The Tooth that Nibbles at the Soul brings together Marshall Brown’s new and previously published writings on literature and music. These essays engage questions that are central to the development of literature, music, and the arts in the period from Romanticism at the end of the eighteenth century to the avant-garde movements of the early twentieth, a period in which the modern evolution of the arts is coupled with a rise in the significance of music as artistic form. With a special focus on lyric poetry and canonical composers including Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, and Schubert, Brown ties the growing prominence of music in this period to the modernist principle of abstraction. Music, as Brown provocatively notes, conveys meaning without explicitly saying anything. This principle of abstraction could be taken as the overriding formula for modernist art in general; and it explains why in this period music becomes the model to which all the other arts, in particular painting and literature, aspire. Brown’s title, taken from a poem by Emily Dickinson, reminds us that abstraction -- musical and artistic – is anything but toothless; indeed, it “nibbles at the soul” in subtle and enduring ways. Throughout his wide-ranging and erudite analysis, Brown’s goal is to pinpoint the nature of music’s bite and to illuminate the shared elements of literature and music. While there are many previous comparisons of music and poetry, few are systematic or based on a solid knowledge of both literary criticism and musicology. Brown’s essays can be enjoyed by a general, well-read public not trained in either music or eighteenth-century literature, as well as by an audience steeped in sophisticated (if not technical) musical analysis.

A groundbreaking exploration of the themes of faith and doubt in Emily Dickinson's poetry

Reflecting varieties of theory and practice in both verse and prose from the Middle Ages to the twenty-first century, these essays by many of America's leading literary scholars call for a reinvigorated formalism that can enrich literary studies, open productive routes of commerce with cultural studies, and propel cultural theory out of its thematic ruts. This book reprints Modern Language Quarterly's highly acclaimed special issue Reading for Form, along with new essays by Marjorie Perloff, D. Vance Smith, and Susan Stewart, and a revised introduction by Susan Wolfson. With historical case studies and insightful explorations, Reading for Form offers invaluable material for literary critics in all specializations.

Once Upon a Time There Was a Little Girl shares the moving stories of seven women who as young girls experienced the early loss of their mothers through death or physical or emotional abandonment. The women explore their personal traumas through their responses to seven fairy tales in which there was no nurturing maternal presence. Dr. Marcella Shields is a psychologist with over thirty years of experience who reveals the inspiring journeys of these women who eventually triumph over suffering and learn to rely on the bond they have formed with each other to help reclaim their passion for life. By exploring seven timeless fairy tales in which the heroine finds her way through the grief of abandonment, the women offer a deeper understanding of the significance of the mother-daughter bond and the devastating consequences for the daughter if this bond is ruptured early. The poignant life stories and dreams courageously offered by these women show how fairy tales allowed them to understand and refashion themselves, and provide a source of encouragement and hope for other women who have experienced early maternal loss. Fathers raising daughters without a consistent maternal presence will also find the reflections valuable.

In the most extensive work to date on major poets from the mountain South, John Lang explores the pervasive religious and spiritual concerns of many of the mountain South's finest writers, including Fred Chappell, Robert Morgan, Jeff Daniel Marion, Kathryn Stripling Byer, Jim Wayne Miller, and Charles Wright. He employs close readings of the poets' work and relates it to British and American Romanticism as well as contemporary eco-theology and eco-criticism, creating the most ambitious and searching foray yet into the worlds of these renowned post-World War II Appalachian poets.

The Complete Poems by Emily Dickinson: Immerse yourself in the profound and introspective world of Emily Dickinson with The Complete Poems. This comprehensive collection showcases Dickinson's poetic brilliance, exploring themes of love, nature, mortality, and the enigmatic complexities of the human experience. Key Points: Features the complete body of work by Emily Dickinson, including her famous poems as well as lesser-known gems, offering a comprehensive understanding of her poetic genius. Delve into Dickinson's unique poetic style characterized by concise yet powerful language, unconventional punctuation, and thought-provoking imagery. Explores the depth and complexity of Dickinson's themes, such as the nature of existence, the transient beauty of life, and the exploration of the inner self. Emily Dickinson, an American poet, is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential poets in the English language. Though she lived a reclusive life and published only a handful of poems during her lifetime, Dickinson's poetry is celebrated for its unique style, introspective themes, and unconventional use of punctuation and syntax. Her poems explore profound ideas such as mortality, nature, love, and the human psyche, showcasing her keen observations and profound insights. Dickinson's impact on poetry and her ability to capture the complexities of human existence have made her a cherished figure in literary history.