Representation Of Work Experiences Within The Poetry Of Four Contemporary Southern Appalachian Poets

Work experiences as they appear in contemporary Southern Appalachian poetry are issues that have yet to be explored. Critics examine the work of Southern Appalachian poets sometimes as romantic, celebrating a bygone era, rather than examining it in the context of the working class. Topics discussed in this study of working-class experiences include "women's work" in the poetry of Kathryn Stripling Byer, "farm work" in Robert Morgan's poetry, work in textile mills and manual labor within the poetry of Ron Rash, and social issues along with character identity through working individuals in the poetry of Bennie Lee Sinclair.