I also found Eagleton’s explanation of New Criticism to be an attractive way of looking at poetry. I try to look at poems as a sort of emotional snapshot. I might like Eagleton’s idea of “disinterested humility” because I often feel that I’m looking too hard for something “meaningful” when there are only so many stanzas, so many words, and so many characters to hide “meaning” into.
Instead, it is very attractive to simply take poems as they come. To say that Donne’s flea is a clever way to get into a lady’s pants is easy. To wonder aloud why Herrick takes such obvious pleasure in penning lines detailing lady’s clothing is no doubt an entertaining way to pass an afternoon. Though some authors set out to change the world with their lines, even revolutionary lines should be read as a snapshot of the times.
0 comments:
Post a Comment