Obbligati: Essays in Criticism"The proper role of criticism [is] as a musical obbligato; that is, a counterpart that must constantly strive to move in strict harmony with and intellectual counterpoint to its subject, and remain always subordinate to the text upon which it presumes to comment." With this declaration, Hecht sets forth the manifesto of this graceful group of essays, implicitly chiding today's academic critics who apply theories to texts. Hecht is particularly elegant and eloquent on contemporary American poetry, from the tension between truth and fiction in Robert Lowell's autobiographical lyrics to the "musicianship" of Richard Wilbur. Hecht's best essay evokes the unique poetic voice of Elizabeth Bishop, and he is equally perspicacious on Frost, Auden, and Dickinson. An extended essay on Marvell's "The Garden" and Keats' "Ode to a Nightingale" offers an unusual comparative reading that captures the energies and langours of both poems. This book offers literary essays of rare quality. The writing throughout is a model of form suiting function--the lucid exposition of well-chosen ideas. |
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Page 114
... clearly more compassionate . I made my soul familiar with her extremity— That at the last , it should not be a novel Agony— This is the office of the clergyman , to prepare the Accused to face the inevitable , and at least to spare him ...
... clearly more compassionate . I made my soul familiar with her extremity— That at the last , it should not be a novel Agony— This is the office of the clergyman , to prepare the Accused to face the inevitable , and at least to spare him ...
Page 168
... clear that these very scriptural texts allow that the prohibition does not apply to the practice of usury when ... clearly expressed . Rabbi Abraham's main argument was that the structure of hu- man society as well as the incentives for ...
... clear that these very scriptural texts allow that the prohibition does not apply to the practice of usury when ... clearly expressed . Rabbi Abraham's main argument was that the structure of hu- man society as well as the incentives for ...
Page 219
... clear that I am not claiming that Shakespeare wrote this play in order to express private biases and bigotries of his own . The ideas in this drama were popular , current , much in the air of the times , as G. K. Hunter has clearly ...
... clear that I am not claiming that Shakespeare wrote this play in order to express private biases and bigotries of his own . The ideas in this drama were popular , current , much in the air of the times , as G. K. Hunter has clearly ...
Contents
The Pathetic Fallacy | 3 |
On W H Audens In Praise of Limestone | 27 |
Othello | 51 |
Copyright | |
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