Reality and sincerity
By: Frank Raymond Leavis
Introduction:
By: Frank Raymond Leavis
Introduction:
Literary criticism occupies its own position along with literary creations. I.A.Richards, Ranson, T.S.Eliot, F.R.Leavis and many such talented critics have established, new criticism F.R.Leavis is a leading critic among this group. He has a lasting effect on English literary criticism. His ideas on practical criticism rather than theory have been sincerity, by him is a fine specimens of his genius as a critic.
Analysis of three poems:
Almost sixty years age F.R.Leavis wrote a short story type essay which handle this problem which he called :Reality and Sincerity". F.R.Leavis is the greatest literary critic of the 20th century.
In this present essay 'Reality and Sincerity' Leavis analysis poems. In this essay he carried out a task of critical composition involving three poems.
1)Alexander smith's : 'Barbara'
2)Emily Bronte's : 'Cold in the Earth
3)Hardy's:'After a Journey'
Actually Leavis analysed Only two poem can be easily found but ' Barbara' is slightly more difficult. leavis says it is the oxford book of English verse. F.R.Leavis was trying to establish how words in poetry in able the reader to realize the experience that is given in the words. the purpose behind this comparison is to understand.
1) Alexander Smith's ' Barbara' :
The comparison begin with Alexander smith 'Barbara'. Alexander was a member of the spasmodic school of poets. Who flourished in the middle of nineteenth century. There work enjoyed great popularity.
The first verse sets the seen using adjectives like old, grey, crisped, yellow etc. Which set a tone of something or something about to end.
The second verse ends with powerful image of 'Barbara' looking out of heaven which reminds us D.G.Rossetti's powerful poem "The Blessed Demozel".
The third stanza conclued's with the erotic memory of a wild morning when the love embarrassed but one can not understand why the kiss lives the purpose stain on agony her mouth. Barbara's ghost lingers on like bad smell through out the forth stanza.
She seats remembering erotic memory keeping breslet in her arm. she describes that though she has been faithful and loves him still. This comparison of earth and heavenly love is in empty without her. The poem ends with wind, rain and the mourning of wounded see. peace is with Barbara and death.
Leavis criticism of smith poem has nothing to do with teaching, reading though the verse, it looks very personal. Each line is a memory there is almost a picture in each line smith decided the verse him self sharing his thought with ' Barbara ' . He is talking to her and he know what to say so that she will understand him. This poem is not for us them."When loves speck, they have their own language".
2) Emily Bronte's "Cold In The Earth" :
The next poem Leavis discuss in his essay was Emily Bronte 'Cold in the Earth'. in an earlier book leavis had called this poem as the finest poem of the 19th century, but in his later essay he describes Emily Bronte's poem as a fail for the work by Alexander Smith.
this poem is read as plangeat which suggest hat there is something dangerous in it. In stanza seven , she describe that......
" Then did i cheak the tears, of useless passion."
and we see an obvious hint at the nature of strength in following stanza.
" Then did i learn how existence could be cherist;
strengthened and faid without the add of joy"
"Cold in the earth and the deep snow piled above thee,
far far removed cold in the dreary grave."
3) Thomas Hardy's "After A Journey" :
Leavis moves on in his essay to discuss 'after a journey' by Thomas Hardy . He was well known both as novelist as a poet. his wife died in November 1912 after a short and painful illness. the marriage had become empty for both of them. The shock of his wife's death filled hardy with feeling of remorse and regret and that he produce a series of poems that are very powerful.
It is commented that hardy was a fraud. Who used his talents as a writer to become famous in society. this poem is a healing poem which seems to refer back to the core of his life. For Leavis describes it as imitate or self communing.
It is like we are listening to hardy taking to himself some where inside our own mind. He describes his wife in the poem...
" Not colored hair, and grey eyes and rase flush"
It we compare it with other two poems. There is absence of positive tone which leavis describes as a having a great advantage in reality.
The first word the poem 'hereto' makes an immediate effect of balance. Leavis describe the poem as a journey back the time. But actually, we can not go back through the time. memory can recall his wife. but her presence in the poem makes her absence. There is a detailed analysis of the line.
" But all is closed now, despite times clerision"
this line makes this point clear, this is the statement that says, every thing is closed despite times staining. There is a balance 'All is balance', 'all is over'. The suffering of lose. Thomas hardy is expressing the reality of remembrance, but he also say that
" I am just the same"
The point in this threw is t try to understand how we can recognition the truth of the poem or what makes a good pic of poetry what is it about poetry that makes people want to write it.While Emile Bronte 'cold in earth' is a striking poem. but when we go back to judgement that she is dramatizing her self in a situation such as she has dearly not know in actualise experience.
Conclusion:
2) Emily Bronte's "Cold In The Earth" :
The next poem Leavis discuss in his essay was Emily Bronte 'Cold in the Earth'. in an earlier book leavis had called this poem as the finest poem of the 19th century, but in his later essay he describes Emily Bronte's poem as a fail for the work by Alexander Smith.
this poem is read as plangeat which suggest hat there is something dangerous in it. In stanza seven , she describe that......
" Then did i cheak the tears, of useless passion."
and we see an obvious hint at the nature of strength in following stanza.
" Then did i learn how existence could be cherist;
strengthened and faid without the add of joy"
"Cold in the earth and the deep snow piled above thee,
far far removed cold in the dreary grave."
3) Thomas Hardy's "After A Journey" :
Leavis moves on in his essay to discuss 'after a journey' by Thomas Hardy . He was well known both as novelist as a poet. his wife died in November 1912 after a short and painful illness. the marriage had become empty for both of them. The shock of his wife's death filled hardy with feeling of remorse and regret and that he produce a series of poems that are very powerful.
It is commented that hardy was a fraud. Who used his talents as a writer to become famous in society. this poem is a healing poem which seems to refer back to the core of his life. For Leavis describes it as imitate or self communing.
It is like we are listening to hardy taking to himself some where inside our own mind. He describes his wife in the poem...
" Not colored hair, and grey eyes and rase flush"
It we compare it with other two poems. There is absence of positive tone which leavis describes as a having a great advantage in reality.
The first word the poem 'hereto' makes an immediate effect of balance. Leavis describe the poem as a journey back the time. But actually, we can not go back through the time. memory can recall his wife. but her presence in the poem makes her absence. There is a detailed analysis of the line.
" But all is closed now, despite times clerision"
this line makes this point clear, this is the statement that says, every thing is closed despite times staining. There is a balance 'All is balance', 'all is over'. The suffering of lose. Thomas hardy is expressing the reality of remembrance, but he also say that
" I am just the same"
The point in this threw is t try to understand how we can recognition the truth of the poem or what makes a good pic of poetry what is it about poetry that makes people want to write it.While Emile Bronte 'cold in earth' is a striking poem. but when we go back to judgement that she is dramatizing her self in a situation such as she has dearly not know in actualise experience.
Conclusion:
Above all F.R.Leavis by comparing to peace of work.
"Cold in Earth"
"After a Journey"
On the base of reality and sincerity comes conclusion that Hardy's After a journey is more effective poem. It highlights the element of reality and sincerity. more than the poem of Emily Bronte.
"Cold in Earth"
"After a Journey"
On the base of reality and sincerity comes conclusion that Hardy's After a journey is more effective poem. It highlights the element of reality and sincerity. more than the poem of Emily Bronte.
