Asynchronous Task

Literary Theory and Criticism: Formalism

Read pp. 90-149 (Handbook of Critical Approaches…). Enumerate the key

details raised in the following texts:

Text

“To His Coy Mistress” ● Structure

-non stanzaic, iambic tetrameter poem; couplets
rhyming scheme
● Shape
-typographical shape/syllogism
Den/con
● Images
-Birds of pray
-images and metaphors of space and time.
-romantic and young imagery- youthful hue and
morning dew
-it can then lead to complexes of other images
precious stones and marble vaults, chariots and
rivers, worms and dust
● Symbols
-The sun-time
-Iron gates of life-barriers/obstacle
-Desert of eternity-desolation/lacks of love
-Times winged chariot-time and morality
● Figures of speech
Personification
-Time-human qualities of power,agency and
intelligence
Metaphor
-To walk pass our lovely day-lifespan of mistress
-My vegetable love grow-slow growth

Hamlet ● Structure
-Doubleness. Question and answer, dialogue and
soliloquy, become a verbal unity of repeated
words and phrases, looking forward to larger
thematic assertion
● Shape
-Dialectic Mystery, riddle, enigma, and
metaphysical
 ● Images
- trap images springes, lime, nets, mousetraps,
and angles or hooks.
The Cosmological Trap
"Seeming" and "Being"
"Seeing" and "Knowing"
● Symbols
-Trap -allusions to different kinds of
entanglement.
● Figures of speech
Metaphor
Traps

Huckleberry Finn ● Structure

-Novel; Realism and romanticism
● Shape
-Repetitive form
● Images
-search and enactment of freedom
-Around each bend lies a possible new
adventure;
- Huck and Jim out of each adventure toward
another uncertain try of freedom.
Denn/conn
● Symbols
-River
-Land
-poor

“Young Goodman Brown” ● Structure

-Short story with few characters and scenes but
has a lot ambiguity, paradox and allegory
Shape
-theological context
Den/Conn
● Images
-Images of love-hate scenarios being emphasized.
● Symbols
-pink ribbons (means a lot in the story)
-Faith-Christian
-light and dark
● Metaphor
"Goody Cloyse, that excellent old Christian."

“Everyday Use” ● Structure

 -Narrative Voice.at the level of the mother's own
mind, her own thought processes
● Shape
-lrony. satiric
● Images
contrast between the lack of education and the
real thought processes
● Symbols
mother
house fire
● Figures of speech
Metaphor
Johnny Carson's program and Dee's virtual
dream world to preserve "heritage."

Frankenstein ● Structure
use of letters epistolary noael. abstract.
repetition
● Shape
exponential approach.
● Images
"power" of "the needle”
hubristic hopes and human despair
● Symbols
letters
dreams and disaster
hope and despair
electricity and lightning and "blasting,"