Woolf's+Language

This topic may seem somewhat similar to the topic about Woolf's style, but I do not think it is going to be. Many of you are complaining about Woolf's style, but I'd like you to consider her language. I read the first chapter in the computer room, and it was loud; however, after I was able to concentrate on the first few lines, I couldn't really hear the noise. I was sort of swept by her language: it has a quality to it that is pretty, and almost poetic. I'm not sure how to describe it other than that. Take the beginning of the book: "Slowly welling from the point of her gold nib, pale blue ink dissolved the full stop; for there her pen stuck; her eyes fixed, and tears slowly filled them. The entire bay quivered; the lighthouse wobbled; and she had the illusion that the mast of Mr. Connor's little yacht was bending like a wax candle in the sun." Alright, so she writes differently than most of us think, but if you follow it, doesn't this almost musical quality of her writing make it any better? I actually enjoy her writing (from what I can remember it from A Room of One's own and from what I just read). Her language keeps me going, but her style slows me down. I may have to re-read it, but I don't think I mind. Is anyone else seeing this beautiful quality? 1199829525

I agree; Woolf's writing does have a sort of musical quality to it. Thus, I see her writing and diction as poetical, in a sense. Again, I think that this is what makes her a well-known and appreciated writer. She sees her skills of writing as a work of art, not just any other book. This alone makes me appreciate her, even if the chapters can be a little drawn out or if I have to reread at times. In fact, I believe that she had to do this to make a name for herself. As mentioned, she was writing in a world full of men and, at least in //A Room of One's Own//, she was encouraging other women to do the same and to make use of their talented writing abilities. If she was writing in a "normal" fashion and did not have a broad and enticing vocabulary, this would most likely hinder her efforts. I mean, even the fluid and varied choice of words shows her intelligence; this would make Woolf more respected and, thus, more likely to be heard.1199834313

I agree with you about her language, it is very poetic. It’s the kind of language that is hard to get into at first, but once you do you can almost get lost. I like her use of breaks as well. When I write I catch myself doing similar things-breaking suddenly to a new train of thought. At first I didn’t understand them, but once I got it, I really liked it. While a lot of her language seems to add length, the breaks seem to take a lot out. There is no wasted space when she moves from Archer’s room to the room next door with Rebecca (pg 5). I haven’t read any Woolf yet, but my impression so far is that, yes, it is hard to read and sometimes tedious, but it is defiantly a valid work of art. 1199837272

I just read the note at the beginning of the book, and it explains that Woolf wrote this book having discovered, in a way, a new way to write a novel. She said that she "found out how to begin to say something in my own voice," (p iii). If you read the note, it explains that Woolf really didn't know what she was going to put in the novel, but that she would have everything grow out of itself. Therefore, I think Woolf's choice of language seems so musical and poetic because it really was the carrying force of the novel. She uses flowing words to carry the story forward, and allows the words themselves to give rise to the next words, so she doesn't force anything. While it may be a little confusing at times, I agree that it makes for nice reading. 1199837479

I think that Woolf is extremely talented because it is difficult to write in the way that she does. Everything she does must be placed perfectly and for a reason. I do think that her writing is somewhat poetic and the reader must be closely tuned in to the story to follow it. However, I do not like her writing style; I am happy we are reading it because I like to be exposed to all forms of writing, but I have a hard time getting through and understanding the way she writes. I acknowledge that it takes a great amount of talent to write this way, but I do not like it at all. I like to be able to read a book and understand what is going on without hearing or reading an explanation. I loved //Invisible Man// because it was written in a way that the reader could easily understand the plot but after careful analysis, the novel only had more meaning. Although Woolf's writing is loaded with deeper meaning, I do not like the fact I have to decode the novel to even discover the plot let alone deeper meaning.1200152307

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