ok On Wed, 4 Mar 1998, Brendan McKennedy wrote: > > > ... but anyone who can > >use critical reading to find real ideas is probably going to build > reading > >experiences that are closer to both soul and mind of text to begin > >with...I'm sorry, but Brendan's approach doesn't sound like the kind > >of knowledge seeking I get from mr. salinger and the valuing of > >intelligence the glass family seems to exemplify. Trusting your heart > >doesn't have to mean that you ignore your mind and the experiences of > >others...will > > > > > > Hmmm...I've thought about this, Will, but I'm still not convinced that > criticism is an appropriate way for a first-time YOUNG reader to > approach Salinger. Certainly the criticism may come in handy, but I > honestly think that a reader must form his or her own impressions and > feelings about literature in order to know what he or she really does > feel. > > How many times have you read the introduction to a novel (or the > afterword prematurely), only to have it reveal an interpretation of the > novel, an expository discussion of key symbols and allusions--and now > you'll never know whether you would have come to that conclusion > yourself. > > I say let the students read the work, direct them towards criticism, and > they will discover what they should discover. > > Brendan > > ______________________________________________________ > Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com >