An Analytical Apprentice

I have been a student of analyzing literature for many years. Sure, everyone reads The Great Gatsby in high school, but not everyone loved ripping it apart the way I did. For me, there was endless joy in scanning a novel for theme, metaphor, and symbolism. I thought I had gotten pretty good at this as well. Turns out there was still plenty for me to learn.

A More Global Approach

My process for analyzing and writing about literature has evolved in that I have become more aware of alternate methods of analysis. I have traditionally been very focused on the relationship between the author and their literature. Additionally I have in the past been seldom prone to look at literature from any other point of view than that which seems most obvious. Over the past few semesters I have become more familiar with different critical approaches to literature and different genres of writing in general. This, along with, being exposed to the writing of peers has made my process of analysis just a bit more global.

There are always multiple ways of looking at and reading literature. Even competing methods that are in direct conflict with each other can both have merit when used independently. This is a viewpoint very different from what my default process of analyzing literature used to be. While I never make extensive use of many literary criticisms, my awareness of them is at least better than it once was, which, I believe is useful. The mere act of being able to look at something from a different angle offers a significantly new understanding. While writing my essay on "A&P" this semester, I had a stray thought which begged the question, "how would a Marxist analyze this piece of writing?" That question led to an entirely new outlook on the piece which I had never had before. Ultimately I did not choose to focus my writing on the implications of that question, but the mere presence of the question was valuable to me in the analysis process.

Exposure to the writing and analysis of my peers has also a surprising source of additional insight. In a prior semester I was analyzing Edgar Allen Poe's short story, "The Cask of Amontillado," and I had the opportunity to read another student's paper on the same story. What surprised me was that this student chose to analyze the story from a psychoanalytic perspective. Psychoanalysis is not a form of criticism that I like much, and I rarely attempt to employ it. In this instance however my mind was opened up to the possibilities that this form of criticism offers, and I realized that it actually related to that story in deep and profound ways. In fact, one could soundly argue that psychoanalysis should be the default literary criticism for that particular story.

Practice makes Improvement

Analyzing a work of literature can be discouraging.  Trying to understand the inner thoughts of a poet, author, or playwright can be frustrating.  However, as with most things in life, practice makes perfect.  Well, maybe not perfect, but improvement for sure.

Poetry Personified

• My working thesis it something like this: Through the use of certain literary devices, Billy Collins begs the reader of "Introduction to Poetry" to analyze his poem even though the initial perception of the message encourages enjoying poetry superficially. The problem that I have come across is the issue of "dividing an educated audience."  I would love feedback if anyone has any wild ideas!

Collins watching us destroy poetry.

                                                                

From a New Point of View

Introduction

• I chose to return to a work that we have looked at previously this semester: Araby by James Joyce. Ever since we read this short story, there were many questions I had that went unanswered, so I decided to go back, reread the story, and tackle it again. 
• Claim: While Araby by James Joyce is often thought to express Joyce's displeasure with the Catholic Church in his homeland Ireland, the story actually shows a loneliness and longing towards the country and faith that Joyce had abandoned.

Basic is a Virtue

• Claim: "Sammy, the protagonist of John Updike's "A&P," is touted as a hero with noble reasons for his actions, but in reality he is just a simple, very normal, teenage boy." I think this claim still needs some work but it captures the idea of what I want to discuss. I think it is in danger of becoming too complex for a single thesis. I would, however, like to flesh out what exactly I am defining Sammy as.
• I need to explain how I feel most people interpret this story. That is, as a story about a young boy who nobly stands up in defense of three young women. Most of my idea is centered around Sammy's motives. Is he really acting nobly, or is he simply submitting to the base emotions teenage boys are prone to submit to?
• I need to provide evidence that Sammy's motives are anything but noble. The author's structuring of the story is pivotal to this because Sammy acts as narrator, and as such everything he says, says something about himself. If Sammy's actions are truly acts of noble chivalry, why does he sexualize the girls and focus so much on their physical traits?
• There is more evidence in Sammy's supposed act of nobility itself. His dialogue with his boss gives away his character as a hormone-filled teenage boy. I also will have to wrap up the argument in this section. 

Further into the Rabbit Hole of Poetry

Re-reading Billy Collin's poem, "Introduction to Poetry" has helped to increase my study of his work.  Using methods suggested by Professor Gideon Burton, I have more thoughts on this poetry and have enhanced my study of this specific work of literature.