A Journalistic Endeavor into Sylvia Plath and Tone

Major

English – Writing

Submission Type

Oral Presentation

Area of Study or Work

English-Writing

Expected Graduation Date

2022

Location

CNS E103

Start Date

4-9-2022 8:30 AM

End Date

4-9-2022 9:30 AM

Abstract

As part of a larger written research project, entitled "The Colossus: A Journalistic Endeavor into Sylvia Plath and Tone," this research essay was concerned with tone as a literary analysis tool when applied to the work of poet Sylvia Plath. Tone's definitions are wavering, and as exemplified in the research, is best demonstrated through the application of it when participating in literary analysis. Tone is most commonly defined as the speaker's attitude towards the reader but this becomes difficult when the subjectivity of the reader comes into play. By examining and challenging the context of a journal entry Plath wrote on September 29,1959, the essay is a practice in the subjectivity of tone and how it can be used to explore new ways to read work that has been critically analyzed for years. This was done through the re-contextualization of Plath's words into a typical sports-news story that creates a rivalry between Sylvia Plath and her critics using only words and details from her journal. In taking Plath’s journal entry and experimenting with the tonal aspects of it to create something different, one can see the distinct way that tone impacts the reception of the work and that tone is subjective to each person that interacts with it.

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Apr 9th, 8:30 AM Apr 9th, 9:30 AM

A Journalistic Endeavor into Sylvia Plath and Tone

CNS E103

As part of a larger written research project, entitled "The Colossus: A Journalistic Endeavor into Sylvia Plath and Tone," this research essay was concerned with tone as a literary analysis tool when applied to the work of poet Sylvia Plath. Tone's definitions are wavering, and as exemplified in the research, is best demonstrated through the application of it when participating in literary analysis. Tone is most commonly defined as the speaker's attitude towards the reader but this becomes difficult when the subjectivity of the reader comes into play. By examining and challenging the context of a journal entry Plath wrote on September 29,1959, the essay is a practice in the subjectivity of tone and how it can be used to explore new ways to read work that has been critically analyzed for years. This was done through the re-contextualization of Plath's words into a typical sports-news story that creates a rivalry between Sylvia Plath and her critics using only words and details from her journal. In taking Plath’s journal entry and experimenting with the tonal aspects of it to create something different, one can see the distinct way that tone impacts the reception of the work and that tone is subjective to each person that interacts with it.