Literary Criticism (II): Language and Society. Starting Questions: What are the artistic components...
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Transcript of Literary Criticism (II): Language and Society. Starting Questions: What are the artistic components...
Literary Criticism (II):
Language and Society
Starting Questions:
• What are the artistic components of a poem? And of a short stories?
• How about language components? • Social components?• How is language/literature related to
society?– Reflection? Criticizing? Constructing?– Society’s structure? Cultures? Views and
Biases?
Example I: “The Long Enchantment”
1. Structuralist • Sender of message: Pony
Receiver: Flora• Subject (Heroine) of a Quest: Flora
Object: Pony • Helper: Flora & Pony Themselve
s• Opponent: Wizard
Not a Fairy
Not a Prince
Example I: “The Long Enchantment”2. Sociological:
• Flora’s class background? – Why is the pear so important? • Who is the real villain?
3. Deconstruction: – The Wizard’s message. What does t
he pear represent in this text?
Example II: Milton’s Sonnet 19
When I consider how my light is spentEre half my days in this dark world and wide,And that one talent which is death to hideLodg'd with me useless, though my soul mor
e bentTo serve therewith my Maker, and presentMy true account, lest he returning chide,"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?"I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
Example II: Milton’s Sonnet 19
That murmur, soon replies: "God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts: who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speedAnd post o'er land and ocean without rest:They also serve who only stand and wait."
Questions about the sonnet:
• New Critical approach:
What are the poetic techniques used? What are the tensions and ironies in this poem? And how are they resolved?
• Structuralist approach:
How does the syntax help convey the contradictions? Is there a resolution syntactically?
Questions about the sonnet(2)
• Marxist approach:
What are the ideologies conveyed in this poem? Does the poet fully support the Puritan idea of predestination?
• Deconstruction:
Again, the central contradiction, can it be resolved?