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Practical Criticism

"Very well (I say). I will

board up the window

and what do you think

you'll see then?

But the boards (they say)

the boards are also a symbol."

 

Kenneth O. Hanson wrote a poem titled Practical Criticism that uses a class and teacher to suggest that without practical criticism we are left with nothing but "ifs." In the poem he raises many hypothetical situations concerning his students looking though a window. None of the questions are alike. He then places a board over the window so his class can concentrate on what is going on inside the class room. The board symbolizes practical criticism and that outside things contaminate the classroom message.

 

This cartoon symbolizes what life would be like without practical criticism. In each case a question is raised, but the answer is never given because other random thoughts that are not relevant to the initial question are given. This is the case in literature. When a reader begins to take in information outside of the text in which he or she is supposed to focus on, their vision becomes clouded with unnecessary information for the most part. This hinders that person from receiving the theme from the words themself.

 

 

This can be found:

www.jstor.org.ezproxy.auctr.edu:2051/stable/375090?&S...

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Uploaded on January 29, 2010
Taken on January 29, 2010