Scholar calls Taylor Swift a ‘literary giant,’ compares her to Shakespeare

Renowned scholar Sir Jonathan Bate, a former Shakespeare professor at Warwick University, has praised Taylor Swift’s talent as a poet and compared her to some of history’s greatest writers, including William Shakespeare himself. In an article titled Why Taylor Swift is a Literary Giant for The Sunday Times Magazine, Sir Jonathan analysed the pop star’s “literary sensibility” that was evident from her debut album, and opined that she was more than just “high-class showbiz”.

Sir Jonathan, who had “one of the best nights of [his] life” at one of Swift’s concerts, said he believed that she was a “real poet” and reflected upon how she has been influenced by Shakespeare. He noted how Swift had succeeded in “rewriting his darker moments” to make them “more palatable”, citing her song Love Story as an example. The academic called the hit an “almost perfect pop song, with its catchy hook, driving rhythm and ingenious use of banjo and mandolin”.

“Listening to her lyrics, which most of the rapturous (mainly female) audience seemed to know by heart, I came away with confirmation of a thought I first had 15 years ago: this isn’t just high-class showbiz, Taylor Swift is a real poet,” he said.

Swift’s references to Shakespeare were evident in the song, where she sings: “You were Romeo, you were throwin’ pebbles/ And my daddy said, ‘Stay away from Juliet’.” Sir Jonathan lauded the singer’s ability to change and adapt Shakespearean themes for contemporary audiences.

The scholar admitted that he had been impressed by Swift’s debut album Fearless and used it to teach his students at Warwick University how Shakespeare had been changed and adapted over the years. Sir Jonathan pointed out that the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet was not part of the original text, and was instead introduced in the 18th century in a stage production by David Garrick.

Sir Jonathan also highlighted Swift’s references to other literary giants, including Ernest Hemingway, Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson. He concluded his article by saying that while he was not yet ready to compare Swift to Bob Dylan, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, he believed that her potential was limitless.

“The enduring advocacy of the distinguished critic Professor Sir Christopher Ricks eventually won Bob Dylan the Nobel Prize in Literature. I’m not sure I would yet go that far for Taylor Swift, but watch this space,” he concluded.

Swift, who has sold over 200 million records worldwide, is one of the most successful musicians in history. She is the most streamed woman on Spotify and the only artist to have five albums with more than 1 million copies sold in the US. Sir Jonathan’s article has sparked a debate about the role of popular culture in contemporary literature, and many are now viewing Swift’s music through a literary lens.

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