Modern Literary Theory - Essay Example

This text is an analysis of The House of Bernarda Alba with chronology and suggestions for further reading. Jo explains the exact text as a symbolic story on issues affecting society. After reading this review, I understood the key issues of The House of Bernarda Alba. They are clearly explained through a new criticism. I agree that different issues juxtaposed in different parts of the play, including repression, represent true reality in society. Therefore, a repressive system is illustrated clearly through the servants.

• Daniel Orozco, Orientation

“Orientation” is an article that has a piece of orientation information. The employee is shown everything in the office. He is shown the cubicle. He is shown the cubicles of other workmates. I think this orientation is a bit clumsy and disorderly. It does not allow the employee time to understand each issue separately. Everything is given just as a junk, making it difficult to capture in a single session. I understand this text as a complicated piece without great significance to the reader.

• Federico Garcia Lorca, The House of Bernarda Alba

Here I think situation in the House of Bernarda Alba is unwelcoming. I sympathize with mourners for Bernada’s husband’s death. The servants are mourning for his dead but Bernada is mistreating them. I think this is a good way of introducing a play full of sensitive themes. The servants are indeed suffering, and the lady of the house is portrayed as an antagonistic character. The play is good because it reflects the real issues of servant-master relationship in society.

• Frederick Douglass, American Slavery

This speech about slavery in America is made in a clear and eloquent manner by Frederick Douglas. I find it easy to follow because it emphasizes on the problems faced by slaves in the midst of an era when leaders are rejoicing of liberty and freedom. It is interesting to see that Douglas is not moved by the liberty. Instead, he feels bad for the state of slavery. The eloquence and emotional appeal of Douglas creates a clearer understanding. It also shows care and sympathy for slaves in America.

• Alice Walker: I Said to Poetry

I think this poem about Alice Walker tries to show the importance of poetry. According to Walker, everything is poetry. As much as she tries to avoid it, poetry is everywhere. When he remembers the moon, the mountain and everything else, he sees them through the eyes of poetry. Walker says that even church prayers are seen through poetry. I believe that poetry is part of literature that shapes human life by helping us understand several issues affecting us.

• K. Hope, Rhetorical Modes

From this topic, I see that an argument as a rhetoric mode of writing is important to gain support or refutation of an issue. An argument is indeed important in everyday life to find solutions to controversial issues affecting us. However, we need to learn good ways to argue our points of view. Different people have different points of view. The ultimate solution depends on the persuasiveness of each party in the argument. If we argue accurately, the world would be better place to live.

• Hanging Fire by Audre Lorde

I think this poem about a teenager at the age of 14 who is afraid to live away from his mother is hard to understand. It has a deeper meaning. However, the use of repetition “and makes it appealing and interesting for me to read. This repetition is a stylistic device in poetry that reiterates the main point of the poem. Some words are also shortened e.g. “aout” and “tumb” instead of “Thumb” to show a good flow. This style shows me a clear aspect of attachment. The stylistic devices bring the theme of the poem clearly.

• Frances Patterson, Why would Act II be important in any production of the play?

I think the review is critical because it shows the motivation behind the play. I think the author’s concept is to demonstrate the role of literature in addressing contemporary issues. The backround of the author of the play is made clear. The acting part is also critiqued in a way that seems to me to be a necessary step to open up literature to the understanding of many people.

• Eugenia Collier, Marigolds

I think this story reveals the misery of aged people. It is normal for little children to play pranks on old women. Old women are often helpless. I like the use of symbolism in this story. I think this story is good and relevant to a society where old aged people are abandoned rather than being supported. Old women symbolize helplessness and miseries of society. This makes me sympathetic of them.

• New Criticism and Archetypal/Myth Criticism

From this text, I have noticed that new criticism is a good way to examine a text in great perspective. It explains the key issues of a text critically rather than extraneous issues. Therefore, it ensures that main themes of the text are captured regardless of the character of the writer or the expectations of the audience. Archetypal/Myth Criticism is also explained as a view of literature as a result of an archetype or myth. Therefore, I see stories and poems as a reflection of myths of experiences of the past. I think those myths give a picture of the things that happened before, and still happen in our society today.

• Only one of them :Two poems by Rita Dove

The second poem “Exit” has a lot of symbolism. “Visa is granted” would mean you have been given an opportunity to a new venture in life. Several symbols such as open and closed doors, taxicab, turning pink, etc are used to show hope and promise of good things ahead. I think it means stepping out with hope. I agree with the author that one experiences good things when he or she steps out of their comfort zone. We should not be afraid of trying new things.

• Only one of them: Six poems by Denise Levertov

From my understanding, the first poem “Talking Grief” accepts grief as part of life. It uses a symbolic rhetoric to show the influence of grief to humans. For example, he says “Consider my house your own”. This symbolically means grief is closer to us than we should expect. Grief is reflected in the story in a lens of reality. I believe this is a good way that literature can be used to help people to appreciate and confront the challenges facing them in life.

• Postcolonialism and Existentialism in Introduction to Modern Literary Theory

Postcolonialism as a critical term borrows a lot from the period of distinction of colonialism. As European powers lost power over colonies, theoretical and critical strategies were developed to analyse cultures of former colonies. I think postcolonial writers were influenced by the wounds left by colonialists in their colonies. This makes literature relevant in problems of society. Existentialism is also important to express the individual experiences of writers and subjects of various literary works. It criticizes meaning and truth of life for people to appreciate absurd and seemingly unjust world.

• Only one of them: Five poems by Thylias Moss

The poem “One for All Newborns” is a bit complex and difficult to understand. It explains the feelings of a woman through the experience of childbirth and rearing. The experiences of a woman in her role of giving birth and rearing children are difficult. This poem teaches me a lesson to respect a woman for the pain she goes through in her roles. This poem gives a prose narrative of a woman seeing her mother going through problems. She later goes through what her mother went through, learning by experience.

• Phenomenology and Hermeneutics

From this source, it is clear that phenomenology is an important approach to determine realities of life. It considers art as a means of understanding real situations of life. Therefore, I support phenomenology as a sufficient method to understand literature in real contexts of real life. Hermeneutics enables us to see things in a representative manner where the whole is measured against its parts to establish a retrospective understanding of a text. I consider the hermeneutics as a good way of getting deeper into a text. This enables me to understand its parts in depth to gain a clear picture of the whole text.

• Willa Cather, Pauls Case, Part I

Through Part I of this story, Paul rises from a state of fear to courage. He rises above challenges and makes a move in his life. The story is interesting because it gives a clear picture of life as he struggles. One is able to see clearly the troubles of Paul through this story. Through his experiences from school to working as an usher one is able to see the problems of a child living without parents. It gives me a feeling of sympathy for the boy despite his negative attributes.

• Avant-Garde/Surrealism/Dadaism and Structuralism and Semiotics

Avant-Garde has taught me a lesson about mass culture and art. I think art is a form of revolution. It enables people to express their feelings about autocratic systems. Art challenges the status quo and the traditional conservative systems. Surrealism developed from Avant-Garde. It is also a good way of manifesting dreams and imaginations of individuals. Therefore, people can get out of the mass culture to achieve their individual dreams and self-actualization.

• Pauls Case, Part II

Through this story, I see Paul as a man of temperament. I think he is unique member of society. Through his journey in a coach, he sleeps all the way. His mode of dressing is unique and he is ashamed of it. The picture of Paul created in the reader’s mind is one of a rebellious person who goes out of the norms of society. I see this story as a form of art of the Avant-Garde nature, overcoming the mass culture.

• Edward Albee, The Zoo Story

I think this story clearly brings the image of peace versus war. It also conveys quiet and contentment versus discontent and depression. The use of Jerry as a disturbing man and his final death shows his sorrowful and distressed nature. I think the author has used humour and drama effectively to convey his message. It is necessary for us to listen to others and understand them. We can help others to overcome their stress by listening and trying to understand them.