Analysis Of Ophelia Dimalanta

Ophelia Dimalanta is the author and poet of several well-known pieces that students take up in their respective literature classes. Her writings provide insights on different situations with the use of creative and seemingly unusual portrayals. Dimalanta follows the “New Criticism” movement; this approach takes after a formalist mindset. A formalist approach focuses on the text itself, putting emphasis and importance in structure and close reading (Delahoyde). Dimalanta employs different techniques to exhibit such. Being a formalist type of writer, Dimalanta plays with structure and syntax. Messages within her writing are embedded in the structure. Word choice, punctuation, and flow display this.

First off, Dimalanta creates self-contained poems. Her poems take on complete stories in one; all of which included expositions, conflicts, and resolutions. Typically, her common theme would be change. However, despite the usage of the same theme, Dimalanta found a variety of ways to portray the same idea in different situations and instances. Namely, “Let Me Digress,” “Montage,” and “Rat Story” would begin with the persona in a rut and eventually end with a new outlook on life. “Let Me Digress” uses an order or routine to illustrate the theme. “Montage” as the title suggests uses a montage of different scenes to solidify the theme. “Rat Story” uses an encounter with a rat to show a similar message. “Coming to Grief” completes a story about a mother’s grieving including all the