I.A.Richard : Reading poem

   

 

  Practical Criticism by I.A .Richard

  This blog is part of classroom activity focused on I.A .Richard's  practical criticism Regarding figrative language .I.A. Richards' essay on practical criticism emphasizes close analysis of a poem without considering the poet's intentions. "Musée des Beaux Arts" by W.H. Auden explores the theme of indifference to suffering. Richards' approach could involve examining how the poem's structure and language convey this theme, disregarding the poet's background or intent.

For background reading of Practicle criticism visit below link. practical criticism

   Explain Overall Idea In The Poem

         Musee Des Beaux Art

                                   By W.H.Auden

About suffering they were never wrong

The Old Masters: how well they understood 

Its human position; how it takes place While someone else is eating or opening a window or just walking dully along;

How, when the aged are reverently, passionately waiting

For the miraculous birth, there always must be

Children who did not specially want it to happen, skating

On a pond at the edge of the wood:

They never forgot

That even the dreadful martyrdom must run its course

Anyhow in a corner, some untidy spot

Where the dogs go on with their doggy life and the torturer's horse

Scratches its innocent behind on a tree.

In Breughel's Icarus, for instance: how everything turns away

Quite leisurely from the disaster; the ploughman may

Have heard the splash, the forsaken cry,

But for him it was not an important failure; the sun shone

As it had to on the white legs disappearing into the green

Water; and the expensive delicate ship that must have seen

Something amazing, a boy falling out of the sky.

Had somewhere to get to and sailed calmly on.

 

  

   "Musee des Beaux Arts" by W.H, Auden reflects on the indifference of people to the suffering of others. The poem observes everyday life against the oackdrop of suffering depicted in Paintings. Auden suggests that people often go about their daily routines oblivious to the pain and tragedy occurring around them, as if it's a natural part of life, The title refers to the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, where Auden likely drew

inspiration from Flemish paintings.

Questions that arise while reading the poem are below:

1.  What symbols represent human suffering in "Musee des Beaux Arts"?

2. Who is Icarus in "Musée des Beaux Arts" and what could he symbolize?

3.What is the main idea of musee des beaux arts?

4. What is the poem suggesting about the nature of cruelty?

5. Who in the poem cares about human suffering?

6. In "Musee des Beaux Arts", who are the "Old Masters"?

Now defence the qution as per New criticism .

In "Musee des Beaux Arts" by W.H. Auden, symbols like Icarus falling and Brueghel's painting depict human suffering, emphasizing the indifference of the world to individual pain.

In "Musée des Beaux Arts," Icarus represents the insignificance of human suffering in the grand scope of the world. His fall from the sky, as depicted in Brueghel's painting, symbolizes unnoticed and overlooked tragedy amidst the larger tapestry of life, emphasizing the poem's theme of the indifference of the world to individual sorrows.

The main idea of "Musée des Beaux Arts" is the exploration of human suffering and the indifference of the world to individual pain. The poem reflects on how tragic events often go unnoticed amidst the routine of everyday life, using the examples of Icarus's fall and Brueghel's painting to highlight the disconnect between personal suffering and the world's preoccupations.

The poem "Musée des Beaux Arts" suggests that the nature of cruelty lies in its pervasive indifference. Auden conveys that while significant tragedies unfold, the world remains largely apathetic, focusing on its routine activities. This indifference, depicted through the symbols in the poem, underscores the profound and often unnoticed nature of human suffering.

In New Criticism, the focus is primarily on the text itself, emphasizing close reading and analysis of literary works. Identifying the speaker or characters who express concern for human suffering within a poem is crucial to understanding the poem's thematic elements. Look for nuanced language and subtle cues in the text to uncover the perspectives on human suffering.

In the context of W. H. Auden's "Musee des Beaux Arts," the "Old Masters" refer to renowned painters of the past, highlighting the indifference of these artists to the suffering depicted in their works. New Criticism encourages a close examination of such details to understand the poem's themes and the way the speaker comments on the relationship between art and the human experience.

 New Criticism to "Musee des Beaux Arts," one would focus on the poem's formal elements, structure, language, and symbols.by employing the tools of New Criticism, one can delve into the intricacies of the poem, appreciating the interplay of language, form, and symbolism to uncover the nuanced meaning that might not be immediately evident.

Thank you .