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 62
... heaven and hell . When Othello offers to tell the story of his courtship , and reveal what magic charms he has used to win Desdemona ( a taunt he is delighted to prove baseless and show that he is more sophisticated than to dabble in ...
... heaven and hell . When Othello offers to tell the story of his courtship , and reveal what magic charms he has used to win Desdemona ( a taunt he is delighted to prove baseless and show that he is more sophisticated than to dabble in ...
Page 66
... heaven . ( The last line here recalls the temptation of Christ in the wilderness . ) Come , swear it , damn thyself ; Lest , being like one of heaven , the devils themselves Should fear to seize thee . Therefore be double - damned ...
... heaven . ( The last line here recalls the temptation of Christ in the wilderness . ) Come , swear it , damn thyself ; Lest , being like one of heaven , the devils themselves Should fear to seize thee . Therefore be double - damned ...
Page 237
... Heaven . Without Eve , Eden would have been Heaven ( i.e. , no fall ; con- sequently , no knowledge or need of a more perfect condition ) and since there is no marriage or giving in marriage in Heav- en , Heaven will be Eden without Eve ...
... Heaven . Without Eve , Eden would have been Heaven ( i.e. , no fall ; con- sequently , no knowledge or need of a more perfect condition ) and since there is no marriage or giving in marriage in Heav- en , Heaven will be Eden without Eve ...
Contents
The Pathetic Fallacy | 3 |
On W H Audens In Praise of Limestone | 27 |
Othello | 51 |
Copyright | |
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answer Antonio appears Bassanio bear beauty become beginning believe bird body called character Christian clear comes continues course critics death doubt effect example exhibit eyes face fact father feelings figure final follows give given hand hear heart heaven hope human Iago imagination innocent interest Italy Jacob Jesus Jews kind later least less letter lines live look Lord Lowell means mind moral nature never offer once Othello passage perhaps play poem poet poetry Portia present question reason refers regard remarks rich scene seems sense Shakespeare Shylock sort soul speaks speech stand stanza story suggest symbolic tell things thou thought tion truth turn unto virtue whole writes young