Poetic Criticism: Positive Analysis
An Encouraging Form of Poetry Commentary
Nov 1, 2008 Nicholas Klacsanzky
Literary criticism, poetic evaluation especially, has become increasingly negative. Forums designed for support in ones poetic ascent have turned to an exhibition of ego-oriented digression, where one poet debases another and claims superiority. Commentary on poetry has developed into a competition, more than a learning process. There are many methods of constructive annotation that are more successful than negative critique. One technique among these is the affirmative analysis approach, where the adviser emphasizes only the well written portions of the poem, and explains why he or she enjoyed it by using technical criteria. By implementing this method, the author grows confident and wary of what people know as excellent writing. This system is a branch of moralist criticism, where the annotator writes for reality sake, and is interested in what a composition can teach us about ourselves.
Learning Process
Usually, in reader-response literary criticism, you apply both positive and negative commentary. To be constructive in your analysis, one needs not tally the negative aspects, but merely rely on the positive portions. In noting only the favored selections of a poem, the author assimilates the praise, and the explanation of that praise, into a knowledge of what is ‘good’ poetry. Over time, by the continuous attention to the strong points of the author’s poetry, the poet grasps what his or her ideal style is. To acquire a view of what is important in ones own creative writing is essential to developing a unique presentation. As soon as one knows what kind of poetry they desire to write, their learning process truly begins.
The appreciation for the poets’ work, though praised, is not left unexplained. Through various technical terms and phrases, the critic details his or her understanding of why a particular line or lines are enjoyed. This analysis can include mention of sound, metaphor, syntax, format, association with literary texts, and so forth. From the account of technical description, that poet is reassured and gains knowledge.
Technical Observation
Like music, poetry has a mood, and usually a mood is kept consistent throughout a poem. At either the beginning or the end, the critic can expound on what he or she felt the atmosphere was and what its effect was. The temperament of a poem is commonly reflective of the meaning, and explaining the emotional aspect of a poem exposes to the author how a reader perceives the poem on a whole.
Emotional Reflection
If the author asks for advice specifically on improvements he or she could make, supply a thorough analysis with directness. Base your commentary solely on what you know as an agreed truth in the realm of poetic studies, withholding all skewed and/or obscure opinions.
Correction when Questioning
Beside the exception of inquiring advice from the critic, the critic in the affirmative analysis method need not write anything in regard to correction. All defects in the author is understood in the absence of the critic’s praise.
Pushing against all unnecessary information.
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