2: Writing about Form - Developing the Foundations of Close Reading
- Page ID
- 14771
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- Understand the theory of New Criticism as the foundation for close reading.
- Apply the New Critical methodology to works of literature.
- Engage in the writing process of a peer writer, including peer review.
- Review and evaluate a variety of New Critical papers by peer writers.
- Draft and revise a New Critical paper on a literary work.
- 2.1: Literary Snapshot - Through the Looking-Glass
- This page explores Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking-Glass," focusing on Alice's encounters with absurdity and the complexities of language as illustrated by Humpty Dumpty. It emphasizes the significance of close reading in literary analysis and encourages readers to engage deeply with challenging texts, including poetry.
- 2.2: The Foundations of New Criticism- An Overview
- This page explores the use of the urn metaphor in the poetry of John Donne and Thomas Gray, symbolizing artistic meaning and highlighting the foundational principles of New Criticism. It advocates for close reading to reveal tensions and ambiguities, emphasizing the importance of understanding a work's aesthetic structure. The page discusses Cleanth Brooks's defense of Keats's "Ode on a Grecian Urn" against T.S.
- 2.3: Close Reading Strategies - A Process Approach
- This page outlines New Criticism's literary analysis strategies, emphasizing the value of multiple readings and the relationship between reading and writing. It provides a ten-step writing plan that includes formulating questions, thesis construction, gathering evidence, and revising based on peer feedback. The importance of peer review in enhancing critical reading skills and informing revisions is highlighted, ultimately aiming to improve the quality of the final paper.
- 2.4: Student Writer at Work- Kelly Ann Wolslegel’s Close Reading of Edna St. Vincent Millay’s “Love Is Not All”
- This page analyzes Edna St. Vincent Millay's poem "Love Is Not All," which examines the paradox of love, highlighting its emotional necessity despite being unable to meet physical needs. Utilizing New Criticism, the poem's imagery and structure underscore the tension between love's inadequacies and its irreplaceable role in emotional survival.
- 2.5: Student Sample Papers- Todd Goodwin’s “Poe’s ‘Usher’- A Mirror of the Fall of the House of Humanity” and Amy Chisnell’s “Don’t Listen to the Egg!- A Close Reading of Lewis Carroll’s ‘Jabberwocky’”
- This page examines two literary works: Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher," focusing on themes of decay and hopelessness conveyed through mirror imagery, and Carroll's "Jabberwocky," which underscores the value of nonsense words in preserving the poem's charm and meaning. It argues that reducing poetry to literal interpretations diminishes its beauty and significance.
- 2.6: End-of-Chapter Assessment
- This page discusses the close reading technique in literature, emphasizing New Criticism principles by focusing solely on the text to derive unity and broader truths. It highlights the importance of the writing process, particularly peer review, and includes practical exercises like freewriting on a poem to deepen understanding. Additionally, it offers guidelines for collaborative peer review in classroom settings to enhance writing skills.
- 2.7: Suggestions for Further Reading
- This page outlines essential sources on New Criticism, featuring influential works and authors such as Brooks, Warren, Litz, Ransom, Spurlin, Wellek, and Wimsatt. It emphasizes key texts necessary for comprehending the principles of New Criticism and its connection to modern literary theory, establishing a foundational guide for analyzing literary texts through this critical approach.
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