Essay Sample on Evaluating Literature: Reader-Response vs. New Criticism

Introduction

Pieces of literature work can be evaluated in different ways. Some of the evaluation methods include critique methods such as reader-response and new criticism (Davis and Kenneth 8). These methods of reviews have portions of similarities as well as differences at the same time. More into detail, the reader's response focuses on attention towards a piece of literature influenced by the reader while new criticism aims only at the text reading without any influence at all. It is worth noting that the two critique methods share some same features such as recognizing details from texts and excluding the author's attention in the analysis. Furthermore, the two review methods also contrast by having different analysis and objective of the text. Therefore, this paper focuses on the comparison and the contrast of new criticism and reader-response criticism experiences based on the poem "the mother" by Gwendolyn Brooks.

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Comparisons

On the comparison, the two review methods reject the intention of the author, and they are directed towards finding the meaning of the text in place. Ideally, new criticism tries to understand the meaning of the text, but it does not allow authors influence the idea which is the same case for reader response. Therefore, the critique of both forms doesn't consider the thoughts of the author. In a similar sense, both forms of criticism focus on the written content (Davis and Kenneth 9). Based on the written content of "The Mother" by Gwendolyn Brooks the written content drives a message that mothers don't forget their kids who died through abortion. The article informs mothers of what their kids would have become, and the pleasures they might miss bringing up their kids if by any chances they abort. In other words, the poem provides a view on abortion, and it shows the emotional damage of abortion to the mothers.

Secondly, on the comparison, the two methods focus on close reading to internalize the meaning of texts. They both reject the belief of people towards biographical, historicism and biographical matters and instead they are objected to close focus and analysis to examine and analyze the message in the text (Delahoyde 1). In my opinion, based on the text we should reflect on, regrets and struggles for ladies who have aborted are evident. Such mothers face anguish, guilt and continued anxiety because of the decisions they made to abort. They are considering, the first line of the poem which claims that "abortions will never let you forget" (Brooks 385). The love for mothers to their children is identified. It shows that mothers are meant to love their kids. Therefore, both forms of criticisms show the aspect of guilt and regrets for mothers who have aborted their kids.

Additionally, comparison exists on after the experience of abortion. All the literal styles of analysis identify the aspect of emotionality in the poem. The poem tries to show torment that mothers go through after abortion. At some point in the poem, the author argues that she hears the voices of the kids she aborted through the wind. She also agrees to the fact that she stole the life of her kids and stealing the life her kids have been haunting her throughout. The author justifies her decision of abortion by claiming it was her deliberate decision, but she agrees to the fact that she was not thinking, and she should not whine. The last phrase in the poem claims that "believe me, I knew you all thou faintly, and I loved you all" (Brooks 386). This statement is self- explanatory, and I feel it that it summarizes it all that the narrator loved her kids. Thus, the two forms show the emotional experience after abortion.

Contrasts

In contrasts, the two forms of criticism differ since they interpret meanings in different ways and their focus is different too. Reader response allows the readers to read and interpret the message in as many ways as possible since there is no limit. This critique method defines itself through its name "reader response" and it interprets the activities of readers rather than the intent of the author (Rabinowitz 1). On the other hand, new criticism involves focusing on the material at hand and not what it is perceived to mean.

Considering "the mother poem," new criticism shows existing contrasts between reality and a dialect of dreams because it is in the mother's imagination that the lost babies still exist, yet she knows that they are dead. On the other hand, based on the reader's response, in stanza 2 of the poem, the author imagines giving birth, hearing babies play games and cry as well as suckling babies at her breasts. Her imagination continues to even think of kids "loves" and marriage, but his thoughts are followed by words any way you are dead. However, the author seems not to bear with the word "dead" she follows the word with "or you were never made" (Brooks 386). I feel that these statements show a contrast between real and imaginative, which makes her reveal her need to believe in existence after death.

Conclusion

Both forms of criticisms differ a little bit, but they all prove insightful analysis on the text at hand. For instance, both critique methods come to conclude that the poem portrays the themes of life, existence, and consciousness because the mother all along in the poem speaks about her nonexistent babies. She also thinks about her lost fetuses. But all in all, the poem is great, and it shows that abortion is associated with a lot of guilt and blame.

Works Cited

Rabinowitz, Peter J. "Reader-response theory and criticism." The Johns Hopkins Guide to literary theory and criticism (1994): 606-9. Accessed from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/daaa/c43871979c506b2b5a45d9d7b6baa7e82e3d.pdf

Davis, Todd F., and Kenneth Womack. Formalist criticism and reader-response theory. Macmillan International Higher Education, 2002. Accessed from https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=l1wdBQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=editions:gpE-SNr78l0C&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi65Iu87ILlAhXfAmMBHRfXBzMQuwUILDAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

Brooks, Gwendolyn. "The mother." Making Sense of Women's Lives: An Introduction to Women's Studies (2000): 385. Accessed from https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=rjT5pSZgGV4C&oi=fnd&pg=PA385&dq=the+mother+Brooks&ots=UHk_GKzilr&sig=v_EOR9lqAbZyka0o5zatGWN0akU&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=the%20mother%20Brooks&f=false