In the following essay, Chipasula argues that the strains and pressures of the apartheid state, rather than inspiring Brutus, actually limited the extent of his poetic achievement.

In the following excerpt, Brutus speaks to an African literature class about the personal experiences and literary influences that shape his poetry

In the following excerpt, Ndu maintains that the presence of passion is critical for creating great poetry and he argues that Brutus's poetry is limited by what the author calls his "cautious " emotional involvement in the anti-apartheid movement.

In the following excerpt, Lent examines how the concrete landscape imagery in Strains embodies the abstract emotions of suffering and exile.

In the following review, Baraka faults the poetry in Airs and Tributes as being written to please academics and for failing to fully serve the international "revolutionary struggle."

In the following excerpt, Ayling offers an assessment of the poems in Salutes and Censures and criticizes Brutus for writing poetry without tension.

In the following interview, Brutus discusses with Pieterse some of the themes and techniques of his poetry, as well as his principal influences.

In the following excerpt, Ogunyemi charts how Brutus transformed his prison experiences into a "humanistic" poetry that grapples with the problems of existence.

In the following excerpt, Egudu describes Brutus's poetry as the expression of "mental agony" and praises his use of emotional tension.