4.4.1.1.1 - Formalist/New Criticism
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Introduction to Formalist/New Criticism
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Welcome, everyone! Today, we will delve into Formalist/New Criticism. This approach is all about focusing on the text itself. Can anyone explain why we might focus solely on the text?
To understand its meaning without being influenced by the author or historical context?
Exactly! By isolating the text, we can examine literary elements like imagery and metaphor, revealing deeper meanings. Let's remember the acronym 'TEXT': Tone, Elements, Structure, and Theme. This will help us keep track of what to focus on!
What do you mean by Tone and Structure?
Great question! Tone refers to the author's attitude towards the subject, while Structure is about how the text is organized. Both greatly impact the meaning.
Can we explore closer how imagery fits into this?
Absolutely! Imagery involves using descriptive language that appeals to our senses. It enriches the reader's experience, enhancing the depth of meaning.
How do we even start a close reading?
Begin by selecting a passage, then focus on specific words, denotations, and connotations, asking how these choices shape the text's meaning. Before we wrap up, letβs summarize: Formalist/New Criticism emphasizes a close reading of texts to uncover irony, tone, and structure, while minimizing external influences.
Exploring Textual Elements
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Now, letβs discuss specific textual features further. How does understanding literary devices like metaphor enhance our reading?
Wouldnβt it help us see connections and deeper meanings?
Exactly! Metaphors can convey complex ideas in a relatable way. How about we remember the mnemonic 'MEAN' for metaphor analysis: Meaning, Effect, Angle, and Nuance? Can someone give me an example of a metaphor in a text?
In Shakespeareβs plays, 'All the worldβs a stage' means life is a performance?
Perfect! That metaphor speaks volumes about lifeβs transience and roles we play. Any thoughts on tone?
Tone changes how we feel about the story, right? Like a somber tone can make a scene feel more serious.
Absolutely! Tone influences our emotional response and understanding of themes. So, letβs summarize: We use MEAN to analyze metaphors and recognize how tone impacts our perception in a close reading.
Close Reading Practice
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Let's put our skills to the test with a close reading exercise. Iβll provide a brief poem for us to analyze together. Whatβs the first step?
We should look at the imagery and identify what stands out.
Right! Letβs circle back to our acronym TEXT. Can someone summarize the key elements from that?
Tone, Elements, Structure, and Theme.
Spot on! Let's examine the imagery together. What images do we notice?
Fleeting shadows and bright laughter. It sounds joyful yet transient.
Perfect observation! That juxtaposition between joy and transience speaks to deeper themes. Letβs recap: In close reading, itβs crucial to apply our acronym TEXT, focusing on imagery, tone, and the profound meanings within the text.
Introduction & Overview
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Quick Overview
Standard
Formalist/New Criticism centers on the close examination of a literary text's language, structure, and literary features to understand its meaning. This method minimizes the significance of external factors such as history and authorship, directing the analysis towards the text itself, its imagery, metaphor, tone, and other intrinsic elements, revealing deeper insights through careful reading.
Detailed
Formalist/New Criticism
Formalist/New Criticism is a literary theory that focuses exclusively on the text itself, advocating for a rigorous close reading that prioritizes the analysis of literary devices, structure, and language over external factors like historical or biographical context. Central to this approach is the belief that a text holds intrinsic meaning that can be uncovered through detailed examination of its elements. Key aspects of this approach include:
- Textual Features: Analysis extends to imagery, metaphor, tone, structure, and plot, where each aspect contributes significantly to the textβs overall meaning.
- Close Reading: A meticulous examination of the text allows for the uncovering of irony, paradox, and ambiguity, fostering a deeper understanding of the authorβs craft and its effect on readers.
- Self-Contained Nature of Texts: By isolating a text from its external context, Formalist/New Criticism posits that literary works can be understood independently, offering insights that are often reflective of universal human experiences and truths.
This critical approach is particularly effective for analyzing poetry, short stories, and passages where conciseness and linguistic precision are paramount, aiming to unveil the richness of meaning contained within the literary work itself.
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Understanding Formalism/New Criticism
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Chapter Content
Formalist/New Criticism: Deep dive into how specific textual features (imagery, metaphor, tone, structure, plot, characterization) create meaning intrinsically, without reference to external factors.
Detailed Explanation
Formalist criticism focuses on analyzing a text solely based on its internal structure and elements such as imagery, metaphor, tone, structure, plot, and characterization. It suggests that the meaning of a literary work is derived from its form and language rather than its author's intent or the historical context in which it was written. By closely reading the text, formalists aim to uncover deeper meanings and effects that arise from the text itself.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine reading a painting. You wouldn't just think about the artist's life or the time period it represents; you would also observe the colors, brushstrokes, and composition to understand its meaning. Similarly, Formalism requires readers to look closely at the words and structure of a literary text to uncover its deeper significance.
Close Reading Technique
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Chapter Content
Emphasis on close reading to uncover irony, paradox, and ambiguity.
Detailed Explanation
Close reading is a critical approach that involves examining the text's language, structure, and literary devices in depth. It helps identify elements like irony, paradox, and ambiguity, which contribute to the overall meaning of the text. By concentrating on specific passages and word choices, readers can reveal how these elements create tension, complexity, or multiple interpretations within the work.
Examples & Analogies
Consider a detective examining a crime scene. They scrutinize every detailβthe placement of objects, signs of struggle, and subtle cluesβto piece together what happened. In literary analysis, close reading works similarly, as readers dissect the text to uncover hidden meanings and insights, much like a detective solving a mystery.
Applications of Formalist Criticism
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Chapter Content
Application Focus: Ideal for analyzing poetry, short stories, and passages where linguistic precision and structural integrity are paramount.
Detailed Explanation
Formalist criticism is particularly effective when analyzing poetry, short stories, and specific passages because these forms rely heavily on language and structure to convey meaning. This approach allows readers to appreciate how form affects the emotional impact and overall message of the piece. By focusing on linguistic precision and the craft of writing, readers can better understand the author's choices and the work's artistic value.
Examples & Analogies
Think of a chef creating a dish. Every ingredient, from spices to presentation, has to be chosen with care to achieve the desired flavor and visual appeal. Similarly, when examining a poem or short story through Formalist Criticism, every word and structure in the text is like an ingredient in a recipe; it all works together to create a unique experience for the reader.
Key Concepts
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Formalist Criticism: Focus on the text itself and its features.
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Close Reading: Detailed analysis of the text with attention to its language and structure.
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Textual Features: Elements like imagery, metaphor, and tone that contribute to meaning.
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Self-Contained Text: Understanding that the meaning of a text can exist independently of external factors.
Examples & Applications
In Robert Frost's poem 'The Road Not Taken,' imagery of diverging paths symbolizes choices in life, illustrating the internal conflict of decision-makingβan effective example of formalist analysis where the text's own elements convey deeper meaning.
William Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' employs metaphor extensively, particularly in Lady Macbeth's 'Out, out brief candle,' which uses a metaphor to compare life to a flickering candle, highlighting the fragility of existence.
Memory Aids
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Rhymes
To read a text with care, Imagery and tone do share, Structure guides how it runs, Themes shine through, all at once!
Stories
Imagine a treasure map (the text) that leads you to gold (meaning). You need to carefully analyze each landmark (imagery, tone) and the path's structure to find your way to the riches.
Memory Tools
Remember 'TEXT': Tone, Elements, Structure, Theme.
Acronyms
Use 'MEAN' for metaphor analysis
Meaning
Effect
Angle
Nuance.
Flash Cards
Glossary
- Formalist Criticism
A literary approach that emphasizes the text itself and its intrinsic features over external contexts like author biography or history.
- Textual Analysis
The practice of examining a text closely to uncover its meaning, structure, and various literary elements.
- Close Reading
A method of analyzing a text in detail, focusing on language, structure, and meaning without considering external factors.
- Imagery
Descriptive or figurative language that appeals to the senses and enhances a textβs meaning.
- Metaphor
A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'.
- Tone
The authorβs attitude or emotional stance towards the subject matter or audience, as conveyed through their writing.
- Structure
The arrangement of elements within a text, including the way it is organized and how it progresses.
- Theme
The underlying message, insight, or moral of a literary work or passage.
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