Written Critical Analysis of a Literary Text - Essay Example

? Written Critical Analysis of a Literary Text A critical analysis of a written text involves looking at how an utilizes literary tools to convey the intended meaning of his/her written works. In literature, written works that are commonly analyzed include songs, poems and different genres of story telling. Story telling is the most common purpose of almost all written works where a writer sets out to recount events in the past, present or future. Different literary tools have various purposes and are used to give written works their unique characteristics. Authors use literary tools to give their written works distinguishing features that separate them from one genre to another. A good literary work has a plot that arranges the sequence of events in the story, which helps the author, maintain the intended train of thought and effect in the reader. Figurative language is another tool that is used through the application of metaphors and similes. These are used to characterize the understanding and sensibility of characters. They also establish the significance of the theme and tone in a literary document. Symbolism is a tool that is closely associated with figurative language because it also involves representation. Symbolism is achieved through the use of something to stand in for the actual subject of attention. Allegory is also used in this class of literary tools where each object or subject of discussion stands for something on a one on one basis (Whitla, 2009). The tone used in the telling of a story determines its nature in terms of whether the author comes through to the reader as being sympathetic, humorous, angry, happy or remorseful. Tone variation is achieved by how words in a written literary work are arranged, the tense and frequency. Point of view in a story is whose words are used in the telling, which works to give weight to matters addressed by the story. Words belonging to someone who witnessed and was not involved in the events and those from a person who was involved carry different weight in the mind of the reader. Point of view helps in convincing the reader by determining the degree of authenticity. The setting of a story is the environment that surrounds the characters and features present in the story. The setting can be a physical place like a field or even inside the mind of a person where the features represented are figments of a person’s imagination. Setting in a story helps in complementing a story’s themes and plot by giving substance, credibility and meaning to the claims made in the literary work to the reader. Characters are the main promoters or executors of themes and meaning in a story through their interaction with one another and the setting (Cuddon, 2012). Allusion or flashback is used to connect past events to present ones in order to bring clearer meaning and strength to the plot of the story. The story ‘Neighbour Rosicky’ is a poem written to convey the story of the protagonist called Anton Rosicky. Anton was an immigrant in United States (US) who came from Czechoslovakia. The book is written to convey the importance that is placed on hard work, family unity and happiness by Rosicky in all his endeavors. Hard work, family unity and happiness are also the themes brought out by the plot of the story in the poem. The author has employed various literary tools to help in conveying his intended message in the poem. In the poem, there is the use of allusion or flashbacks and figurative language through the use of metaphors. The setting is effectively used to convey the key elements of the themes. Willa Cather’s portrayal of family unity, hard work and happiness depends mainly on his use of four basic artistic tools which are symbolism, figurative language through metaphors, allusion and convincing setting and location. In the story, thistles are used to metaphorically to represent Anton’s main problem of the probability of his son Rudy moving to live in the city with Polly his wife. His problem is further agitated by the fact that he has a heart problem an indicator that he does not have long to live. Thistles among his cultivated alfalfa crop represent his fears and limitations that Anton is facing in life. Thistles compete and threaten the welfare of his Alfalfa crop by reducing nutrients available to the crop (Werlock 22). Thistles metaphorically represent his ‘bad heart’, which threatens his life and his continued efforts to provide and care for them. The alfalfa crop represents his family, hopes and dreams which are threatened by his ailing health due to a ‘bad heart’. Polly’s background, as a city girl, is a cause for concern on his part because he is afraid of what her influence will entail to his family. Thus, it would suffice to say that Polly’s influence on his family especially his son Rudy to whom she is married, can also be metaphorically represented by thistles in cultivation with his alfalfa crop. Thistle metaphorical representation of his problem is complemented by the fact Anton’s efforts to rid his alfalfa crop of thistle infestation instigated his demise. Anton was advised against exerting himself with hard labor, but the presence of thistle in his alfalfa crop prompted him to contravene doctor’s orders and remove them. This act contributed heavily to his final fate, and it is a strong metaphorical association. Allusion or flashbacks are used, in the story, to help show and strengthen the protagonist’s point of view on his position on the city lifestyle. Anton narrates to his family of his times in London before he sailed to New York. He tells of how one day he got so hungry that he stole his landlord’s duckling, and how he was racked by guilt afterwards. He tells how he searched the city of London everywhere to replace the duckling (Lentricchia & McLaughlin, 2010). He finally met some rich Czechoslovakians who gave him money with which he bought another duckling and replaced the one that he had stolen. This serves to convey how life in the city can sometimes force someone to do bad things in order to survive. In his story, Anton hopes that his son Rudy will have a better understanding of why he has reservations about life in the city. Flashback is further used to strengthen his negative concept of city lifestyle where he reflects back on his life as a tailor in New York. Through his reflection, the reader is able to learn of how he used to earn good money, but he did not save up for the future because he spent all his money on girls and gave out free loans to relatives and friends. This allusion helps solidify his conviction on city lifestyle. Allusion is also used to illustrate Anton’s value for happiness when we are told of how he joins his wife, in remembrance of their times together, in their long happy marriage. The genre of this written work is a short story, and it does not allow extensive use of this literary tool because it would be too long defeating the purpose of genre. Symbolism is used, in the story, to represent features that are not tangible; these are things like dreams, visions and ideas. The farmhouse and its surrounding environment represent Rosicky’s representation of a perfect existence where an individual is at peace with self and others (Cuddon, 2012). This according to the protagonist is a symbol of an ideal life where one is in the league with nature, and his happiness is his/her own doing. Doctor Ed Burleigh is depicted in the application of symbolism when he visits Rosicky’s grave. He likens the environment surrounding Anton’s grave as a representation of Rosicky’s life. This is because the land around the grave yard is beautiful, full of life and peaceful just like the life that Anton led. The doctor appreciates the fact that Anton died a happy man. The doctor acknowledges that the grave yard and its surrounding environment represent a fitting burial and final resting place for a man like Rosicky. This is because the landscape is full of life and fulfillment just like Rosicky in life. Symbolism is used to create irony in the story where Anton is claimed to have a big heart that enables him to show love to everyone. Yet this same heart is diagnosed as a ‘bad heart’ by Doctor Ed (Whitla, 2009). Setting in the story is used effectively to convey the author’s main theme, which enables him to compare and contrast scenarios in the story (Lentricchia & McLaughlin, 2010). Anton who gives an example of neighbors in the city and rural farmland in Nebraska contrasts the setting in the rural farmland Nebraska with the city. Other literary tools are also applied in this story but not extensively as the above-mentioned four techniques. The short story genre is effectively portrayed where the story in the poem is delivered, in parts, to make the analogy short and precise, yet delivering the intended message. Willa Cather masterfully utilizes four basic literary tools to illustrate the protagonist’s dreams and aspirations. The combination of the three themes of the story; family unity, hard work and happiness are excellently portrayed. This enables the reader identify with the protagonist point of view and appreciate his notions. References Cuddon, J. A. (2012). Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory.5Th Edition. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Lentricchia, F. & McLaughlin, T. (2010).Critical Terms for Literary Study, Second Edition.2nd Edition. Chicago: Chicago University Press. Werlock, A. H. P. (2009).Companion to Literature: Facts on File Companion to the American Short Story. 2nd Edition. Infobase Publishing. Whitla, W. (2009). The English Handbook: A Guide to Literary Studies. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Read More