A critic examining John Milton's "Paradise Lost" focuses on the physical description of the Garden of Eden, on the symbols of hands, seed, and flower, and on the characters of Adam, Eve, Satan, and God. He pays special attention to the epic similes and metaphors and the point of view from which the tale is being told. He looks for meaning in the text itself, and does not refer to any biography of Milton. He is most likely a critic ?
Correct answer: D. Formalist
- A. Reader Response
- B. Feminist
- C. Mimetic
- D. Formalist
Explanation
A formalist studies features inside the work, such as imagery, symbols, characterization, figurative language, and narrative point of view. Unlike biographical or reader-response criticism, this approach does not depend on Milton’s life or the reader’s personal reaction.
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