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Camille Barlow

Ms. Gardner

English 10H/Period 4

7 November 2016

Annotated Bibliographies: The Natural, by Bernard Malamud

Moseley, Merritt. "Malamud, Bernard." In Hobby, Blake, ed., and Patricia M. Gant, gen. ed.

Student's Encyclopedia of Great American Writers: 1945 to 1970, vol. 4. New York:

Facts On File, Inc., 2010. Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc.

www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&WID=103186 &SID=5&iPin=SEGA

WIV1740&SingleRecord=True

Merritt Moseley summarizes Bernard Malamuds daily struggles as a kid and sacrifices

as an adult; she includes roles of his family and his friends that were included in his

works, such as his parents in The Assistant. Moseley shares information about Malamuds

attempts to begin his career, for he started out teaching. She includes the way Malamud

handled his publicity, labeled him as a pure artist, and acknowledged his daughter Jenna

who wrote a joint memoir.

Moseley deepens readers understanding of Malamuds religious impacts and explains

Malamuds reasoning for scenes in The Assistant. Moseleys article is extremely

insightful, for she uses evidence to back up her opinions. When she includes information

such as Malamuds struggle to have enough support or readers, it helps readers

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understand the symbolism and plots included in The Natural and other works. Moseley

comprehends Malamuds family appearances, symbols, and themes, so she educates other

Malamud readers in order for them to appreciate him just as much.

Podhoretz, Norman. The Natural, by Bernard Malamud - Commentary Magazine.

Commentary Magazine, 1 Mar. 1953,

www.commentarymagazine.com/articles/the-natural-by-bernard-malamud/.

In Norman Podhoretzs article criticizing The Natural, he reveals the true meanings

of the novel; he emphasizes how the book preserves and revitalizes large

amounts of traditional baseball. Podhoretz illuminates Malamuds lessons of

perseverance, but also the dangers of ignoring warnings. He criticizes Malamuds

weak connections, such as Roys pride and disasters because they go unnoticed

without the support of Greek tragedy in the background. He claims that Malamuds

choice of the characterization of Roy Hobbs destroys the tragic dimension of the

novel.

Podhoretz teaches readers the relevance of Malamud using serious baseball in

this novel and how it was a beautiful abstraction. His insightful claim of what

desperate hunger can do to a human being such as Roy, underscores Malamuds

lesson. Podhoretzs clarifies Malamuds purpose for including the cheap and

gaudy treatments of women which helps readers understand the symbolism.

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Rather than a summarization or bullet point formation of opinions, Podhoretz

created an analytical and clarifying article for readers to grasp Malamuds style.

Ross, Max. Malamudville - Los Angeles Review of Books. Los Angeles Review of Books,

30 June 2014, lareviewofbooks.org/article/malamudville/.

In Max Ross deeply analytical article, he discusses his opinions on why The Natural

is not one of Bernard Malamuds most popular books. Ross discusses the symbolism

of baseball as a plot and explains the symbolic objects such as Robbs bat. Reading

further, Ross criticizes Malamuds work by calling passages embarrassing and

degrading his unmitigated clichs. Ross goes into depth regarding his recurring

themes that provide a somber mood throughout the text and the progression of his

sophistication as the novel continues.

Max Ross is incredibly insightful throughout his article because he pulls evidence

from many sources to support his opinions; however, his opinions appear slightly

harsh. Malamuds voice progresses throughout his novel, but it wasnt

embarrassing earlier in the novel. Disregarding the harshness, Ross helps develop

the understanding of the constant symbolism throughout the novel; father figures,

male potency, and the baseball dream are recurring symbolisms structured

throughout the work.

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Siegel, Lee. Bernard Malamud: A Writers Life - Philip Davis - Book ... The New York Times,

9 Dec. 2007, www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/books/review/siegel-t.html.

Lee Siegels insightful view of Bernard Malamuds life shaping his writing style is

portrayed throughout his article; he includes many references to Malamuds books and

occurrences in his life to further our knowledge on this argument. Siegel amplifies

Malamuds hardships that affect his writing style and characterization. Siegel mentions

that Malamud incorporated his personal opinions about perseverance throughout many of

his works including, The Natural, The Assistance, and The Fixer. Siegel writes that

Malamud oftentimes portrayed characters that overcome difficult obstacles, just as he did

throughout his childhood.

Siegel provided perceptive and interesting information and views on Malamuds writing,

which help readers comprehend the lesson of his stories. Siegel includes tiny aspects of

Malamuds life: his colleagues called Malamud the master at Bennington College

because of the way he measured every economical word and stripped-down phrase.

This helps readers grasp Malamuds style. Siegel incorporates many of Malamuds

family struggles that appeared in his work, The Natural, which amplified reasons for the

plot and lessons. Overall, Siegel illuminated Malamuds reasoning for occurrences in his

writing of The Natural to assist readers comprehension. Siegels article includes multiple

occurrences in Malamuds life that he believes help shape readers perseverance and

beliefs of positive outcomes.

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Thomas, Ronald C., Jr. "Gender in The Natural." McClinton-Temple, Jennifer ed.

Encyclopedia of Themes in Literature. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2011.Bloom's

Literature. Facts On File, Inc.

www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&WID=103186&SID=5&iPin=ETL07

0&SingleRecord=True.

In Ronald Thomas article, he clarifies what drives The Natural; his opinion is that Roy

Hobbs sexual hunger and desperation for women is what steers the book. He believes

that not only is this portrayed throughout physical encounters, but it is strongly seen

while he is on the mound. He continues by including many references such as Hobbs

being shot by a sexual predator, the lady wearing the red dress in the stands, and

Hobbs agreement to purposely lose the game in order to win Memo.

Thomas article proves to be incredibly educating because of his valid opinions and

evidence that prove Robbs sexual drive is what drove the book. His words are proved

useful to the development of understanding for the readers because he stays on topic and

goes into depth on how each piece of evidence proves his point. However, Thomas

expresses that the women in The Natural are not all sexual predators but strong women

who know what they want.

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Quinn, Edward. "baseball and literature." A Dictionary of Literary and Thematic Terms,

Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Bloom's Literature. Facts

On File, Inc.

www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&WID=103186&SID=5&iPin=DLLT0

108&SingleRecord=True.

Edward Quinn strongly focuses on the rising interest in baseball throughout the years

since the nineteen fifties; it has appeared as an important literary theme in American

literature. Quinn approaches Malamuds work, The Natural, labeling it as the first

serious baseball novel and explains the books plot further. He also includes the works

by other authors that soon followed Malamuds idea of baseball; Quinn insightfully

concludes his article with connecting racism and baseball, along with the inspirations

created from the game of baseball.

Quinn is inspired by the game of baseball, which is portrayed exquisitely throughout the

article. Quinns article helps develop the understanding of Malamuds The Natural

because he taught the importance of this literary theme. The theme of competition plays

into many aspects, Roys hunger, Memos desperation, and Pops guidance. Quinns

clarifying topics throughout the article develop an understanding for Malamuds use of

baseball for all readers.