--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the whole emphasis in England, in…" description: "\"I think the whole emphasis in England, in universities, on practical criticism (but not that so much as on historical criticism, knowing what period a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/sylvia-plath-149_agree_i-think-the-whole-emphasis-in-england-in_2492622.jpg" --- # I think the whole emphasis in England, in universities, on… ![“I think the whole emphasis in England, in universities, on practical criticism (but not that so much as on historical criticism, knowing what period a line comes from) this is almost paralysing. In America, in University, we read - what? - T. S. Eliot, Dylan Thomas, Yeats, that is where we began…” quote by Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/sylvia-plath-149_agree_i-think-the-whole-emphasis-in-england-in_2492622.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/sylvia-plath-149_agree_i-think-the-whole-emphasis-in-england-in_2492622.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/sylvia-plath-149_agree_i-think-the-whole-emphasis-in-england-in_2492622.jpg) > “I think the whole emphasis in England, in universities, on practical criticism (but not that so much as on historical criticism, knowing what period a line comes from) this is almost paralysing. In America, in University, we read - what? - T. S. Eliot, Dylan Thomas, Yeats, that is where we began. Shakespeare flaunted in the background. I'm not sure I agree with this, but I think that' for the young poet, the writing poet, it is not quite so frightening to go to university in America as it is in England, for these reasons.” [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. English universities focus on historical criticism, while American ones emphasize modern poets, creating different literary foundations. **In simple terms:** English study history, Americans study modern poetry. Key Takeaway Recognize varied literary training. Themes education literature culture Mood analytical thoughtful Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - university curricula - literary analysis - creative writing Key Concepts critical theory historical context modernism Questions to Reflect On - How does your education shape your reading? - Can you blend both methods? A Different Perspective Both approaches have strengths and blind spots. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agree/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Backgrounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backgrounds/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Criticism Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism-historical-980626/) [Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dylan/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dylan-thomas/) [Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eliot/) [Emphasis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emphasis/) [England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england/) [Frightening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frightening/) [Frightening University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frightening-university-980629/) [Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Not sure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-sure/) [Periods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/periods/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Practical Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practical-criticism-980630/) [Practicals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practicals/) [Read Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-eliot-980628/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) [University Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university-read-980627/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yeats/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) ## Related quotes > [Marxism must abhor nothing so much as the possibility that it becomes congealed in its current form. 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