How to Understand Literary Work's Language

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icanjambi

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Dear friends,

I like reading literary works. But, I find difficulty analyzing and understanding its literary language. My mother tongue is Indonesian. Please give me some clues.
 

icanjambi

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Dear Gillnetter,

This is an example of literary work that it's hard for me to understand. I've got it from this site: The Nobel Prize in Literature 2011

The Half-Finished Heaven
By Tomas Tranströmer

Despondency breaks off its course.
Anguish breaks off its course.
The vulture breaks off its flight.

The eager light streams out,
even the ghosts take a draught.

And our paintings see daylight,
our red beasts of the ice-age studios.

Everything begins to look around.
We walk in the sun in hundreds.

Each man is a half-open door
leading to a room for everyone.

The endless ground under us.

The water is shining among the trees.

The lake is a window into the earth.


Besides, I still need your assistance to check my grammar in a poem which I've tried to compose. I really appreciate your help, and thank you so much.

In the Night's Still

Well, what I look;
it looks like unstable.

Well, what I feel;
it seems like a flash.

All I know is
just a contrast.

All I think is
just a part of situation.

The whole is in contrast
Just like this night's wish.

Darkness needs a still to be stylish,
and it always tends to condense.

But, it lists some noisies,
looks colorful filled with mercury lights that dance.

Hear if you can't listen to..
See if you can't observe..

Everything's just a paradox:
Opposite edges build inbox.
 

LitAngels

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Dear friends,

I like reading literary works. But, I find difficulty analyzing and understanding its literary language. My mother tongue is Indonesian. Please give me some clues.

There are two aspects.

First, the language itself. There are various forms of english and they vary according to time and location. A deep familiarity with the language (reading alot of varied lit) will solve your problem, if it is to do with language. Alot of travel helps (understanding patois).

Then there is theme. Literature criticism involves understanding that there is exactly one theme. For that you have to involve yourself in story structure theory. Look at all those sources which indicate that there is one story (Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey, Vogler's Writer's Journey, Kal Bashir's Journey/Transformation/New World). That is the base from which story analysis sprouts.

There is a drawback - once you start analysing story, you lose the ability to enjoy it a little.
 

icanjambi

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Thank you so much for your suggestion. It's really useful for me.
 
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