The Mind of the Reader

I'm still not convinced (or converted) by Dorothy L. Sayers' intricate doctrinal analogies in "The Mind of the Maker", although as literary analysis they hold the customary satisfaction of finding a prominent public figure pointing out things with which one oneself agrees :-p

Having asserted with a reasonable degree of conviction that the creative process can be considered tripartite (although it seems a bit arbitrary to pick out three elements), she then goes on to announce that the process of reading can itself be divided into three interdependent parts. ( Thought, Energy and Power )

But one analogy that I did find very striking was her explanation for the thorny Christian question of Free Will and a loving God in terms of a writer's relationship with his characters. ( Free Will )

There is an interesting section of literary criticism defined in terms of her creed which she entitles "Scalene Trinities"; faults of writing analysed in terms of 'too much Father' (all idea but no emotional involvement), 'too much Son' (all technique and no vision), 'not enough Son' (those with an Idea but not enough creative talent to express it adequately) and 'failure in the Ghost' (a lack of critical judgment resulting in leaden prose).