Borrowed Lines: The Use of Quotations and Italics in the Poems of Jeet Thayil

By : Annie Abraham, Satish Gore

Page No: 88-96

Abstract
This paper examines the borrowed lines and the use of quotations and italics in the poems of Jeet Thayil. It argues that Jeet Thayil borrows lines and uses quotations and italics to populate various voices in his poems. The borrowed lines unite the poet with his immediate predecessor by forming a creative bridge between the past and present. This paper also argues that in some of his poems, Jeet Thayil borrowed the first lines from other poets, especially those he admired and adored. These lines add literary value and taste to his poems. This inventive way leads to further artistic expression and creation. With this inventiveness, Jeet Thayil has imagined and created a world in his poems and paid homage to his favourite writers. Although it’s an inventive way, it can be argued that there remains a sense of loss and a fear of misreading these poems.

Authors
Annie Abraham is a PhD scholar at KTHM, College, Nashik affiliated with Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune. 
Satish Gore teaches English literature and language at Haribhai V. Desai College, Pune.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/POET.2025.38.01.13