A Comparative Analysis of New Criticism and Russian Formalism Every age has its theoretical definitions of the nature of literature and its theorized principles on which critical approaches to the analysis of literature are premised. Among many critical approaches, New Criticism and Russian formalism are the earliest and the most preliminary ones. Russian Formalism, mainly produced in the second two decades of the twentieth century, did not have widespread impact until the late 1960s and the 1970s, when it was effectively rediscovered, translated and given currency by Western intellectuals who were themselves part of the newer Marxist and structuralist movements of that period. In this respect, the Russian Formalists belong to a later moment of their reproduction and were mobilized by the new left critics in their assault, precisely, on established literary criticism represented most centrally, in the Anglo-Saxon cultures, by New Criticism and Leavisism. Hence, students of literature brought up in the tradition of Anglo-American New Criticism with its emphasis on “practical criticism” and the organic unity of the text might expect to feel at home with Russian Formalism.
Besides insight into collective societal culture, literary history has provided future writers with models of poetic device, style and content influencing literary works and building upon past literary ideas. Literary history is a vehicle to understanding the past and plays a major role in its influence on literature up to and including the present day. Knowledge of historical literature gives us insight into the traditions and societal conventions of the time in which the piece was written. One outstanding example comes from Anglo-Saxon times. Beowulf is a literary work which enables a reader to glimpse not only the societal customs but into the savage and seemingly uncontrollable environment of the first century.
Document-Based Question Essay Stalin The following questions (Part A and Part B) are based on the accompanying documents (1-8). Some of these documents have been edited for the purpose of this exercise. The question is designed to test your ability to work with historical documents and to demonstrate your knowledge of the subject matter being presented. As you analyze the documents, take into account both the source of the document and the author’s point of view. Directions: Write a well-organized essay that includes your analysis of the documents.
In addition, World War II introduced change through industrialisation, which was key to Russia’s success in the war. These key reforming leaders and other factors of change saw Russia grow from a very deprived country in 1856 to an industrial superpower in 1964. Alexander II became known as ‘Alexander the Great Reformer’ and ‘the Tsar Liberator’ which suggests that his work and reforms changed the nature of Russian government and society to a large extent. The emancipation of the Serfs in 1861 initially appeared to have major benefits for the serfs. As Alexander II said: “We vowed in our hearts to fulfil the mission which is entrusted to Us and to surround with Our affection and Our Imperial solicitude all Our faithful subjects of every rank and condition”2.
What kinds of social and historical understandings do readers need to have to interpret the works? What, if anything, in the poems reflects differences in thoughts and values that existed at the time or any of the other poets wrote and those that exist now? How do the poems illuminate the past for us? Is there a theme that is pervasive in these poems that may not be of much import in the twenty-first century? Review the online lecture at this point to refresh your memory concerning the historical perspective or way of reading.
Nomothetic and idiographic are terms used by Kantian philosopher Wilhelm Windelband to describe two distinct approaches to knowledge, each one corresponding to a different intellectual tendency, and each one corresponding to a different branch of academe. Nomothetic is based on what Kant described as a tendency to generalize, and is expressed in the natural sciences. It describes the effort to derive laws that explain objective phenomena. Idiographic is based on what Kant described as a tendency to specify, and is expressed in the humanities. It describes the effort to understand the meaning of contingent, accidental, and oftensubjective phenomena.
English 'Persuasive Writing' By Eva Kiss Literature is meant to provide a perspective on life. The ability to view writing through different perspectives allows a deeper understanding of the text, as well as a wider knowledge about the world around us. William Shakespeare's Henry IV:Part One is one of his many historical plays, arguably intended to divulge to the Tudor England audience a different viewpoint of the Royal family to contemplate the rule of King Henry IV. The text opens up the issues of duty, the question of honour, the 'right' approach towards leadership and the value of life which, considering the Elizabethan period in which it was written, delves into the many concerns of the responders of the time, as well as remaining
I asked you this because some quotes in your essay seems to stand independently from your discussion, Jacquella. Keep in mind that we only use quotations to support our points and not to stand for our ideas. Therefore, it is important that we introduce them properly with our personal insights. Compare the following examples: “Awareness is the first step towards emancipation” (Fairclough, 1989). This is in contrast with critical linguists such as Norman Fairclough, as he states in his book that “awareness is the first step towards emancipation” (1989).
A New Historical Reading of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest Ali Wyman 4/26/12 In order to really appreciate Oscar Wilde’s play, The Importance of Being Earnest, one must first consider the historical context in which the text was written, taking into account the world the author lived in, his personal experiences, and the discourses of the text. In the late 19th century Victorian society, in which The Importance of Being Earnest was written, culture was starting to shift from the traditional constructs under Queen Victoria that insisted on etiquette, propriety, and above all, knowing one’s place in society, to a more modern tone; a tone that was all but blasphemy to conventional Victorians. A look at the life of Oscar Wilde, for example, reveals a number of significant themes that can be found within his work, namely The Importance of Being Earnest, a production, as Wilde himself called it, that is “exquisitely trivial, a delicate bubble of fancy, and it has its philosophy… that we should treat all the trivial things of life seriously, and all the serious and studied things of life with sincere and studied triviality.” Wilde challenged Victorian culture and supposed serious things like social standing, class, and identity throughout his life, with language in his plays portraying them as extremely trivial, as well as by pushing the envelope in his own personal life. The world in which Oscar Wilde grew up is very central to the themes represented in The Importance of Being Earnest. Victorian culture believed that social standing and class distinctions were up the utmost importance.
Pavlov was a Russian physiologist, who studied conditioning. Next B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) evolved the behaviorist theory into its own psychological perspective. Skinner believed that punishment and reward are the result of behavior; this theory forms the principles of operant conditioning that he proposed. This is not say, however that Skinner ignored what occurs before the response, or the context in which it occurs (Kretchmar, 2008). Last the discussion turns to Sigmund Freud (1856-1939).