The Art of Coming-in-this-World: On Sylvia Plath’s “Elm”
Sylvia Plath’s posthumously published Ariel has generated a plethora of responses. While critics have tended to focus on the biographical aspects of the poet’s work, lay reviewers have simultaneously emphasised their lack of understanding and the strength of their perceptual and affective responses....
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at the University of Verona
2021-06-01
|
| Series: | Iperstoria |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://iperstoria.it/article/view/999 |
| _version_ | 1819084810585374720 |
|---|---|
| author | Amélie Doche |
| author_facet | Amélie Doche |
| author_sort | Amélie Doche |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sylvia Plath’s posthumously published Ariel has generated a plethora of responses. While critics have tended to focus on the biographical aspects of the poet’s work, lay reviewers have simultaneously emphasised their lack of understanding and the strength of their perceptual and affective responses. The present article, which focuses on Plath’s “Elm,” has a threefold aim. First, it seeks to present “Elm” as a work of verbal art; secondly, it endeavours to expose the features which may be responsible for readers’ responses; thirdly, it considers the potential of “Elm” for mental health. To this end, the study mobilises concepts and methods drawn from stylistics, (Systemic Functional) Discourse Analysis, psychology, and philosophy. Research findings show that the following features may allow for an internally lived rather than an externally cognised aesthetic experience: the dissolution of the signifier-signified pair, the use of intersensory-physiognomic language and the introduction of atopia as a topos. These salient features enable readers to privilege significance over signification and to be confronted with jouissance, an experience that grounds them in the flow of (be)coming. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T20:54:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-929dfe3e1dbd4914ad720b574f2fe048 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2281-4582 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T20:54:23Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at the University of Verona |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Iperstoria |
| spelling | doaj.art-929dfe3e1dbd4914ad720b574f2fe0482022-12-21T18:50:38ZengDepartment of Foreign Languages and Literatures at the University of VeronaIperstoria2281-45822021-06-0101710.13136/2281-4582/2021.i17.999877The Art of Coming-in-this-World: On Sylvia Plath’s “Elm”Amélie Doche0Birmingham City UniversitySylvia Plath’s posthumously published Ariel has generated a plethora of responses. While critics have tended to focus on the biographical aspects of the poet’s work, lay reviewers have simultaneously emphasised their lack of understanding and the strength of their perceptual and affective responses. The present article, which focuses on Plath’s “Elm,” has a threefold aim. First, it seeks to present “Elm” as a work of verbal art; secondly, it endeavours to expose the features which may be responsible for readers’ responses; thirdly, it considers the potential of “Elm” for mental health. To this end, the study mobilises concepts and methods drawn from stylistics, (Systemic Functional) Discourse Analysis, psychology, and philosophy. Research findings show that the following features may allow for an internally lived rather than an externally cognised aesthetic experience: the dissolution of the signifier-signified pair, the use of intersensory-physiognomic language and the introduction of atopia as a topos. These salient features enable readers to privilege significance over signification and to be confronted with jouissance, an experience that grounds them in the flow of (be)coming.https://iperstoria.it/article/view/999american studiessylvia plathariel"elm"poetics |
| spellingShingle | Amélie Doche The Art of Coming-in-this-World: On Sylvia Plath’s “Elm” Iperstoria american studies sylvia plath ariel "elm" poetics |
| title | The Art of Coming-in-this-World: On Sylvia Plath’s “Elm” |
| title_full | The Art of Coming-in-this-World: On Sylvia Plath’s “Elm” |
| title_fullStr | The Art of Coming-in-this-World: On Sylvia Plath’s “Elm” |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Art of Coming-in-this-World: On Sylvia Plath’s “Elm” |
| title_short | The Art of Coming-in-this-World: On Sylvia Plath’s “Elm” |
| title_sort | art of coming in this world on sylvia plath s elm |
| topic | american studies sylvia plath ariel "elm" poetics |
| url | https://iperstoria.it/article/view/999 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ameliedoche theartofcominginthisworldonsylviaplathselm AT ameliedoche artofcominginthisworldonsylviaplathselm |