New Criticism

Mutability and Permanance: An Analytical Exploration of Epigrams 4-6 in Spenser’s Translations of Theatre for Worldlings Reading literature by Edmund Spenser requires a keen eye and a willingness to investigate beyond the text. You are not simply able to read Spenser and somehow acquire what each line means as a first-time reader of his works. Reading Spenser peaks ones’ interest to explore common themes, similarities, imagery, and the allusions which bring forward the meaning behind the text.…

Fiction reflects the thoughts, aspirations, and struggles of its author. Through literary works, one can come to understand a cultural consciousness previously unbeknownst to them. With this in mind, historians have learned to use rather than ignore literature as an aid in their studies. Vernacular and modern tales of the Congo region capture both the fantastical and factual elements. Epics, like The Mwindo Epic, echo the foundation of Congolese culture form which thereafter conflict has arisen…

After our class discussion with Dr. Greenberg—regarding William Blake’s background and the societal context that influenced his poetry—I began to form various connections between Blake’s Introduction to the Songs of Innocence and Jean-François Lyotard’s The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge. With regard to The Postmodern Condition, I was intrigued by Lyotard’s argument that examined the method by which individuals acquire knowledge through their own societal perspectives. Lyotard’s…

Gender Performativity: Reading Mahasweta Devi?s Draupadi and Luisa Valenzuela?s Other Weapons In this paper I propose to read and discuss two short stories, Luisa Valenzuela?s Other Weapons and Mahasweta Devi?s Draupadi under a comparative spectrum. This apparent unlikely comparison from two distinct social, political, linguistic and cultural paradigms, as diverse as Latin America (Cuba?) and Bengal, is the result of my curious attempt to decipher Laura and Dopdi on the lines of Judith…

The reviews chosen for this essay are those written by Joe Williams, Rick Groen, Mick LaSalle and Colin Covert. The piece will describe the four reviews. The discussion will also include the praises of the film, the name of the article in quotation as and some of the agreements and disagreements in the review. Further, it will be inclusive of block quotes and special kudos wherever needs be. Joe Williams in his review terms the film as faint. The name of the article review was “Unlike previous…

The thesis for Bell’s article on Dolly Madison on the other hand focuses on more specific parts of the article. The thesis of this articles gradually develops from talking about how most first ladies are usually overlooked and making its way to the main point which is mostly about Dolly Madison’s character and personality as a first lady. This part of the thesis focuses on the dual-temperaments of Dolly Madison where in one moment she is “ruling Washington by means of her famous soirees” and…

Digital Nation did a wonderful job presenting information about how the world is changing and becoming more digitalized. Though it may be a good video, we need to know if its content is valid. Using media literacy, we will understand where the information is coming from and whether or not it should be trusted. In order to do this, we need to ask questions about the different things we are viewing. After doing this, we can see that this video is literate in some cases because it has good…

Detroit’s own Nancy Shreiber. Compared to a walk through a cinema museum, this film is divided in six parts: the silent era and German expressionism; black and white, sound, and the audio system; the language of noir; color, wide screen, and the New Wave; the New…

Context is an incredibly prominent aspect in the shaping of a text and is thus relevant in establishing value. Similarly a reader’s context is important in giving individuals value in a text. The composer’s personal vision and experience is seen prominently throughout texts and should be considered throughout their readings. The credibility of a composer and integrity that contributes to a text transcending context, including time and culture. A composer’s vision and experience is essential in…

Allusion is a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance. It does not describe in detail the person or thing to which it refers. It is just a passing comment and the writer expects the reader to possess enough knowledge to spot the allusion and grasp its importance in a text. (http://literarydevices.net/allusion/) For instance, you make a literary allusion the moment you say, “I do not approve of this quixotic idea,”…