Allen Tate

Date of Birth: November 19, 1899

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Date of Death: February 9, 1979

Biography

Allen Tate was an American poet, essayist, and social commentator known for his contributions to 20th-century literature and criticism. Born on November 19, 1899, in Winchester, Kentucky, Tate was a prominent figure in the Southern Agrarian movement and was associated with the New Criticism school of thought. His poetry often explored themes of Southern history, identity, and the passage of time, characterized by its formal precision and intellectual rigor. Tate’s education began at Vanderbilt University, where he became a core member of the Fugitives, a group of poets and literary scholars that included Robert Penn Warren and John Crowe Ransom. This group later evolved into the Southern Agrarians, who advocated for traditional Southern values and agrarian society in opposition to industrialization and modernity. Among his most notable works is “Ode to the Confederate Dead,” a poem that captures the complexity of Southern heritage and the haunting presence of history. Tate also served as a professor at various institutions, including Princeton University and the University of Minnesota, where he influenced a generation of writers and scholars. Tate’s contributions to literature were recognized with numerous awards and honors throughout his life, including his appointment as the Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress (now known as the Poet Laureate). He continued to write and lecture until his death on February 9, 1979, in Nashville, Tennessee.

5 Interesting Facts about Allen Tate

1. Allen Tate was a founding member of the Southern Agrarians, a group that promoted traditional Southern culture and opposed industrialization.

2. His most famous poem, “Ode to the Confederate Dead,” is considered a masterpiece of modernist poetry.

3. Tate served as the Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 1943 to 1944.

4. He was married twice, first to the novelist Caroline Gordon and later to the poet Isabella Gardner.

5. Tate was a mentor to many young poets and writers, including Robert Lowell and Randall Jarrell.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Allen Tate

1. “Poetry is not a civilizer, rather the reverse, for great poetry appeals to the most primitive instincts.”

2. “The spring in Kentucky is filled with the genuine sense of hope, a glimpse of the eternal.”

3. “The poet’s voice need not merely comment on the world, it can transform it.”

4. “To be a poet in America is to be a preacher, and to be a preacher is necessarily to be a disturbing element.”

5. “The South is a place. East, West, and North are nothing but directions.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Allen Tate’s highest net worth is difficult to determine, but as a poet and academic, his wealth would have been modest compared to contemporary standards. His value lies more in his cultural and intellectual contributions rather than financial wealth.