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 31
... less desire for revenge ; a greater opinion of security , that is , more frankness , less suspicion , policy and cunning . . . . The in- habitants of warm countries are , like old men , timorous ; the people of cold countries are , like ...
... less desire for revenge ; a greater opinion of security , that is , more frankness , less suspicion , policy and cunning . . . . The in- habitants of warm countries are , like old men , timorous ; the people of cold countries are , like ...
Page 162
... less than a prelude to the whole action of reordering values which the play itself enacts . In correcting ourselves we do what Portia does in solving the riddle of the trial . Curiously , paradoxically , the very faults that must ...
... less than a prelude to the whole action of reordering values which the play itself enacts . In correcting ourselves we do what Portia does in solving the riddle of the trial . Curiously , paradoxically , the very faults that must ...
Page 187
... less than a pound . This judgment of Balthazar's is nothing more nor less than a ludicrously literalist rendition of the text of the bond , which proves it both absurd and impossible . And in so doing a demonstration is made to Shylock ...
... less than a pound . This judgment of Balthazar's is nothing more nor less than a ludicrously literalist rendition of the text of the bond , which proves it both absurd and impossible . And in so doing a demonstration is made to Shylock ...
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