Viola S. Wendt
Encyclopedia
Viola Sophia Wendt, Ph.D. (March 31, 1907 - March 23, 1986) was an American poet
and educator.
, in March 1907, the second of the three daughters of Carl and Thelma Wendt . Her parents moved to West Bend
, Wisconsin
in 1914 in order for her father to pursue new business opportunities. Viola was educated there, graduating from West Bend High School in 1924. She was a bright student, especially excelling at languages, writing, and literary analysis . Accordingly, Wendt entered the University of Wisconsin–Madison
(UW), majoring in English Literature
. During her time there as an undergraduate, Viola acquired a particular affinity for poetry and was told by professors that her compositions revealed a "talent for the bizarre."
(now part of Harvard University
) in Cambridge
, Massachusetts, after receiving her B.A.
degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1928. Eighteen months later, when the U.S. stock market crashed, ushering in the Great Depression
, Wendt and her family were no longer able to afford tuition at Radcliffe, and she was forced to suspend her studies . Viola returned to Wisconsin and set about obtaining a general teaching certificate so she could earn a living. In the meantime, she was employed as a live-in nanny
for several families in Madison . Wendt completed work on an M.A.
degree in English at Wisconsin in 1936. With a teaching certificate in hand, she was employed there as a graduate assistant in English, and then taught that subject at the Platteville
State Teachers College (now University of Wisconsin–Platteville) .
Entry of the U.S. into World War II
in December 1941 had a definite impact on faculty numbers at many colleges in Wisconsin. One of them was Carroll College (now Carroll University) in Waukesha, which, having lost 3 English professors to military service, offered Ms. Wendt a position in that department in 1942. She entered as an assistant professor and remained at that institution for the rest of her career, achieving full Professor status in the early 1960s. Wendt was recognized by her students as a demanding and accomplished instructor. At the same time, she was an understanding individual with a wry sense of humor and a good perspective on the ironies and spiritual aspects of life . While teaching at Carroll, Wendt continued work on a Ph.D.
at UW, which was completed in 1947. Her doctoral dissertation was a psychologically-oriented analysis of the works of Archibald MacLeish
.
. Later in her life she published several anthologies of her poems, entitled "You Keep Waiting for Geese" (1975) ; "The Wind is Rising" (1979) ; and "In Any Available Light" (1983) . These received critical acclaim, exemplified in this review by Dr. Herman Salinger of Duke University
in 1975:
"The wit and sometimes acid irony of these poems-- on love, death, and age, and the many faces of God-- are tempered with the wisdom of maturity. Only a lifetime of living intimately and critically with words and, like Wordsworth, seeing 'into the life of things,' could produce such poems as 'Love is Loose in the Streets' or the Franciscan
note of the series on 'The Creatures with Whom We Share the Earth.' Here is a highly original temperament, disciplined by a subtle, almost shy, classicism-- yet boldly modern in feeling" .
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and educator.
Early life and education
Wendt was born into a farming family in Boise, IdahoIdaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, in March 1907, the second of the three daughters of Carl and Thelma Wendt . Her parents moved to West Bend
West Bend, Wisconsin
West Bend is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Wisconsin, United States in southeastern Wisconsin. The population was estimated to be 29,894 in 2008...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
in 1914 in order for her father to pursue new business opportunities. Viola was educated there, graduating from West Bend High School in 1924. She was a bright student, especially excelling at languages, writing, and literary analysis . Accordingly, Wendt entered the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
(UW), majoring in English Literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
. During her time there as an undergraduate, Viola acquired a particular affinity for poetry and was told by professors that her compositions revealed a "talent for the bizarre."
Graduate education and teaching career
She secured a position as a graduate student in English at Radcliffe CollegeRadcliffe College
Radcliffe College was a women's liberal arts college in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was the coordinate college for Harvard University. It was also one of the Seven Sisters colleges. Radcliffe College conferred joint Harvard-Radcliffe diplomas beginning in 1963 and a formal merger agreement with...
(now part of Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
) in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, Massachusetts, after receiving her B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1928. Eighteen months later, when the U.S. stock market crashed, ushering in the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, Wendt and her family were no longer able to afford tuition at Radcliffe, and she was forced to suspend her studies . Viola returned to Wisconsin and set about obtaining a general teaching certificate so she could earn a living. In the meantime, she was employed as a live-in nanny
Nanny
A nanny, childminder or child care provider, is an individual who provides care for one or more children in a family as a service...
for several families in Madison . Wendt completed work on an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in English at Wisconsin in 1936. With a teaching certificate in hand, she was employed there as a graduate assistant in English, and then taught that subject at the Platteville
Platteville, Wisconsin
Platteville is the largest city in Grant County in southwestern Wisconsin. The population was 11,224 at the 2010 census, growing 12% since the 2000 Census. Much of this growth is likely due to the enrollment increase of the University of Wisconsin–Platteville...
State Teachers College (now University of Wisconsin–Platteville) .
Entry of the U.S. into World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in December 1941 had a definite impact on faculty numbers at many colleges in Wisconsin. One of them was Carroll College (now Carroll University) in Waukesha, which, having lost 3 English professors to military service, offered Ms. Wendt a position in that department in 1942. She entered as an assistant professor and remained at that institution for the rest of her career, achieving full Professor status in the early 1960s. Wendt was recognized by her students as a demanding and accomplished instructor. At the same time, she was an understanding individual with a wry sense of humor and a good perspective on the ironies and spiritual aspects of life . While teaching at Carroll, Wendt continued work on a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
at UW, which was completed in 1947. Her doctoral dissertation was a psychologically-oriented analysis of the works of Archibald MacLeish
Archibald MacLeish
Archibald MacLeish was an American poet, writer, and the Librarian of Congress. He is associated with the Modernist school of poetry. He received three Pulitzer Prizes for his work.-Early years:...
.
Publications
Dr. Wendt continued to write poetry throughout her career, and several poems were published as individual works. One of them, "On Reading Marianne Moore," was given one of the 1955 Borestone Mountain Poetry AwardsBorestone Mountain Poetry Awards
The Borestone Mountain Poetry Awards was an annual series of poetry anthologies first published in 1949. The poems were selected from those published in a given year in English-language magazines and books; in each volume, individual poems were designated as first, second, or third place in a...
. Later in her life she published several anthologies of her poems, entitled "You Keep Waiting for Geese" (1975) ; "The Wind is Rising" (1979) ; and "In Any Available Light" (1983) . These received critical acclaim, exemplified in this review by Dr. Herman Salinger of Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
in 1975:
"The wit and sometimes acid irony of these poems-- on love, death, and age, and the many faces of God-- are tempered with the wisdom of maturity. Only a lifetime of living intimately and critically with words and, like Wordsworth, seeing 'into the life of things,' could produce such poems as 'Love is Loose in the Streets' or the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
note of the series on 'The Creatures with Whom We Share the Earth.' Here is a highly original temperament, disciplined by a subtle, almost shy, classicism-- yet boldly modern in feeling" .