traveled extensively on 3 continents before his death • Arthur Rimbaud passed away from cancer just after his 37 th birthday on November 1891

FAMILY BACKGROUND Arthur was the second child of Frederic Rimbaud and Marie Catherine Vitalie Cuif

FREDERIC RIMBAUD October 7 th 1814 – November 16 th 1878 • Rimbaud’s father was an infantry captain who spent much of his army carrer abroad • He was described as « good tempered, easy going and generous » • From 1844 to 1850, he participated in the conquest of Algeria • In 1854 he was awarded the « Legion d’honneur » • When he was 38, he was transfered to Mezière where he met Vitalie Cuif, 11 years his junior…

MARIE CATHERINE VITALIE CUIF March 10 th 1825 – November 16 th 1907 • Rimbaud’s mother came from a bohemians family • Two of her brothers were alcoholics • Her personality was the « exact opposite » of Rimbaud’s father • Arthur Rimbaud private name for his mom was « Mouth of Darkness » (bouche d’ombre) Because she was completely lacking in a sence of humour

FAMILY VIEW Captain Rimbaud and Vitalie got married February 8 th 1853 First born : Jean Nicolas Arthur Jean Nicolas Frederic 9 months later October 20 th 1854 Victorine Pauline Vitalie Jeanne Rosalie Vitalie Died few weeks later June 4 th 1857 June 15 th 1858 Frederic Marie Isabelle June 1 st 1860

MISSING DAD Arthur Rimbaud grew up without his father Neither the captain or his children showed the interest in re-establishing contact

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND 8 years old • Arthur was sent to school • Before that, he had been taught at home by his mother 11 years old • He was sent to the College de Charleville At college he became a highly succesful student • 1869 : He won 8 school first prices • 1970 : He won 7 school first prices

IMPORTANT PERSONALITIES IN ARTHUR’S LIFE Father Ariste L’héritier • Was hired by Arthur’s mother and taught him about Greek, Latin and French litterature • He was the first to encourage Rimbaud to write original verse, in both French and Latin George Izambard • A new teacher of retoric when Arthur was 15 years old • He was Rimbaud’s literary mentor

A DEPARTURE IN A HARD LIFE • After school Arthur left his family and started to travel • His behaviors became openly provocative, he drank alcohol, spoke rudely and stole books…

LIFE WITH VERLAINE 1871 - 1875 • Verlaine was a poet • His wife, Mathilde Mauté was seventeen years old and pregnant • Arthur and Verlaine began a short and torrid affair • During this time, Verlaine abandoned his wife and son …

SICKNESS AND DEATH 1891 Arthur was diagnosed a bone cancer He died on November 10 th 1891 at the age of 37

WORKS • • Le Soleil Était Encore Chaud (1866) Poésies (1869 – 1873) Soleil et chair (1870) Le bateau ivre (1871) Proses Évangeliques (1872) Une Saison en Enfer (1873) Illuminations (1874) Lettres (1870 – 1891)

SENSATION On the blue summer evenings, I shall go down the paths, 
Getting pricked by the corn, crushing the short grass: 
In a dream I shall feel its coolness on my feet. 
I shall let the wind bathe my bare head. I shall not speak, I shall think about nothing: 
But endless love will mount in my soul; 
And I shall travel far, very far, like a gipsy, 
Through the countryside - as happy as if I were with a woman. Arthur Rimbaud
March 1870.

SENSATION (French) Par les soirs bleus d'été, j'irai dans les sentiers, 
Picoté par les blés, fouler l'herbe menue : 
Rêveur, j'en sentirai la fraîcheur à mes pieds. 
Je laisserai le vent baigner ma tête nue. 

Je ne parlerai pas, je ne penserai rien : 
Mais l'amour infini me montera dans l'âme, 
Et j'irai loin, bien loin, comme un bohémien, 
Par la Nature, - heureux comme avec une femme.

EXPLICATION Sensation was one of the Arthur’s most famous poems This poem was writen when Rimbaud was sixteen, just before his first diparture to Paris. In this poem, we find a teenager’s soul looking for happiness and escape. Desire to leave the family’s environment, find freedom, nature and travels. A lot of sensuality, even though if Rimbaud prefers find it with the nature than with a woman…

INFLUENCES • Rimbaud's poetry, as well as his life, influenced many 20 th-century writers, musicians and artists, including Pablo Picasso, Bob Dylan et many others…. • His life has been portrayed in several films. “Total Eclipse” based on Rimbaud and Verlaine relashionship starred Leonardo Di. Caprio as Rimbaud and David Thewlis as Paul Verlaine • He is also the protagonist of the opera “Rimbaud, ou le fils du soleil” (1978) by Lorenzo Ferrero, Italian composer • In 2012 composer John Zorn released a CD titled “Rimbaud” featuring 4 compositions inspired by Rimbaud's work

COMMENTS OR CRITICS « When I first began reading Rimbaud, I already knew a great deal about his life and identified whis vulgar attitude toward society. His affinity for poets like Baudelaire are obvious indications that Arthur was attracted to the darker side of living. This was the method to his inspiration for writing. » Poetry Mill, website “If u r looking for a true rebel. . a constant disclaimer of world orthodoxy then rimbaud is the closest you can get. . . . morever he was young, vibrant and too close to dream than reality. . unashamed of his thoughts, profane at times but nonetheless a genius who wrote with no qualm whatsoever!” Shakti Shetty, reader, Poem hunter. com

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