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 167
... interest - a device not ruled out by the bargain . So by every secular standard Jacob was entitled to his triumph . But the interest of the Old Testament story lies in the fact that the narrator was not judging by secular standards . He ...
... interest - a device not ruled out by the bargain . So by every secular standard Jacob was entitled to his triumph . But the interest of the Old Testament story lies in the fact that the narrator was not judging by secular standards . He ...
Page 168
... interest as being unnat- ural . The world known to him and to the clerics with whom he was debating was one of distinct nationalities , each concerned for its own interests , and of individuals , each working for himself . " This has ...
... interest as being unnat- ural . The world known to him and to the clerics with whom he was debating was one of distinct nationalities , each concerned for its own interests , and of individuals , each working for himself . " This has ...
Page 171
... interest rates in the absence of Jewish competitors . Thus the cities found themselves burdened with debts due to the departure of an economic and social element whose presence was valued only after it had vanished , whereupon they ...
... interest rates in the absence of Jewish competitors . Thus the cities found themselves burdened with debts due to the departure of an economic and social element whose presence was valued only after it had vanished , whereupon they ...
Contents
The Pathetic Fallacy | 3 |
On W H Audens In Praise of Limestone | 27 |
Othello | 51 |
Copyright | |
6 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
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