2-2. Discussion- Connections- Formalism and New Criticism PDF

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Lit200 Module 2 Discussion Formalism and New Criticism, Discussing Literary Theory, The Metamorphosis, A Narrow Fellow in the Grass...

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Daria Smith Giraud LIT200 – J1160 Critical Approaches Date Assignment

2-2. Discussion: Connections: Formalism and New Criticism

First let me attempt to define in my mind the differences between Formalism and New Criticism. Formalism theory focuses on “defamiliarization” within a literary work while focusing extensively on context (Shmoop Editorial Team, 2008). Similarly, New Criticism, like Formalism ignored “old criticism” characterized of deep historical and biographical analysis (Shmoop Editorial Team, 2008) to theorize Defamiliarization in Formalism can be seen and studied in a handful of the literary works presented in this Module. Emily Dickinson’s, A Narrow Fellow in the Grass, where her poem speaks of the fear of snakes “a narrow Fellow in the Grass / you may have met him, did you not” her figurative language supposes a man for a snake just as the man, Gregor Samsa is transformed into the brown insect, and Jean Toomers, A Portrait in Georgia, poem makes you think you are reading about a Caucasian women’s looks only to be speaking of colored lynching in Jim Crow America. These powerful contrasts make the reader follow lines of text and imagery toward the authors message and ultimate conclusion which are often stark, shocking, grotesque, painfully sad, and humanly engrossed in complexity.

Justification They are complex because of the defamiliarization of one idea or knowing of a thing from its source. The author is able to mask and reveal at the same time within the context and complexity of language. I had never read this particular poem of Toomers and was shocked by its level of figurative depth and psychological scope contrasted by the short seemingly simple poetic seven lines, lines starting with “Hair, Eyes, Lips, Breath” (Academy of Poets, n.d.) against the horrors and tortures of lynching rituals. “Hair/braided chestnut/ coiled like a lyncher’s rope” (Academy of Poets, n.d.). Like New Criticism, all three pieces of literature would be studied for its genius of literary context, lines and structure, and form. New Criticism might pick apart, Toomer’s lines, “And her slim body / white as the ash / of black flesh after flame” seeking to discover the contrasting metaphors “her slim body,” as “white ash” and “ash” as a metaphor to “black flesh after flame” (Academy of Poets, n.d.) and seek to analyze the “paradox” (Shmoop Editorial Team, 2008)within its overall literary context. In my opinion, both of these literary theories would apply to these three authors works. I would just as easily theorize the paradoxes within Dickinson poem about snakes’ men or fear of a kind of slick unethical man or immoral human being, similarly the awful paradox within the story The Metamorphosis where Gregor finds himself desperately hopeless in his old state working tirelessly for his family and his new state as an insect who must ultimately die.

Daria Smith Giraud LIT200 – J1160 Critical Approaches Date Assignment

Works Cited:

Academy of American Poets. (n.d.). Portrait in Georgia by Jean toomer - Poems | Academy of American poets. Poets.org. Retrieved from https://poets.org/poem/portrait-georgia. Dickinson, E. (n.d.). A narrow fellow in the GRASS (1096) by Emily... Poetry Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/49909/a-narrow-fellow-in-the-grass1096. Kafka, F., & Johnston, I. (2008). The Metamorphosis. The Floating Press. Purdue Writing Lab. (n.d.). Formalism // Purdue Writing lab. Purdue Writing Lab. Retrieved from https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/literary_theory_and_sc hools_of_criticism/formalism.html. Shaheer. (2021, May 29). Difference between russian formalism and new criticism. Literature Times. Retrieved from https://literaturetimes.com/difference-between-russian-formalism-andnew-criticism/. Shmoop Editorial Team. (2008, November 11). New criticism introduction. Shmoop. Retrieved from https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literary-schools-of-theory/new-criticism. Shmoop Editorial Team. (2008, November 11). Formalism introduction. Shmoop. Retrieved from https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literary-schools-of-theory/formalism....