Learning Paths » 5B Interacting
CZanello - Methodological Module for Textual Analysis - T.S. Eliot, Developing an argument - text analysis
by - (2011-09-22)
Up to 5B - Methodological Module for Textual Analysis
ESSAY
Developing an argument
EX.2
-STATEMENT (LINES 1,2) The English language is the richest for poetry.
-QUALIFICATION OF STATEMENT (LINES 3-10) This doesn’t mean that England has produced the gratest poets or amount of poetry.
-CLARIFICATION (LINES 11-14) English is the richest language for poetry because it has the largest vocabulary.
-SUPPORTING STATEMENT + EXAMPLES (LINES 14-29) This richness is due to the variety of elements of which English is made of:
Germanic foundation
Scandinavian element
Norman French element
Norman conquest
French influences
Celtic
-FURTHER CLARIFICATION + EXAMPLES (LINES 29-40) The English language is also rich in its rhythmic variety. The elements are:
The rhythm of the Welsh
The rhythm of the Norman French
The rhythm of the Welsh
The influence of generations of study of Latin and Greek poetry
The constant possibilities of refreshment from its several centres
-FIRST RESTATEMENT (LINES 41-44) English is a good language for poetry because it is derived from so many linguistic sources.
-SECOND RESTATEMENT (LINES 44-48) England has not necessarily produced the greatest poets.
-STATEMENT + EXAMPLES (LINES 49-51) It is generally thought that the greatest peoples excel in one art. Examples:
Italy and France in painting
Germany in music
England in poetry
-REFUTATION + EXAMPLE (LINES 52-68) This is not correct because:
France contributed in poetry
Irish contributed in poetry
Example: Baudelaire, Paul Valéry, Edgar Allan Poe.
-FURTHER REFUTATION + EXAMPLE (LINES 68-76) A nation which leads in a particular art form in a particular period does not necessarily produce the greatest artists. Example: Goethe
-STATEMENT (LINES 77-86) No European nation would have accomplished what it has, as far as culture is concerned, if other countries had not developed the same art forms.
-STATEMENT (86-99) The ability of European literature to renew itself depends on two factors:
Ability to receive and assimilate influences from abroad
Ability to go back and learn from its own sources.
EX.4
-SHOW LOGICAL SEQUENCE : “I have been leading up to”
-GIVE EVIDENCE: “I refer to..”
-EXPRESS OPINION : ”I am not concerned to..” (line 10); “I think of..” (line 29); “I venture to say that..” (line 61); “We must not assume that..” (line 69);”We cannot understand..”(line 80).
EX.5
-The essayst is addressing to the German people.
-We can find the opinion of the author, the English speaking people and the people in general. For example when he writes “we tend to think of each of greater peoples as excelling in one art rather than another”.
-The author’s intention is to prove that the English language is the richest for poetry, however he also says that this doesn’t mean that England has produced the greatest poets.
-the author uses examples to substiantate his statement.