~R Th~ASSQCi~tl~n~fUterarySch~iars andCritics

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RecOGstrueting EngliS)j~~~ Norriiaii Pfiiritali

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AIlintetestingandpD~tedSid~fteclof receritdeYclopmeritsin literiuy stUdf~b3$i~middota sigDificaIif~wingj)f~gaptbato~~diVided

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class criticismIuls nowcauscdiSolnCregtOt1pii1g~of the tw~middotpositionsSorne1itetalYmiddothistoiians~ginto sound Ijke New CritiC$ when thcy fUld th~~lves defendihgliterattile~foritSownsakc~agaitiStlt$ appropriationbysocialactivj~ ~Whil~those wooscsympathies ~withthco~sjde ot the ~sputecanriotbutbe cbastenedbY~factthat the dlsintegrationofcriticism prediCtcdbythc historians as the inevitable Co~ucn~0t~Ncw Cri~ciStrldidindeed comc to pass Somethin$of this shiftcan be seen in NonnanFrumans ReconstnlctiDgEhgHshWhcnan~ent ag3inst the New Critics citeslARicliardSwith apptovakiHsclear thatsomcthirlghascbanged pethijlstbt titl)ebascotnctO reopenthit~ -- deba1emiddotmiddotWou1danyoncmiddotcaretorespQJ1d1~ lJti()

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Over thc lasf two years many membershave sugg~ that tbe ALSCshouldhavcajournal of (SA

(Contjnued~n backpage) tf~

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raCegendei~lassteadings7 Odhaf a~IYa$iYc s~icism~ut thc ~ibilityofstalgtl~ormiddot obj~erneanibgaBoUtaliy)te~middotWhatSdevermiddotwotJd repacethcNc~CrltiCaJ~tttlult1befr in~rpretations W7(lmodelsdeuro~Jl~tfdi~~~~

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ofManline$s~ Brooks scnrtiJlizeQ thc p3ssages cm thc naked ~stridiJ1gthe bJast and the bne abQui the daggers ~attirCd in their bloOOy~reech~ aJidwrote middot~tbougIithe passageswercStrainetl theiuare~IJlOJe-tfUin~crescencesmereltshyextravaganceSofdetail each itseemS tQInC contains accntral symbol ofthe play and S)roo61s -

Norman Fnilnan ~ProjessoroEnglish attheUniversityoMilmeSota

-- _ - - - ~ ~ ~ -

whicliwemtistmderstandif~affi to~demirid middotmiddotthat to ~ders1and this book I mllSt have read i either the detailed pas~g~qttlteplay 3$ awhoie7i anolbery)o~~r~~inbered that work in

w I distinetlyrememberwhcentl1Ifitsfteadthl~middot remark8bledetm1 -

~~R~F~)~~ngup from the page and asking - r As Samuel Jo~ho~~i~in~dier mY$~lf CanBrooksrealymeanthat no~J~ Jco~ectionthere is always anappeaJ from thCOiy cry~r pr9~~Iy ~~e~~d ~~rh~f~reJj~)pJd u I to hfe And the lIfe 0rtheclassroomt~llsmiddotavery itHemiddotgteatestofpopularltJramatiSts me central ef~(-tfdifferent storY abO1tputb imdvalidity in SYmbols of~ges 1P~~tQJlemiddotbeard in a theater~5 in~tation than i~~hipn3bleinAmcm~ ~ heard once and Ifa listener diDQt~lheir~e today ThosifaCedWflli tliedaily ~k df sigrUfican~bc WouJdnoilirid~~themiddotp~flYr middotmakingseDe0ftcxts foroUl students ~owbull that

~Ir~~~t middotmiddot~5~a~ 1eXtltvagant claims foftbe sf uCaitcemiddot r Whilestilla yung0 assistairt prQlt Ii ~r I ~ gnJCltdP ~f ~ msigBtS~UthowliteratUrewp~~Jdf1crN~ ~ aCroSs asurprisiDg Jetterina sports stOY It badI c~ll~t~~~Q~i1)~~lj~lti~Y been Sent by the bead ofthe~81isb$ttne$r~ [ lIiiiI$o~~amllin~~O~Qf~W lUtiIleUniv~Dt-middot~iMiIlsPQtllehead

~~i~ftJgfil15fThis ch8bti~cluna~ was e~plifi~byStln1q completely JttbiilkingmyQl)jecliie$~malltheodier Fi~~s~il~kilo~rematkmiddot~asa crltjebC~ DO courses ltaUgbtH_ isDrMills~middotletter obIlPtibiitbberigbt-an ~m~ltgtbjediv~illy CoachMollenkopf

i~~~~C~Sfi~~Qgf ~~~l=~ the later ~ew 9ri~caltide ofarticl~ ~ltbodk$middotWas W~rcd thtPauiS~j)ncent Pi9urJilOSt aeMLA ~~yonMr~ l)allowaywithtbethe~ promising~hasagreat~tOti~ c

lt bull ~ Scholarship wbidawoWd be greatUiiDg mtbiblUJdfot trenay ~tJtle ~ltel1U( AlluslODas S~ ~~ bU tbe~retOrdtorUDs~butWe

Metaphor uAil~luslon to Qymbeline weare fiDd tbatthe upiraJitis~to~o~ bull informed ~ppearing at fixe key points SllppJies exCeU~ lDdideiUy Jhoufdbavea gOod~cin~etics

bull bull ~ bullbull c We-pngtposet6aiyOUgMt~speciiJ~atiOD

the~~~~ls~~~ ThltlmCSfromtbC to Paul IS bull vritypIayerpUttiDJ)liIbifpO~~irlthO p~ay~ye C1ari~s e~ence~and blckfidd oftht CootbiIlteamIntbis~weta~ ~ _ signifiCance ThCy link events intheliv~Qf middot-better codep~ieCOiiffo-~COimnitteededdiris on~~es dirf~nt9haracters Ancl theycreateanintrica~ ~We=li~tbatpaul willbe~=~ SYlI1~licsystem But what aboutdlCDlanY wh9 ~JyoorSism~~do~ have notreadCymbeline ordontt~m~beritweU Paul to ttY bard ofcourse ~ e~oUgh for such allusionS toVOJt~win thenovcrs - _ - DuriDahisioterva1lo(Study~~~JJimas w ft ~aswecanHiswork1D theEDglishClubmdon~ central ~ mtncatesymbOllC SY~ debate ttaID wiIl~bim toiniIi rnany~ butWfi

and Clarissas experiences l~k Cbhemiteand iDttiIdtoseethdbe~ III old ~~io~ signifitance~ for them7Surely this is a weircl ivory- ~~ ODe does with foo1fiall)dwinsliitervab m his

tower notionof bow novelists think IfI bad read We expectPIul to show auiregOOd riin his wOlk arid enjoyed Mn Dalloway aDd bad come to class for yoo and though bewilhot be able to begiII football

expecting enlightenment I would resent being told (Continued on p 4)

ALSC NEWSLEl1ERmiddot= WINTER 1997

-- _ - - - ~ ~ ~ -

whicliwemtistmderstandif~affi to~demirid middotmiddotthat to ~ders1and this book I mllSt have read i either the detailed pas~g~qttlteplay 3$ awhoie7i anolbery)o~~r~~inbered that work in

w I distinetlyrememberwhcentl1Ifitsfteadthl~middot remark8bledetm1 -

~~R~F~)~~ngup from the page and asking - r As Samuel Jo~ho~~i~in~dier mY$~lf CanBrooksrealymeanthat no~J~ Jco~ectionthere is always anappeaJ from thCOiy cry~r pr9~~Iy ~~e~~d ~~rh~f~reJj~)pJd u I to hfe And the lIfe 0rtheclassroomt~llsmiddotavery itHemiddotgteatestofpopularltJramatiSts me central ef~(-tfdifferent storY abO1tputb imdvalidity in SYmbols of~ges 1P~~tQJlemiddotbeard in a theater~5 in~tation than i~~hipn3bleinAmcm~ ~ heard once and Ifa listener diDQt~lheir~e today ThosifaCedWflli tliedaily ~k df sigrUfican~bc WouJdnoilirid~~themiddotp~flYr middotmakingseDe0ftcxts foroUl students ~owbull that

~Ir~~~t middotmiddot~5~a~ 1eXtltvagant claims foftbe sf uCaitcemiddot r Whilestilla yung0 assistairt prQlt Ii ~r I ~ gnJCltdP ~f ~ msigBtS~UthowliteratUrewp~~Jdf1crN~ ~ aCroSs asurprisiDg Jetterina sports stOY It badI c~ll~t~~~Q~i1)~~lj~lti~Y been Sent by the bead ofthe~81isb$ttne$r~ [ lIiiiI$o~~amllin~~O~Qf~W lUtiIleUniv~Dt-middot~iMiIlsPQtllehead

~~i~ftJgfil15fThis ch8bti~cluna~ was e~plifi~byStln1q completely JttbiilkingmyQl)jecliie$~malltheodier Fi~~s~il~kilo~rematkmiddot~asa crltjebC~ DO courses ltaUgbtH_ isDrMills~middotletter obIlPtibiitbberigbt-an ~m~ltgtbjediv~illy CoachMollenkopf

i~~~~C~Sfi~~Qgf ~~~l=~ the later ~ew 9ri~caltide ofarticl~ ~ltbodk$middotWas W~rcd thtPauiS~j)ncent Pi9urJilOSt aeMLA ~~yonMr~ l)allowaywithtbethe~ promising~hasagreat~tOti~ c

lt bull ~ Scholarship wbidawoWd be greatUiiDg mtbiblUJdfot trenay ~tJtle ~ltel1U( AlluslODas S~ ~~ bU tbe~retOrdtorUDs~butWe

Metaphor uAil~luslon to Qymbeline weare fiDd tbatthe upiraJitis~to~o~ bull informed ~ppearing at fixe key points SllppJies exCeU~ lDdideiUy Jhoufdbavea gOod~cin~etics

bull bull ~ bullbull c We-pngtposet6aiyOUgMt~speciiJ~atiOD

the~~~~ls~~~ ThltlmCSfromtbC to Paul IS bull vritypIayerpUttiDJ)liIbifpO~~irlthO p~ay~ye C1ari~s e~ence~and blckfidd oftht CootbiIlteamIntbis~weta~ ~ _ signifiCance ThCy link events intheliv~Qf middot-better codep~ieCOiiffo-~COimnitteededdiris on~~es dirf~nt9haracters Ancl theycreateanintrica~ ~We=li~tbatpaul willbe~=~ SYlI1~licsystem But what aboutdlCDlanY wh9 ~JyoorSism~~do~ have notreadCymbeline ordontt~m~beritweU Paul to ttY bard ofcourse ~ e~oUgh for such allusionS toVOJt~win thenovcrs - _ - DuriDahisioterva1lo(Study~~~JJimas w ft ~aswecanHiswork1D theEDglishClubmdon~ central ~ mtncatesymbOllC SY~ debate ttaID wiIl~bim toiniIi rnany~ butWfi

and Clarissas experiences l~k Cbhemiteand iDttiIdtoseethdbe~ III old ~~io~ signifitance~ for them7Surely this is a weircl ivory- ~~ ODe does with foo1fiall)dwinsliitervab m his

tower notionof bow novelists think IfI bad read We expectPIul to show auiregOOd riin his wOlk arid enjoyed Mn Dalloway aDd bad come to class for yoo and though bewilhot be able to begiII football

expecting enlightenment I would resent being told (Continued on p 4)

ALSC NEWSLEl1ERmiddot= WINTER 1997

(Continuedfromp 2) the field buL~we do expect him to tryharltL of practicctiU latcin season he wiUfinish theseaSOn witbSood courSe Would DrMills go olit ofms way to attendance emphasize that Spindles is a poor athlete isthegt bull

Sincerely yours phrase to by hard ofco~aOOther echo of Dr Baniss Mills

Head E glish Qepartment I MOlwaverinobutlent0 pfl mostwillJieedmu Ybe ~ middotMore stuchharder-~~middotmiddot-dents bullbull 0 gt ~Ma are 00WP5 We tuC delaYinga~ecionoD YQW~nwie t9tbis en w- department ~apaSsing~ (Of yoti(fWJbaclcPete tbruuJiisbeforethCy will admit even tOtbtmseIVes

JariDiii5klUmiJWcreciiveyOOrtavOtabJerepij that theymiddot have m~tlieleuermiddot v

MystUdents~aJl bUta~~ y1v~~gbismiddotiDtervalsofstudy~-notetbaJ ~~misunderstOOd the ~poitof~s JetiCrAnd this ~ middotfWondCrfulwomiht~als~~Sha1l~hI~ LUU~~i~~t~~fi of middotlIluch we~~ Cant youjilst heai~U~

~=8~=~~ons~5ti==in Passing Jann8nskimiddotIDanOtbCcrick~butputting tbf SnglishClubahd on thedeba~ teamvh1t~(~ -

middota weakiitlglnceSpiridJesinthcback6eld ofa BisTen lifm til ms5inaliyplaCticcs butVe iDterldio~ football team is aninvitatlonto murdcentrr that he earricsan oldt~ arouridtob6ooe-etor

middot~middot1 Class discussion ofthis leiter~alwayswhateverone does With aocrbdltrtluringintervalSe (been extremelylively bringing forward~tudes iii hisWork~The effecenttnOw iselmricEv6tyboay

ftowards aU sorts of interesting subjecu But in C1 ~~noAmeriQUlissoighoriUlt ()ffoottfaU+shy

middotmiddotevstlldmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotbull bullmiddotemiddotncts- middotneICebullitSbullalmiddot bullbullmiddotmiddots bulllesmaJ~bull A- n j~ mbull iho middotcmiddot assmiddotmiddot ga bull bullbull I~ u_In1edbCrmiddot middotImiddot~middotmiddot middot~amiddotsmy middotretc- ~iiC)profCofiDihcBigyentn-thltibemiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot cUJlRUUdoesntknowthatfootbailsateiltboMCedormiddotmiddot lwhothinkthilt lis is SarCaSUc When I ask whateverqnedoe$withaf~nmiddot

H_ do yo w ethciMlils is Usr )~m nl liiifiOImiddot~middot bull ~ the middotI~bullii j11tUftII= onPJmiddot fIaShUgbullbullallmiddotmiddotmiddotOv C bull bull J) (theres waysa wonied~1Oananxi0US ~gexptCsSionSbUiilSOnJabY - ~ rereadiJiamp andsome vvavetibgby a few sfudents ood-naturedSmiles ofcnliPtenment Its$lf

Brey~ ) Tob middotmiddotlmiddotkmiddotesmiddot~tomiddot ng0na~middotc_k ~ neveractu8J1y encoUnteredthe sent~~foreth~maelfJhNmiddotmiddotoOwbodyevermiddotmiddot bull middotwromiddotpreparedmiddot

t 0- 1 ~ U~amp and d1ey arc wondetingbQwtbeycouldbave~ ~~-Sowebcgin to analyze the letter sentence blind And ina very rea1seilsectelbeyvtm~fSCeDl

i Ibysentence S~e middotmiddot~OUCb only_o~ this sentencebefme Having deeidedwithin iWoJor obligeS~etO kpey

lJnISWOid~~~~poundbn~ - =~~~~o~~=~~~ ~nte~paul Spindles bas agreat chance for a this is one ofthcmostimportantttuthsabout r~middot V-modes Scholarship which WOuidbc a ~eat~tbjng -readingamiddotstudentranI~ilbout ieadingteality

for him and for PwlJuc1 Is be mocking thefootball ingerieraI~~ely that oneis nottO stopanalyamg

11

fV

coachsspeechl~ybc But studentswiJI say its just as Probable hC is using lailgUagelikclyto apPeal to the cOach There arepoteritiallaWyetsin every

d th bull bloodbull So Dr Millsclass an IS up we go on ~Ir bull

suggcststhatSpindJ~bcpUt inthcbacldield TIiats a bit much to be sure Third-string shydefensive Cud might be a mme reasonable request Argumentation along these lines will not get the teacher far We realize Paul will be a problem on

the ~tbatimpinge upon the~M~ change sigDificmcesalterOncmustnijtgritlirbUgh

A Iif~ ora~ wCaringblit1ktnEvmyfodYmiddottaow ~II~----~- that Millsmiddot bull ~--to ~I middotuK1UUJQ IS r~J mg ltpass JuDl8DSkt and ridiculing Mollenkopfs ignorant

assumption that he and his assistants ciu1C()8C~ English Students mSh8kespeareorcompositio~ which makesaboutas muchsense asEngtis~ teacbers cmdUng Spindles in how to boWlcCa

A

Y~ ~~ ~ iC cxlt l-~

footbal]~ 9r whatever olle d~witb a football lt bull

can ~()e bonestl~ doubtthat Mills letter) ~altIiptsofavahd1Dt~tion

)Iai~afinatlllestion Istberea Paul r=h r Sp~dles~ all Yollmiddotijnd that altnosteverybody$ t1Yfi ( belicvesth~rc is SQchlIpetSOnThey look atme ~

~~iCiOuSIYDoeSthismeantheyareltgOingtObe) haSsled somemore1J1SOll)cmiddotwaysstudents are ch1lJmingly naive Theybelieye thatpepple and ~say~~ mean Is itjust iDaecident thatmiddot

tvShl~~=n-~~middot stUQeQt~s tWite MS Bronco Gngo1Q~tch What IS ~1 vY

~ieimle~1 We14 ft~saslenderrodOrp~ ~hoJamp y-m an~bobs aroundinthe sarpespot Wrtha kin4ofhCrky-jerk spastic motion~not a

Jir()Dll c~ middotmiddot~s~g name fora hacldieJdplayer NowalthoJJgb most studeDtscan ~ Vt71t~

per5wtded tbatnomiddotslijhpcrsona5Paul SPindles 1 J)lishy

~ly eXi~Jdon~tmiddotbelievethe teacher should badger thosemiddotobstmates Who remain40ubttlL The 1E

inte~tiye pointcannot be made conclusively7 )ItO f bull

-- The nris1illv~gOrimaginative tu---~7 lite~ especi yofpoetry often derives from varioUssm8JJ ~gsoftbctjpe~have justhlj CneqUDtered Hete lsanexampIe olthis process

playipg-~voc With a poCin softly in the dUsk a woman is singing to me~t1 11 Ta~ me backdOVD the vista ofyears tiDJ secllXNl XJr ~ cJild sitting under the piano~ in the boom ofthe tiogling

strings AOO prmins the small poised fectof a mochcr Who smiles u

sbe sinp

In spitcof mysdf tho insidious mastery ofsons BetrayS me bad till tho beu1 ofme ~~bdoD8 To the oIdSundayevmings at home with wimer outside And byinns in the cosy parlour thetinkfing piano our guide

So DOW iiis vablfor the singer ~burst into clamour Wrth themiddot greatblatk piano appassionIto The ~ Of childish dayJ is upoa~ my manhood is CI$t Downm fiOod of~ ] weep Iikemiddot~ child for the

past

Like IA Richards excessively seltassured Cambridge students as reported in hjsPraciicol CTliciSin~ my American innoceDtsbave disliked this poem Piano~ intensely It is pukcy sentimental

5

WANTED Editor fot a New Journal

The Council now believesthanhe tlmei~ right fortheALSCto start itsoWIilitetruy Jo~l

WcfuViteinJ It is e~tbat theeditOr will playa leading role in de~illjjlthe s~andScopeof~

office middotlt2039SbattuCkAveDueSuitc202~ BerkeIeyCA 947~11t6ThCdeadline is Septembert

ALSC NEWSLE11ER = WINlER 1997 5

vmiddot ) J

vzmiddot( yr ~ 3 there~J)aIpabl~UpJ2UJ~Defoe~jpmpt~(

SYttlbpl~iroriiesandWl)at i~betWee~tbe li~es ofterionJywhite spaccinv~ea wi~~~g by excessi~~ly ingeriiousibt~~L L~middot middothi amalyzinglitef$~ with o~ ~a~nts~weoJfen proceed at far too hiSh~jev~fol~~pl~ty

)~( I l()ng befo~ they ueread)-someJDaynever be j

~ tht)1ightheyareperfeCtlyleof~ying ]iterltture even verygOOdllieiatUiCati1$ avrulablc

J~ sUif~c ievel~ ~chi~ Il()tt()J~QespIH1oIstby l rasriQt~ijtely ~ongWberihc~d~lntsch of -Y~ ~~~orld~s~l~t~~tureCOUJ(niL~~~ly

undetoQd byordinarypcop1e-)Vl)eumiddotWordsworth gtWni~ aitbeenaofo~orthe Lj~fii9clns II

c she diea~ tOft tome bull L

TbiShWlithurcalm1Dd quiet~ iPl~ The ofwbUHasbeeD

ADd~VIJl~ wChantlY~neeaaskJlledinterp~tomediatc

betWeen the poem andthestuderitIiOub~mcmtion ( o~lYCs We U1~suchlincsdirCcrtly8nd

~ 1=e~~~th=1gtaY What abOutmiddot poemsthat reanyarcobscure

- ~imiddot~~~nnoatnoUnN)f~DaIY$i$~iijllY t 1 convincing mteiprctationTake BJates ~Sick ~iJ-rJRf)Se

o RoSe thou art sickJ The invisibleyen()~

TIlllffiesin ~Di~ hlmiddotthehowling storm Has found out thy bed Of crimson joy And his dartsecret love Does thy Iifc destrOy

~1 lThis is a marvellous pOemith whlchtOdisCUSS -- ~~ ~ ~ symbOlism becausemiddot itmiddotproduces so powerfulan

effectcvenwhcn imperfectJy understood Whichmiddotis the ease 100 ofthc tiIneIt is casytoshow that we 8JC not dealing here With diseasesorplants

6bvi()USIy~soDlething moreisinvolv~ifonly because oftheemotiotw intensity that blazeS out of the pOem But what is that SQmtthmgmore What is the bowling storm The invisible worm I think the inviSible worm is aphallic Symbo~ a young womandedared in one ofmy classe3a few years

ago To ~ch another YOUllgWoinaniafter aheaV ~ileneereplJ~JfyouthiDkJhe invisibieWOnn ~

p~aJ1i~gt~bOl~ l~ you shQwdfgetanodtcr boyfiiendraquoWellwhyllQtThc Worm and~hck

of~n~~ the tqllowiilgCJUialqurSiam - -

e~~~~~~hadreceivedand~

~ -- -

Thisconfi~basproven~~cmiddot Harold Bloom seems to~thiJ)ktb3t_~Wotinbas

~middotso rristmedbytbeROSck~~~bmiddot hiddcn--her ~of~njOY~~~ttdH(oUIK

oqt-thathis love ~~~ve The poor W~ The Rose bad itcomiJlg to hcenttmiddotfoiplaying hanftogct

ConsiderBlalce~s~Clodamhhe middotnsJI_ LQJIIK bull

~middot~~nOtibdftO please Nor~itsdfhtth~~middot Butf~middotitSmiddotmiddot

(JfJtbfA I ~ads a H=iJl s~ most~~tsjnstatftIygO~provcmiddot the loving siCrificialClod

-~---So SUDS aJittleClPd of Clay Trodden withthccattJesfcct ButaPebbteoftbebrtiOk

____WatbWout~~~ _

LoVe seekdboniy Sdfioplesse TobindaDOthet toa ~gbt Joysia~s JoItot~ And builds a HeD inHeampvtas deipiie

One ~ the fu butitdbesn~t- ~- ~~go~ Tbat~s itOJl1hefaCeoritthreee~ for1hc Clod and curses on the Pebble WhoSe selfish hedonism creates aheU oneartb Where istherc a diffiCl1 -v~ if --- shy

And y~ are always some Students ~ are not comfortable with the obvious and

r Cfrt rT~TCf LjOlD __ 1I1T)1l1JllD 1nn7

vmiddot ) J

vzmiddot( yr ~ 3 there~J)aIpabl~UpJ2UJ~Defoe~jpmpt~(

SYttlbpl~iroriiesandWl)at i~betWee~tbe li~es ofterionJywhite spaccinv~ea wi~~~g by excessi~~ly ingeriiousibt~~L L~middot middothi amalyzinglitef$~ with o~ ~a~nts~weoJfen proceed at far too hiSh~jev~fol~~pl~ty

)~( I l()ng befo~ they ueread)-someJDaynever be j

~ tht)1ightheyareperfeCtlyleof~ying ]iterltture even verygOOdllieiatUiCati1$ avrulablc

J~ sUif~c ievel~ ~chi~ Il()tt()J~QespIH1oIstby l rasriQt~ijtely ~ongWberihc~d~lntsch of -Y~ ~~~orld~s~l~t~~tureCOUJ(niL~~~ly

undetoQd byordinarypcop1e-)Vl)eumiddotWordsworth gtWni~ aitbeenaofo~orthe Lj~fii9clns II

c she diea~ tOft tome bull L

TbiShWlithurcalm1Dd quiet~ iPl~ The ofwbUHasbeeD

ADd~VIJl~ wChantlY~neeaaskJlledinterp~tomediatc

betWeen the poem andthestuderitIiOub~mcmtion ( o~lYCs We U1~suchlincsdirCcrtly8nd

~ 1=e~~~th=1gtaY What abOutmiddot poemsthat reanyarcobscure

- ~imiddot~~~nnoatnoUnN)f~DaIY$i$~iijllY t 1 convincing mteiprctationTake BJates ~Sick ~iJ-rJRf)Se

o RoSe thou art sickJ The invisibleyen()~

TIlllffiesin ~Di~ hlmiddotthehowling storm Has found out thy bed Of crimson joy And his dartsecret love Does thy Iifc destrOy

~1 lThis is a marvellous pOemith whlchtOdisCUSS -- ~~ ~ ~ symbOlism becausemiddot itmiddotproduces so powerfulan

effectcvenwhcn imperfectJy understood Whichmiddotis the ease 100 ofthc tiIneIt is casytoshow that we 8JC not dealing here With diseasesorplants

6bvi()USIy~soDlething moreisinvolv~ifonly because oftheemotiotw intensity that blazeS out of the pOem But what is that SQmtthmgmore What is the bowling storm The invisible worm I think the inviSible worm is aphallic Symbo~ a young womandedared in one ofmy classe3a few years

ago To ~ch another YOUllgWoinaniafter aheaV ~ileneereplJ~JfyouthiDkJhe invisibieWOnn ~

p~aJ1i~gt~bOl~ l~ you shQwdfgetanodtcr boyfiiendraquoWellwhyllQtThc Worm and~hck

of~n~~ the tqllowiilgCJUialqurSiam - -

e~~~~~~hadreceivedand~

~ -- -

Thisconfi~basproven~~cmiddot Harold Bloom seems to~thiJ)ktb3t_~Wotinbas

~middotso rristmedbytbeROSck~~~bmiddot hiddcn--her ~of~njOY~~~ttdH(oUIK

oqt-thathis love ~~~ve The poor W~ The Rose bad itcomiJlg to hcenttmiddotfoiplaying hanftogct

ConsiderBlalce~s~Clodamhhe middotnsJI_ LQJIIK bull

~middot~~nOtibdftO please Nor~itsdfhtth~~middot Butf~middotitSmiddotmiddot

(JfJtbfA I ~ads a H=iJl s~ most~~tsjnstatftIygO~provcmiddot the loving siCrificialClod

-~---So SUDS aJittleClPd of Clay Trodden withthccattJesfcct ButaPebbteoftbebrtiOk

____WatbWout~~~ _

LoVe seekdboniy Sdfioplesse TobindaDOthet toa ~gbt Joysia~s JoItot~ And builds a HeD inHeampvtas deipiie

One ~ the fu butitdbesn~t- ~- ~~go~ Tbat~s itOJl1hefaCeoritthreee~ for1hc Clod and curses on the Pebble WhoSe selfish hedonism creates aheU oneartb Where istherc a diffiCl1 -v~ if --- shy

And y~ are always some Students ~ are not comfortable with the obvious and

r Cfrt rT~TCf LjOlD __ 1I1T)1l1JllD 1nn7

0 lt_bullbullbullbull

~ - f

morally satisfying reading otthis poem Its too S~u1ation unrestrained by comm~nsetl$elld pat Irdoesntanswer tollieiI expeiience6fiove

BlakeiSeems Iike-aSUnday~~h()()iPreacbtn- rtUber thaIiltagtrcvoIUtiC)tWy Is ttricent love so~lfish1

~i~a~~~~ mselfisliiCJeXlsUlgSms song Whilebe~i~trodd~ withthedegCatt1e~sfeet~IsthiS thb plW(~phy ofthe

worlds l~wbffmakea~bfJMir f middotbelplessness The Pebbl~~l~~While thf Cl~ s~~~YthJDgj~ tlj~~middot~tthismiddotmiddotTbcPebble

_warbte~foJtiliesemetresinett-4tVordm~mJlg bullSti~abl~1itlfJJNpriff~ to ~Si~i~n$~ weaJem~mttrp~etroubt~ ~]31ake~

1possibtYPreferbehavioithateteaiesheUmthcr thin heaven But Blake is tM~rof1heMatriage of middotHeavenandH~lwhereHengetsaltthe good lines wherethcHJevit$pem Wisdom and woosc ~etbsofHe1iCoDtainsOme()ftheprofoundest

middotinsigbtSltiDWorldUterafurc rOO b ( Ini1lterpremgapoemlike tIlisit is crucial notmiddott(fclrum too~hiiiChCritiCSrusb in where angels

(or Blakes devils) to tread Perbapsthc apptbptlateprinCji e betCis Wittgensteins dictulD upon that which ne cannot speak onemtJilt

remain siiqlft ~ ~DQlQl)liS~to ~ everything We~UtQg(thnl()veiinterpret - -~ deg 07- -

ALSCNbWmiddotSLErfER Volume 3 Number 1

Winter 1997 AlSC NEWSLEIIERisPubiished quarterly as a service tothe mem~oftbeAssociation of Uterary Scholars aDd CritiCSya non-profit tax-exempt 0rgaIlitati0Jl and edited by the Secretary oCtile ~atiOo Letttls news items~4 maIbl~~sJioUldbcaddressed to

Editor ALSCNevisleuer Association oftiterUj Sellolan ancIerines 2039 SfuUtuckAvcnueSuite 202 Berkeley~PA94704-1116 Telephone 510 849 2491middot(FaX 2492) SMail AUTSC80lcom

plaUsibility canpC a 43zZling iri~~l1~lgtirte ~ ~e~lyiritoti~ng Thebelieftlmianyilimg

~gbdiri inteipt~onbecaUsC certaintyismiddotmiddot ~

Uppossible bB$ tnviatiied litemtUre~induCCd i ~=~~aboutAlf~~~

middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotAld16stmiddotsev~iltyyearsagoJo~middottvtjddieton MUrty reviewed William Empsons Seven~of

lt 4mbiguJJy in the Times LiterarySupplemetJi~

middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot~poem~r~~lzl~ 1 ~ 10 a middot=O~r~f~~~~to meant EmpsOats ing~()usjllttfptcenttltions] It[a-htx7 poem] is to SOtIle degreean Utcaii~()n co1ilpel~lItt the ~ringmihd~~Qf~acemliDO~

ol)lysofaJasthC~vingurindtestrainS i1s middot spCouIationsWithin thCliinitsoftbuordeiisit ====~~~ reacp~to tboSCmiddotWho reg8rdariY ~Xtis~l~~ ()ppOitlmitytoperfomlthccri1ical~gh-wirc circus

~andey~~~tbC~nH)fthc

~~t~ggt li~ experience with a sUmza by Keats~t Ihad read JV(

and taught innumerabtetUnes but Which I had no idea offered such potemiiltOr intetpretation as a group ofmy students found mit TWas teaChing an undergraduate Honors Seminar to a dOzen very bright non-English majors aDdbadassigncd a short paper base4 on ThcE~e ofSt Apcs Each

middot student was to ~lect a single stanza scan it anaIyie its metrical features and commentlijOn whatever was notable by way of1~guag~and imagcfybull Four ofthe twelve students actuaJ1ychosc 1hesaJDe stanza number 36 Since~middot~ 42 stanzas inthc poeIDthfsresui was astonishing

Thcsttiry up to thisPoint is as folloWs the lovely Madeline hasgoncto bed supperles$ on St

middot Agnes- Ev~ so ~ as the legend tells she will see in a drcan) her future husband porphyW the youth

- t

ALSC NEwSLE11ER = WINTER 1997 7

who loves her in a Romeo-and-Juliet medievaJ- i

castl~famnyfeud sitwitio~~ wilhthe helpof shyMadelinesancientservanthidQeninaclpseiinher bed~~her While isasleePhC~ shy

spreadsmiddotaglonopSf~anda~ensheFWitha song M3delineQpensherey~sees Potphjm bull kneeling ath~ bcdSiltk looking~herpi~~~middotmiddot How cbaJiged th()u art she5ayS middotmiddot1oWpa1litt -chiR and drearr Its not clear Whether~isawBkc or thinks she sees him in a dream Give methat voi~ ~myPOrphyro~H She says~

~ Th~I~b~rtd thosecompJ~deart Ob leave mcnot in tbisetcrnal woe For iftPou diest mY Jove (lnownot~toB(i

NowafucstJie stania thatlomyoungWpmen

=~~lmpu$oaaIw At -- 1bull ~ beUO$e ~~~UY-- ~ EthereaJ ~andlikea thfqbbiJtg~ ~midtbemiddot~~~middotsmiddot~~middot bull Intohei-dream bemdtedasthc rose B1eodctbttS Qdout Wjthtbo viofet bull SoJutiOii~~ the fiost-WiuilraquoIoWi Like LOve~s altfuDlpatteringJbesbafp middotsfeet Against tbeWiDdow-paDes St Apes moonllith-sec

1vfJ( Witboutcxception the~sectIassbull maJe and remalC ~ook this stanza to repteseDtanexjgtfi rexuarcbnslllDDlafionwhicltisno dOubtwb)r it l~~UchCnthusiastic attention ~9Pkt the inaI Jmesofthe previous~onc~ IV1l)temiddot Olkleave me not intbis middotetemal~orif hou di~mYJ()vclkIlowonot Whcfewgo~ ~ eternalmiddotwW meanS she is seXually ~4Dd l1e~e is a pun on 6 diestbec8use to die aIsoineans gt have an o~according to a highschoolteacbct once had in ShakespeareH

~ I keptmy~l~U$ allthi$md Wiunow~shyrovideacoinposlte expbcattonthat dtawsupgtn e fourreadblgs with contributionsfroJD ~rest fthe classPattsofthe anaIy$isarecastinthe ~ rm ~faplaylel~cyonda IllortallllaD Y 0 bull

I1passioiledfarAnhcsevolU[1tuous~middot )l~makes it ClcarthatMadeliDe$POketo mm a sexy way andwas invitingbiminto bed nd an middotaccdtt isa middotbeata stroke arIlytJlm Whicb e~$us for what is to baPPeft At these

-

voluptuo1S accentslt-lJfJSe ()bviously there is a double m~ghere~~ reverse ofsynecdoche for tbCWholenow repreSents a parthe~dingfor

a certain part ofPorphYro HearosejEth~ flushe(Jandlike ahtobbilJg~-thto9bing (m~UrsQfHey wowl tluQgbOut~ ~l~k He is ilirobbilig betvoi~ iskang--~mythm ofmiddot sei~Diidlhesapph4ehtayentsdeqt reposejlTito her dnUiinhe~t~-Woirerhe

~~=~~~~~tt~~ the precediDgli~vhichlmplies~ isabouttohappen to MaQeUbe 0

middot He meltfurwhitt Wasmiddotsolldorfinnha$middot becomesOfl [AbedJaDioiy91CeS~81middot 0

middotonccmiddotl~ Boy Porphyngtlpust~C~i excited POorMadClinelCDuStttbatsaCIlIZY inteqlretatiODWbYithaWens~s~ the poirit~J(~wouldJit~middotSJCh3Qidiotyenouj~

~~l~~~~~~~~ thats~Wbat it nteanfCirimiddotwej1St~h~tfle~ WllOIemiddot~esttoDmiddotprblissor7 W~aN~p2Y9rtbjnk [Pau$c]Wea ~isaJwaysthC~~IcentriiR~~ ~~~ Middletallmiddot M _11_ bull~~~qsQ1 middotmiddotmiddot middotJt llect H urry ~~ ue middotmiddot intC middot bull

Unless yOumiddot~ comeupmiddotmiddotVitb $Om~~~middot evidenceofPorpIiyrOs Jatk ofcotitrol SUobaa ~ pem_~or~isp~~I~~n~W~ for ~plethisparticuIar~oll~y~A little bardon PofPhYroBtrtmiddotdq SOCltl Ipi~g~t~~ get a clearer pictmeofwb8tallthisiis t~ghllaquogt bull -the rosdBlemkthits 009mWitbthcshyvioJet-wc Ire back totbewordmiddotrO$~which

_represents Porphyro UDDlcl1edAnd shelsmiddotthc- - shy violet wbichofcourse isa pun onmiddotviolattd

~ -~ SolutioDswcet-thlS is tbesOlutioottJ MadeHnCs sex problcmbutsolution atsbm~ fusi A_-middot$earttiJDethtUOston 3 are ~ J~

windblowsILikc LoVesaIanintpatteririgmiddot~~middot slCdAgainst thC window-l1aDes-thcshaip sleefis PainfuL since this is Madelines fiist sexual experience and there is a pun on window-JXlhiand

- the pam she isfecling the window is an enttance fiagile and once broken broken forever St Agnes

LSC NkwSLE11ER = WINTER 1997 R

~~ _ _ bullbullbull F~ bullbull~ ~ ___ bull ~_~

H_- ~ -___ ~___4_

moon h3thset--fSasymbO(iOfl~~~tY ~ ~hispoetry~ only mea Taylor wi-Qtccdiat6e becausethevirgin J)iana gOddeS$orthe~~iIi~ would ~inly ootpublishanythingfitonJytobet hidingmsbaJrie read by men sinCcevenon theirMindsabacL

Therer~agre3t d~~orQtothi~Whicb~ Effect m~$followtheEilcouragemcrit()(tbose spaceobligtiilJctopasSov~lgtUtmiddot~rihcin~qAl~ Thoughts which cannotbemiddot raised ~tho~t are thef6I1o~llighIi~~r19wtigbts~W~JO(ed ImproPriety-- And ~thcmiddotapparen~ycbisttmiddot i

lightSfrtiirt ~aistUsSioi11iiC wora 0 edorigimdstimza Went out into the wotldtod~ligbl

intelligent contempotarlesmbch1n tOuch With- giiitificiitio~50 ~har~ofmQderiiculnuc

symbolize ~mmmylo~e ~ l~~ll~Jcentiose

hertlosetlt~that~=U$li1~t ~t~ollfii (j(~~~ middotupp~ middotstani1i361imiddot bull-eIM-rlmiddotmiddotcwJ Keatsmiddot tambull by middotCaI ~ ~~ pun

publiSherJohll tayfOr~anaKeatS l()yal triend woodJitj~ as pcmiddotrrectlymiddot chaStc8nd nrn~ - rmiddot~r-middot_- Without asiDgle middotindcCent~oDJt~ they may have middotbecnmiddot~bUt they were

literary ~ P~~~ive isthc fact that Keats himsclf~~uslythoughtthcstaDzatOO bareopoundpassio~PJ)plicUioo for ht~a ieviseQversi()iliniv~bi(tld)orpbytO goes sofar asto embrace lvia~lihepiessesber he8rttobeart~and melts into her now iviI~dreaDi Wbodhousc becamea)amied atthisaDdapPrehClldattb4tthe poem was DOW ~unfit forWOJilen Keats flewintoa rage and decJaredbedidnt want ladies

gcncmUy What bas COInelriits wakO~bcen amiddot disastroUspoliticiZation ofUterarY $lUdicssneers at

aesthetic val~ rejection~9fbdjetevatintJ1e possibilqofobjectiveme8ninsandollliterationof distinctionsanlong texts altogetherThcparadoXicat effect ofthesecatastropbic developmcntsatJeastmiddot uponmc hasbecn a sbaJply increased~ for wbatthc first generation ofNew Criticsmiddotachievedmiddot in displacingthc ossifiedhcgemony ofbistorical

ladies as wen asmencspeciallymyhonOB students ~

Let us grant that they rnJsed some imptitt3nt questions about this scenejn the Eveof St

Agnesn The narrative obscurity ~ to wl1at middot~middotwbichibeyq)toi~Dl4Y~ih~4centctaJ ~

mterpu~Uve probl~lt5 cxttemeae$thetle~m~(t o~outrigbthostility toa1iextmlsi~~~~ to l1~idiamiddot ety Y- hoI bimiddotmiddotmiddoto~ ~ SOC psyc ()GY 6~ampaJ

middotin ~ the things most readers care about-widened the ~JfbetWecn Jitet3tuteandPUtmiddotmiddot _ - 6~

rarclationship a1ready~by television and thcrestless queSifor instqt

ALSC NEWSLE11ER = WINTER 1997

~ - - - - lt

t 9

1

-LJamp~R AA 0 f c7V]

studies a re~ f interest n the bull poem and not the poc~ the tale and not the tc er~ u~n the ceo 1ty 0 anguage m ~studies We neeltL anltrneed desperately to dedicate

(ourselves anew to that ~i~while 1 remauung profoundly respectful ofthe readers

many other legitimate and iDdeed inevitable i

responses to literature

For 2000 ycirs the justifiCation of1iteraturc rested on its power to delight and instruct One rarely hears Horaces autprodeue aut delectare anymore and the costs havebecn very heavy It is easy to forget that art is a social activity born in religion and arising from ourdecp need to externaliZe and share ideas and emotions ofall kinds FCr the overwhelming majority ofus and ofaDmiddotthe students we have had or win have 1iteraturcis Primarily anexPcncncc emotional intcl1~religious political adventure wish-fifi11mCD~ wbatcver-but an experience whose val~ sometimes incomparable is ratified first on the pulses I

cannot help but believe that approaches to litcmtwe which inhibi~ fiu$atc or needlessly confuse the readers responSe are bad amcism and bad pedagogy

We are an embattled profession in a time of troubl~ beset by problems beyond our control-in society at large-but also by disintegrating forces from within that have seriously undcimincd the foundations of IitcraJy study and pl8ced in doubt its justification as a university subject We arc divided in our aims and purposes Our greatest strength and Iunifying force derives from ow love oCboob- which is what brought us into the profession in the first place-our beJief that literaturematteisOD conviction that great literature really does embody the best that has been known and thought and felt in the world and that aD this is available to the

~V~~In times oftrouble it is always wise to middotDiCk on ones strengtm bull

Norman Fnmum can be reached bye-mail [rumaOOlmaroontcumnem

Quadruple Troping

Anthony Hechts recent poem Death Demure~ off~ a quadrupletrope in sheet-music

Tbe softness of my wice inspires high hopes Weaving its WI) through alien em1rons Lovely IS the cautatas ofthe Sirens That made OdysseuS heavemiddotaaainst his ropes The originaIsbeetamsic of those Femmes Fatales is tDiDebullbullbullbull (FlighlAmong the Tombs [New York Knopf 1996] P 7)

Sheet-musiC

1 Not-sheet-music insofar as its notfor sale in the loeal music store ~ songs the sirens

sang being one oftbe great unknowns - 2 But thC sheet-mUsic ofseduction the watery

form ofbctween the shcctsthat is

3 And windingmiddotsheet-mUsic~ as this is Death hcrseIpound

4 And the sheets of Odysse~ ropes that is the sailors shceti

Can anyone match or top aquadruple trope in the twentieth ccntury

Eleanor Cook

l1ME TO RENEW Ifyou have not yet renewed your

memberShip pleascUsC the form on page 15 to do so Oucs for 1997 will remain at the Same level that they have been at for the last two years $25 with ~IS ~or students We ale still iirtentoukceping dues low tomiddot ellCOUl1lpounde youngerscholars and writers to join ~ut hope that some ofour older more aftlueot JJiCm6eu might in8kian extra

contribution to support the Associations Work Income from dues docs not by itself cover our operating expenses

4lSC NEWSLE11ER = WINJER 1997 10

c -middot

lt-

i