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/lit/ - Literature

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17651001 No.17651001 [Reply] [Original]

Hello /lit/,
I'd like to share with you some insight that occurred to me while reading Thomas Hardy. I am in the middle of Jude the Obscure and decided to reread a chapter instead of moving forward from where I left off. For some reason, the prose was suddenly different, even more vibrant than the first time I had read the section. On my first read I paid attention mostly to the words used, but this time I was led to pay special attention to the punctuation as well. What resulted from this was my experiencing why Hardy truly deserves the title of genius.

This moment made me realize the reason I am so obsessed with gatekeeping, maintaining the title of "greatness" only for those whom deserve it, reading the classics, and the reason I am so so so so so intolerant of genre fiction and the relativism that has tried to erase the supremacy of the canon; it is because taste must be refined. I always knew this to be the case, but in this moment I really understood. I had read these passages without realizing the genius of balance and power which Hardy is pulling off. Only through practice and dedication could I come to see it in a form which I had missed before.


I'd love to share this passage with you. It's about a 1/4 of the way through the book and isn't really giving away any major spoilers.
Pay attention to the punctuation and how the clauses interact with one another. He has a way of contrasting the emotional weight of his sentences/paragraphs.

>> No.17651005 [DELETED] 
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17651005

>> No.17651021
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17651021

>>17651001
second part:

>> No.17651587

>>17651001
MODERN ERECTIONS

>> No.17651709

>>17651001
That's great anon. I read a few pages of The Mayor of Casterbridge but I dropped it because I found the prose unnatural. I'll probably give Hardy another chance soon.

>> No.17651736

>>17651001
I haven't read the book but might now. thanks anon

>> No.17652256

>>17651709
>>17651736
pleased to be of service

>> No.17652340

>>17651001
>He has a way of contrasting the emotional weight of his sentences/paragraphs.
Give DFW a go if you have not, mainly IJ or TPK, the way he does this to reflect scene and character is impressive and very effective. Also, Far From The Madding Crowd is Hardy at his best.

>> No.17653804

>>17652340
Thanks I will give DFW another chance.

>> No.17654445

>>17651001
>The afternoon was one of sun and dust, and when they entered the exhibition room few people were present but themselves.
I find this sentence illuminating, for instance. Perfect balance of emotional weight between clauses.
As is this one:
>He had found her quite as bright as Jude had described her; and what master-tradesman does not wish to keep an apprentice who saves him half his labour?

>> No.17654484

>>17651001
"those whom deserve it," *Who*