A Semiotic Analysis of Morgenstern's Poem, "Fisches Nachtgesang"

• Published in: LiLi, Zeitschrift für Literaturwissenschaft und Linguistik Zeitschrift für Literaturwissenschaft und Linguistik, 1974-01, Vol.4 (16), p.49-67
• Main Author: van Zoest, Aart J A
• Format: Article
• Language: ger
• ISSN: 0049-8653

Morgenstern's "Fisches Nachtgesang" is a concrete poem because--with the exception of the title--it is made up only of non-linguistic elements. Hence, linguistic conceptual tools are inadequate for its analysis. However, semiotic concepts--as created by Charles Sanders Peirce--can serve perfectly well in its analysis. Extra-textual signs (indices) direct the reader's attention to the necessity of an esthetic, poetic interpretation. The title, composed of symbols, in the Peircian sense of the word, makes a further focussing of interpretation possible. But the final interpretation is made by means of the non-linguistic elements considered as iconic signs. As is usual in modern, & especially in concrete poetry, this interpretation is, in opposition to the formally closed character of the text, an open one. The conclusion is that the poem is mainly ironic, but it also has a clear critical & mystic meaning. It is shown that Peirce's semiotic concepts, & especially the notion of icon, are useful in studying particular text phenomena. AA