Mallarmé, Stéphane

(1842-1898) (Etienne Mallarmé)

   poet

   one of the founders of the symbolist movement, Etienne, better known as Stéphane, Mallarmé was born in Paris. He taught English at the Lycée Fan-tanes in Paris and in the provinces and translated literary works in English, notably the poems (1888) of Edgar Allen Poe. Mallarmé used symbols to express truth through suggestion, rather than by narrative, and his poetry and prose are characterized by experimental grammar, musical quality, and refinement through allusion and obscure thought. His best-known poems are L'Après-midi d'un faune (1816), which inspired the prelude by the composer claude debussy, and Hérodiade (1869). Mallarmé was also noted for his conversation, which, while his writings were obscure, was quite lucid. He held a renowned salon on Tuesday nights at his home on the rue de Rome in Paris, where his critiques of literature, art, and music helped to stimulate the creative efforts of the French symbolist writers and the artists and composers of the impressionist school. Moreover, Mal-larmé's influence on the modern conception of poetry is fundamental. Among his other poems and writings are L'Azur (1864), Brise marine (1865), Igi-tur ou la Folie d'Elbehnon (1867-70, posthumous, 1925). The master of the symbolist generation, Mallarmé influenced paul verlaine, andré gide, joris-karl huysmans, and many other writers and artists.