A Formalist Approach for a Satire
A Formalist Approach to a Satire
ENG 125 Introduction to Literature
A Formalist Approach to a Satire
Evaluating and analyzing a literary work is often thought to be the same practice with the same outcome. However, evaluating a work and analyzing a work is very different. In “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”, it would be acceptable to evaluate the work as being 'good', while analyzing it could render it a masterpiece. This paper will both analyze and then evaluate this short story using the Formalist Approach, revealing both my perception on the work, and the reasons why this short story is as affluent as it is today as a still-relevant satire to the human condition. The short story captured my attention and approval at the first reading because it was personally relevant to me. The short story's main character was identifiable and, honestly, very much like myself. I can sympathize with a day-dreamer because I share that very same affliction and find that I am often forced to snap back into reality at the nagging of a friend or relative. Often I have found myself dreaming of being a pilot when driving a car because this makes the mundane and unsatisfactory life that Walter Mitty and I share to be rather important. Another aspect that I could identify with, on a deeper level, was the actual satirical nature of the short story. The text relates that “Thurber treats Mitty's actions humorously, but notice how the humor calls our attention to the need for communication in human relationships.” (Clugston, 2010). I find this personally applicable because I am often faced with people who tell me that I need to work on my communication skills. I find that the fantasy worlds built in day-dreams often replace the need for human communication, because these fantasies are much better and under our complete control. Psychologically, this would infer that both Walter Mitty and myself are in a
ENG 125 Introduction to Literature
A Formalist Approach to a Satire
Evaluating and analyzing a literary work is often thought to be the same practice with the same outcome. However, evaluating a work and analyzing a work is very different. In “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”, it would be acceptable to evaluate the work as being 'good', while analyzing it could render it a masterpiece. This paper will both analyze and then evaluate this short story using the Formalist Approach, revealing both my perception on the work, and the reasons why this short story is as affluent as it is today as a still-relevant satire to the human condition. The short story captured my attention and approval at the first reading because it was personally relevant to me. The short story's main character was identifiable and, honestly, very much like myself. I can sympathize with a day-dreamer because I share that very same affliction and find that I am often forced to snap back into reality at the nagging of a friend or relative. Often I have found myself dreaming of being a pilot when driving a car because this makes the mundane and unsatisfactory life that Walter Mitty and I share to be rather important. Another aspect that I could identify with, on a deeper level, was the actual satirical nature of the short story. The text relates that “Thurber treats Mitty's actions humorously, but notice how the humor calls our attention to the need for communication in human relationships.” (Clugston, 2010). I find this personally applicable because I am often faced with people who tell me that I need to work on my communication skills. I find that the fantasy worlds built in day-dreams often replace the need for human communication, because these fantasies are much better and under our complete control. Psychologically, this would infer that both Walter Mitty and myself are in a