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Order of the Manuscripts

Order and Development of  the "Minotaur" Drafts 

The manuscripts displayed throughout this site are in the order Merrill placed them in before sending to Special Collections, Washington University Libraries. In the case of the manuscripts of "The Broken Home," there are hints of the development of the poem in the manuscript order; and in this case, I have explored the issue (see Notes on the Manuscripts).

In the case of the "Minotaur" manuscripts, the order seems more random than usual. However, the dates on the manuscript allow one to follow the development of the poem. Merrill apparently wished to record how quickly he wrote the poem. The poem was virtually finished in three days from September 22 through 24, 1994. In the typescript that Merrill gave to Jerl Sarratt on September 25, only one revision was still to come in the finished poem:"Take my life" to "Devour my life."

Development of the Drafts, with some key phrases.

1) MS 9 Dated “Sept 22 middle of night.” 

2) MS 8 Dated “22-23 ix 94.”  3 stanzas. No final stanza. Lines in red ink at bottom.

3) MS 7 on Pink Paper. No date but earlier than MS 8 Verso. “old witches. Ten gaunt men." “One smooth limb of cactus." Last line: ”But not to tell the tale.”

4) MS 8 Verso. No Date. Purple ink. "One firm limb of cactus."  "Old women, ten old men.” Last lines: “Or didn’t. / <Depends who> But not to tell<s> the tale."

5) MS 6  No date. "Pale ankle firm as cactus.”  Last lines: “Did we? / Depends who tells the tale."

6) MS 1 “24 ix 94.” Pink Paper. “The maze?”  for “Amazement.” Last lines: ”Or didn’t. Depends who tells the tale."

7) MS 4 Dated: ”24 ix 94  9 - 10: 30 am.”  IN AMAZEMENT.  “The Maze” changed to “The Amazement.” “Last lines: Did we / Depends who tells the tale.”   

8) Jerl Surratt MS  Dated “25. ix. 94.” (Suratt remembers that he received it when he met Merrill for lunch on Sept. 26 at 12:30 p.m.) Two small edits and the revision of "Take" to "Devour."

Several more manuscripts have small revisions. For example, in Manuscript 3, JM alters "fleet" to "Farwell's" to capture an allusion to Catullus' "Ave Atque Vale" ("Hail and Farwell").