19 Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Model Essay
I will be using John Donne’s poem “The Canonization” for each AI-generated model essay. Read through the poem again first, then read the AI-generated essay. Finally, review my annotations on the essay, where I have highlighted terms to use, corrected the AI’s mistakes, and added some things that are missing, most notably, a thesis statement. Reviewing these examples may give you some ideas about how you can use generative AI in your own approaches to texts. When generative artificial intelligence is used to augment thinking, it’s a useful tool. But if we try to use it to replace thinking, we’re not learning what we need to know.
AI Model Essay: Deconstruction
Delightful Devotion of Donne’s ‘The Canonization’
“The Canonization” by John Donne is a complex and nuanced poem that can be read and interpreted in a variety of ways. One critical method that can be used to analyze the poem is deconstruction, which is a method of critical analysis that seeks to understand the underlying assumptions and structures that shape a text.
Deconstruction begins by examining the language and imagery used in the text, paying close attention to the ways in which words and phrases are used to create meaning. In “The Canonization,” Donne uses a variety of literary devices, such as metaphor, simile, and imagery, to explore the theme of love and its many complexities.
One of the key elements of the poem is the use of the metaphor of canonization, which is the process of declaring someone a saint. Donne uses this metaphor to suggest that the love between the speaker and his beloved is so pure and powerful that it is worthy of sainthood. However, this metaphor also reveals the limitations of language and the ways in which words can never fully capture the complexity of human experience.
Another important aspect of the poem is the use of imagery, which is used to create vivid and evocative descriptions of the speaker’s feelings and emotions. For example, Donne describes the speaker’s love as a “fierce flame” and a “fierce joy,” which creates a sense of intensity and passion. However, this imagery also reveals the ways in which the speaker’s perceptions are shaped by his own subjective experience, which suggests that there may be multiple ways to understand and interpret the poem.
Through deconstruction, we can also examine the ways in which the poem subverts traditional notions of love and relationships. Donne challenges the idea that love is something that can be easily defined and understood, instead suggesting that it is a complex and ever-changing phenomenon. This is evident in lines like “we cannot admit impediments” which shows that love is not something that can be constrained by societal norms or expectations.
In conclusion, “The Canonization” by John Donne is a rich and complex poem that can be understood and interpreted in a variety of ways. By using the critical method of deconstruction, we can gain a deeper understanding of the poem’s language, imagery, and themes, and explore the ways in which it subverts traditional notions of love and relationships.
Annotations: “Delightful Devotion of Donne’s ‘The Canonization'”
“The Canonization” by John Donne is a complex and nuanced poem that can be read and interpreted in a variety of ways. One critical method that can be used to analyze the poem is deconstruction, which is a method of critical analysis that seeks to understand the underlying assumptions and structures that shape a text. This entire first paragraph is basically what I like to call “warm up writing.” Compare this with how Derrida began the passage you read this week: “I will speak, therefore, of a letter.” One of the hallmarks of deconstruction in literary criticism is its playfulness. If you read a literary analysis that feels both particularly challenging and particularly “precious” or clever, chances are good you’re dealing with deconstruction. The overall definition of deconstruction is also not really accurate. It’s probably necessary to explain your critical method, but deconstruction argues that the underlying structures of a text are ultimately meaningless. In any case, have more fun with it!
Deconstruction begins by examining the language and imagery used in the text, paying close attention to the ways in which words and phrases are used to create meaning. In “The Canonization,” Donne uses a variety of literary devices, such as metaphor, simile, and imagery, to explore the theme of love and its many complexities. This is the closest thing to a thesis statement that I can find here, and it’s not a very good one for deconstruction. This thesis statement summarizes. It does not present an argument. A better approach is to consider how the use of these literary devices subverts the text’s stated meaning (an idea hinted at in the last line of this essay). While we would expect to see some overlap in terminology between New Criticism and deconstruction, we would also expect to see words like binary oppositions, privileged meanings, arbitrariness or ambiguity, etc.
One of the key elements of the poem is the use of the metaphor of canonization, which is the process of declaring someone a saint. Donne uses this metaphor to suggest that the love between the speaker and his beloved is so pure and powerful that it is worthy of sainthood. However, this metaphor also reveals the limitations of language and the ways in which words can never fully capture the complexity of human experience. Okay, the Chatbot was right to focus on the metaphor of canonization for this type of deconstruction. However, instead of focusing on the stated meaning of the metaphor, a deconstructive approach would move one step further to show how the use of this metaphor is actually absurd and degrades the meaning of sainthood.
Another important aspect of the poem is the use of imagery, which is used to create vivid and evocative descriptions of the speaker’s feelings and emotions. For example, Donne describes the speaker’s love as a “fierce flame” and a “fierce joy,” which creates a sense of intensity and passion. However, this imagery also reveals the ways in which the speaker’s perceptions are shaped by his own subjective experience, which suggests that there may be multiple ways to understand and interpret the poem. I don’t know what this paragraph actually means. Do you? Yes, of course, there are “multiple ways to understand and interpret the poem.” When we do deconstruction, we want to consider which meanings are privileged or preferred, and which meanings are silent. We would look for binary opposites to explore this idea. The binary opposite of man and woman, exemplified in bird imagery, would be one place to start. Another is the binary opposition of saint and sinner. Obviously some people think these two lovers are actually sinners. What meaning does the poem privilege?
Through deconstruction, we can also examine the ways in which the poem subverts traditional notions of love and relationships. Donne challenges the idea that love is something that can be easily defined and understood, instead suggesting that it is a complex and ever-changing phenomenon. This is evident in lines like “we cannot admit impediments” which shows that love is not something that can be constrained by societal norms or expectations. We will explore these ideas more when we look at New Historical criticism, which was based on the ideas of deconstruction. Any time we are challenging conventional meanings, we are engaging in some form of deconstruction. This will be useful for you to keep in mind as you practice this critical method.
In conclusion, “The Canonization” by John Donne is a rich and complex poem that can be understood and interpreted in a variety of ways. By using the critical method of deconstruction, we can gain a deeper understanding of the poem’s language, imagery, and themes, and explore the ways in which it subverts traditional notions of love and relationships. If I were grading this essay, it would score very low for this type of criticism. It’s really more of a New Criticism approach with a few ideas from deconstruction sprinkled in.
Since I know that ChatGPT is “learning,” I asked it to write this essay again and to include the term differánce. I have posted its revised essay below. I also asked it to include a playful title, which is one of the hallmarks of this critical approach. This second essay is a better example of deconstruction but still rather prosaic and dull.
AI Model Essay Part Two: A Second Attempt
“Differánce in the Delightful Devotion of Donne’s ‘The Canonization'”
John Donne’s poem “The Canonization” is a rich and complex work that lends itself to a deconstructive analysis. Deconstruction, as a critical method developed by Jacques Derrida, emphasizes the instability of language and the multiple meanings embedded within texts. In “The Canonization,” we can explore how this poem challenges binary oppositions and reveals the concept of “differánce” in its intricate web of language and imagery.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing an unnamed individual who questions the intensity of the speaker’s love, suggesting that it prevents them from pursuing worldly success. The poem’s title, “The Canonization,” implies a process of sanctification or elevation to a higher status. However, this process is far from straightforward, and deconstruction allows us to delve into the complexities within the text.
One of the key concepts in deconstruction is “differánce,” a term coined by Derrida. Differance suggests that language is characterized by differences and deferrals rather than stable, fixed meanings. In “The Canonization,” we see how the poem plays with this idea. The speaker argues that their love should be elevated to the status of canonization, aligning it with religious sanctification. However, this is not a straightforward process. The act of “canonization” is itself disrupted by the poem’s intricate language and imagery.
The poem presents a series of binary oppositions, such as love vs. worldly success, sacred vs. profane, and spiritual vs. material. These oppositions are central to the poem’s exploration of love and its elevation to a higher status. However, deconstruction invites us to question the stability of these binaries. For instance, the poem blurs the boundary between sacred and profane love, suggesting that the intensity of the speaker’s love is a form of devotion in its own right.
The language in “The Canonization” is full of paradoxes and contradictions. The speaker’s love is described as both “dull sublunary lovers’ love” and “deserving of a place in the heavens.” This linguistic play disrupts the binary between earthly and divine love, emphasizing the fluidity and instability of meaning.
Additionally, the poem challenges conventional interpretations of love and success. The speaker rejects worldly achievements, suggesting that their love is more profound. However, this rejection is not a straightforward condemnation of the material world. Instead, it highlights the interdependence and differance between these opposing concepts.
In “The Canonization,” John Donne’s use of language and imagery invites readers to deconstruct the traditional boundaries between love, religion, and worldly success. Through paradoxes, contradictions, and linguistic play, the poem reveals the complexities and ambiguities within these concepts. Deconstruction, with its focus on differance and the instability of meaning, allows us to appreciate the intricate web of language and ideas that Donne weaves in this thought-provoking poem. Ultimately, “The Canonization” challenges us to question and reevaluate our preconceived notions about love, devotion, and the boundaries that define them.
Source: https://chat.openai.com/share/ea6ac091-27e9-439a-aaa5-600def26738f
You Try It!
Choose one of your favorite poems. Using ChatGPT or another generative AI program, write a prompt to create a short AI essay that applies deconstruction as a critical method to analyze the poem. Then analyze the AI-generated essay. Is the theory correctly applied to the text? Does the essay give you ideas about how you might analyze the text? Do you notice any errors or hallucinations? Using JSTOR, try to locate an article that uses deconstruction and the poem you chose. How does the AI-generated essay compare with the JSTOR article?
