Theodore Spencer (1902–1949) was an American
poet
A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator ( thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral or writte ...
and academic.
Life
He graduated from
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private university, private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the List of Colonial Colleges, fourth-oldest ins ...
in 1923, and a Ph.D from
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...
in 1928. He then taught there, from 1927 to 1949. He was appointed lecturer in English literature at
Cambridge University
, mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts.
Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge.
, established =
, other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...
, England, in 1939. In 1942, Spencer gave the Lowell lectures on Shakespeare, published as ''Shakespeare and the Nature of Man'', his most important work. Spencer also published essays, short stories, and poetry.
His notebook is at
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private university, private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the List of Colonial Colleges, fourth-oldest ins ...
, and papers are at
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...
.
Awards
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Golden Rose Award
The Golden Rose Award, one of America’s oldest literary prizes, was inaugurated in 1919.
The rose was modeled after the Gold Rose which is now in the Cluny Museum in Paris. ThNew England Poetry Clubawards the Rose annually for American poetry. ...
Works
Poetry
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Essays
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References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spencer, Theodore
1902 births
1949 deaths
Princeton University alumni
Harvard University alumni
Harvard University faculty
20th-century American poets