"_" I_PPIS1 am_VBM not_XX what_DDQ I_PPIS1 am_VBM "_" :_: Staged_JJ Presence_NN1 in_II Romantic_JJ Autobiography_NN1 In_II 1973_MC the_AT American_JJ popular_JJ singer_NN1 Carly_NP1 Simon_NP1 released_VVD a_AT1 recording_NN1 called_VVN "_" You_PPY 're_VBR So_RG Vain_JJ "_" ;_; its_APPGE lyrics_NN2 chronicled_VVD the_AT errant_JJ ways_NN2 of_IO an_AT1 unnamed_JJ egotistical_JJ ,_, unprincipled_JJ womanizer_NN1 whose_DDQGE high-profile_JJ misadventures_NN2 included_VVD jetting_VVG to_II Nova_NP1 Scotia_NP1 to_TO watch_VVI a_AT1 total_JJ eclipse_NN1 of_IO the_AT sun_NN1 and_CC spending_VVG questionable_JJ time_NNT1 with_IW the_AT wife_NN1 of_IO his_APPGE best_JJT friend_NN1 ._. 
So_RR self-absorbed_JJ is_VBZ the_AT man_NN1 that_CST ,_, as_CSA the_AT refrain_NN1 says_VVZ "_" You_PPY probably_RR think_VV0 this_DD1 song_NN1 is_VBZ about_II you_PPY ,_, do_VD0 n't_XX you_PPY ?_? 
Do_VD0 n't_XX you_PPY ?_? "_" 
Not_XX surprisingly_RR ,_, the_AT press_NN1 had_VHD a_AT1 field_NN1 day_NNT1 with_IW the_AT song_NN1 ,_, and_CC more_DAR than_CSN three_MC decades_NNT2 later_RRR ,_, continued_JJ speculation_NN1 has_VHZ still_RR not_XX established_VVN the_AT identity_NN1 of_IO the_AT object_NN1 of_IO Simon_NP1 's_GE scorn_NN1 ,_, although_CS the_AT leading_JJ candidates_NN2 have_VH0 always_RR been_VBN Warren_NP1 Beatty_NP1 (_( with_IW whom_PNQO she_PPHS1 had_VHD had_VHN a_AT1 relationship_NN1 )_) ,_, Mick_NP1 Jagger_NP1 (_( the_AT Rolling_JJ Stone_NN1 who_PNQS sang_VVD with_IW her_PPHO1 on_II the_AT recording_NN1 )_) ,_, and_CC James_NP1 Taylor_NP1 ,_, whom_PNQO she_PPHS1 had_VHD recently_RR married_VVN ._. 
Simon_NP1 herself_PPX1 has_VHZ repeatedly_RR refused_VVN to_TO identify_VVI any_DD one_MC1 man_NN1 as_CSA her_APPGE subject_NN1 ,_, claiming_VVG that_CST the_AT figure_NN1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 composite_NN1 of_IO men_NN2 she_PPHS1 had_VHD known_VVN ._. 
I_PPIS1 begin_VV0 with_IW this_DD1 anecdote_NN1 to_TO raise_VVI a_AT1 question_NN1 that_CST I_PPIS1 shall_VM explore_VVI in_II this_DD1 essay_NN1 :_: what_DDQ are_VBR we_PPIS2 to_TO make_VVI of_IO the_AT seemingly_RR autobiographical_JJ references_NN2 that_CST authors_NN2 (_( and_CC artists_NN2 )_) make_VV0 in_II the_AT process_NN1 of_IO literary_JJ (_( and_CC artistic_JJ )_) activities_NN2 that_CST are_VBR not_XX themselves_PPX2 primarily_RR autobiographical_JJ in_II nature_NN1 ?_? 
I_PPIS1 am_VBM thinking_VVG here_RL of_IO those_DD2 instances_NN2 of_IO "_" incidental_JJ "_" autobiography_NN1 that_CST occur_VV0 essentially_RR as_CSA "_" asides_NN2 "_" (_( in_II the_AT theatrical_JJ sense_NN1 )_) within_RL works_VVZ that_CST would_VM seem_VVI to_TO be_VBI occupied_VVN with_IW matters_NN2 far_RR removed_VVN from_II revealing_VVG the_AT author_NN1 's_GE own_DA person_NN1 ._. 
How_RGQ much_DA1 importance_NN1 do_VD0 we_PPIS2 attach_VVI to_II the_AT author_NN1 's_VBZ implied_VVN or_CC asserted_VVD presence_NN1 in_RP ,_, and_CC attitude_NN1 toward_II ,_, his_APPGE or_CC her_APPGE material_NN1 when_CS we_PPIS2 assess_VV0 both_RR the_AT "_" intentional_JJ "_" autobiography_NN1 (_( i.e._REX ,_, the_AT traditional_JJ ,_, straightforward_JJ autobiography_NN1 or_CC memoir_NN1 )_) and_CC the_AT "_" indirect_JJ "_" or_CC "_" staged_JJ "_" autobiography_NN1 (_( i.e._REX ,_, those_DD2 authorial_JJ comments_NN2 ,_, revelations_NN2 ,_, and_CC selffashionings_NN2 that_CST are_VBR ostensibly_RR incidental_JJ to_II other_JJ literary_JJ activities_NN2 )_) ?_? 
Perhaps_RR more_RGR important_JJ ,_, how_RGQ much_DA1 does_VDZ the_AT author_NN1 intend_VVI us_PPIO2 to_TO do_VDI so_RR ,_, and_CC how_RRQ do_VD0 we_PPIS2 know_VVI ?_? 
To_TO begin_VVI to_TO answer_VVI this_DD1 question_NN1 ,_, we_PPIS2 must_VM first_MD consider_VVI the_AT nature_NN1 of_IO autobiographical_JJ writing_NN1 itself_PPX1 ,_, a_AT1 topic_NN1 that_CST has_VHZ over_II the_AT past_JJ several_DA2 decades_NNT2 generated_VVD a_AT1 remarkable_JJ quantity_NN1 of_IO scholarship_NN1 ,_, some_DD of_IO it_PPH1 literary-historical_JJ ,_, some_DD of_IO it_PPH1 theoretical_JJ ,_, and_CC some_DD of_IO it_PPH1 essentially_RR biographical_JJ in_II nature_NN1 ._. 
And_CC we_PPIS2 must_VM consider_VVI in_II the_AT process_NN1 the_AT protocols_NN2 of_IO reading_VVG that_CST govern_VV0 the_AT ways_NN2 in_II which_DDQ we_PPIS2 process_VV0 what_DDQ we_PPIS2 regard_VV0 as_CSA autobiographical_JJ discourse_NN1 ._. 
In_II theatre_NN1 practice_NN1 there_EX is_VBZ an_AT1 expression_NN1 --_NN1 "_" stage_NN1 presence_NN1 "_" --_NN1 that_CST refers_VVZ to_II the_AT projected_JJ or_CC manifested_VVD onstage_JJ dramatic_JJ ,_, emotional_JJ ,_, and_CC psychological_JJ stature_NN1 conveyed_VVN by_II the_AT actor_NN1 ._. 
Sometimes_RT this_DD1 stage_NN1 presence_NN1 involves_VVZ simply_RR how_RRQ the_AT individual_JJ actor_NN1 --_NN1 or_CC actress_NN1 --_NN1 occupies_VVZ the_AT physical_JJ space_NN1 and_CC time_NNT1 of_IO the_AT playing_JJ area_NN1 of_IO the_AT stage_NN1 in_II31 relation_II32 to_II33 other_JJ actors_NN2 :_: how_RRQ she_PPHS1 or_CC he_PPHS1 dominates_VVZ a_AT1 scene_NN1 through_II the_AT director_NN1 's_GE blocking_NN1 of_IO the_AT scene_NN1 ,_, for_REX21 example_REX22 ,_, or_CC through_II his_APPGE or_CC her_APPGE physical_JJ appearance_NN1 ,_, voice_NN1 ,_, or_CC gestures_NN2 ._. 
At_II other_JJ times_NNT2 ,_, most_RGT particularly_RR when_CS the_AT actor_NN1 or_CC actress_NN1 is_VBZ a_AT1 celebrity_NN1 --_NN1 a_AT1 "_" star_NN1 "_" --_NN1 it_PPH1 also_RR involves_VVZ the_AT public_JJ magnetism_NN1 of_IO his_APPGE or_CC her_APPGE presence_NN1 ,_, taking_VVG the_AT role_NN1 and_CC identity_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 character_NN1 in_II the_AT drama_NN1 while_CS everyone_PN1 in_II the_AT theatre_NN1 is_VBZ well_JJ aware_JJ that_CST it_PPH1 is_VBZ not_XX Macbeth_NP1 or_CC Hedda_NP1 Gabler_NP1 on_II the_AT stage_NN1 but_CCB rather_RR Laurence_NP1 Olivier_NP1 or_CC Maggie_NP1 Smith_NP1 ._. 
In_II the_AT discussion_NN1 that_CST follows_VVZ ,_, I_PPIS1 want_VV0 to_TO play_VVI on_II the_AT notion_NN1 of_IO stage_NN1 presence_NN1 in_II autobiographical_JJ and_CC pseudo-autobiographical_JJ writing_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 shall_VM propose_VVI that_CST especially_RR in_II those_DD2 instances_NN2 of_IO what_DDQ I_PPIS1 call_VV0 "_" incidental_JJ autobiography_NN1 "_" we_PPIS2 witness_VV0 the_AT "_" staged_JJ presence_NN1 "_" (_( with_IW the_AT "_" d_ZZ1 "_" conspicuously_RR added_VVN )_) of_IO an_AT1 ostensibly_RR autobiographical_JJ ,_, self-revealing_JJ subject_NN1 in_II the_AT text_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 shall_VM focus_VVI less_RRR upon_II any_DD single_JJ author_NN1 than_CSN upon_II larger_JJR issues_NN2 concerning_II genre_NN1 and_CC Romantic_JJ self-presentation_NN1 that_CST include_VV0 self-mythologizing_JJ and_CC self-historicizing_JJ --_NN1 as_II31 well_II32 as_II33 self-concealment_JJ --_NN1 that_CST are_VBR involved_JJ in_II a_AT1 range_NN1 of_IO literary_JJ (_( and_CC extra-literary_JJ )_) performances_NN2 ,_, whether_CSW those_DD2 performances_NN2 are_VBR intentionally_RR or_CC ostensibly_RR unintentionally_RR autobiographical_JJ in_II nature_NN1 ._. 
Virtually_RR every_AT1 study_NN1 of_IO Romantic_JJ era_NN1 autobiographical_JJ writing_NN1 cites_VVZ James_NP1 Olney_NP1 's_GE famous_JJ declaration_NN1 that_CST when_CS it_PPH1 comes_VVZ to_II defining_VVG "_" autobiography_NN1 ,_, "_" "_" everyone_PN1 knows_VVZ what_DDQ autobiography_NN1 is_VBZ ,_, but_CCB no_AT two_MC observers_NN2 ,_, no_RGQV31 matter_RGQV32 how_RGQV33 assured_JJ they_PPHS2 may_VM be_VBI ,_, are_VBR in_II agreement_NN1 "_" (_( Olney_NP1 7_MC )_) ._. 
But_CCB as_CSA Stelzig_NP1 helpfully_RR reminds_VVZ us_PPIO2 ,_, one_MC1 of_IO the_AT most_RGT vexed_JJ issues_NN2 in_II studies_NN2 of_IO autobiographical_JJ writing_NN1 involves_VVZ "_" the_AT generic_JJ boundary_NN1 line_NN1 between_II autobiography_NN1 and_CC fiction_NN1 and_CC the_AT richly_RR complex_JJ and_CC mutually_RR determining_JJ relationship_NN1 ,_, since_CS at_RR21 least_RR22 the_AT eighteenth_MD century_NNT1 ,_, between_II the_AT kinds_NN2 of_IO narrative_JJ modes_NN2 employed_VVN by_II autobiographers_NN2 and_CC novelists_NN2 "_" (_( Stelzig_NP1 7_MC -_- 8_MC )_) ._. 
Jerome_NP1 Bruner_NP1 argues_VVZ that_DD1 "_" autobiography_NN1 is_VBZ an_AT1 extension_NN1 of_IO fiction_NN1 ,_, rather_II21 than_II22 the_AT reverse_NN1 ,_, "_" because_CS "_" the_AT shape_NN1 of_IO life_NN1 comes_VVZ from_II the_AT imagination_NN1 rather_II21 than_II22 from_II experience_NN1 "_" (_( Bruner_NP1 55_MC )_) ._. 
For_IF Bruner_NP1 and_CC others_NN2 ,_, autobiographical_JJ writing_NN1 is_VBZ the_AT record_NN1 of_IO an_AT1 attempt_NN1 to_TO impose_VVI order_NN1 or_CC pattern_NN1 upon_II one_PN1 's_GE unruly_JJ life_NN1 experience_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB if_CS this_DD1 is_VBZ the_AT case_NN1 ,_, then_RT one_PN1 may_VM reasonably_RR ask_VVI what_DDQ separates_VVZ --_JJ at_RR21 least_RR22 at_II the_AT level_NN1 of_IO rhetoric_NN1 and_CC representation_NN1 --_NN1 the_AT confessional_NN1 writing_VVG in_II Rousseau_NP1 's_GE Confessions_NN2 from_II the_AT no_RR less_RGR confessional_JJ self-representations_NN2 in_II The_AT Life_NN1 and_CC Opinions_NN2 of_IO Tristram_NP1 Shandy_NN1 ?_? 
That_REX21 is_REX22 ,_, aside_II21 from_II22 the_AT fact_NN1 that_CST we_PPIS2 know_VV0 that_CST the_AT former_DA narrative_NN1 was_VBDZ composed_VVN by_II an_AT1 actual_JJ person_NN1 and_CC the_AT latter_DA is_VBZ a_AT1 fictionalized_JJ account_NN1 of_IO an_AT1 equally_RR fictional_JJ narrator_NN1 ,_, what_DDQ is_VBZ there_RL in_II the_AT texts_NN2 themselves_PPX2 to_TO tell_VVI us_PPIO2 that_CST one_PN1 is_VBZ "_" made_VVN up_RP "_" and_CC the_AT other_NN1 is_VBZ not_XX ?_? 
Or_CC ,_, perhaps_RR more_RGR troubling_JJ ,_, what_DDQ is_VBZ there_EX to_TO establish_VVI how_RGQ much_DA1 of_IO each_DD1 work_NN1 is_VBZ essentially_RR "_" made_VVN up_RP "_" ?_? 
Paul_NP1 Jay_NP1 resolves_VVZ the_AT matter_NN1 with_IW a_AT1 dismissive_JJ wave_NN1 of_IO the_AT theoretical_JJ hand_NN1 ,_, asserting_VVG confidently_RR that_CST "_" the_AT attempt_NN1 to_TO differentiate_VVI between_II autobiography_NN1 and_CC fictional_JJ autobiography_NN1 is_VBZ finally_RR pointless_JJ "_" (_( Jay_NP1 16_MC )_) ._. 
Such_DA confidence_NN1 ,_, while_CS it_PPH1 may_VM be_VBI reassuring_VVG in_II the_AT short_JJ term_NN1 ,_, is_VBZ nevertheless_RR of_IO only_JJ limited_JJ value_NN1 to_II all_DB but_II the_AT most_RGT postmodern_JJ of_IO us_PPIO2 ,_, for_IF it_PPH1 seems_VVZ to_TO dismiss_VVI a_AT1 central_JJ problem_NN1 --_NN1 perhaps_RR the_AT central_JJ problem_NN1 --_NN1 in_II autobiographical_JJ writing_NN1 with_IW the_AT breezy_JJ claim_NN1 that_CST it_PPH1 really_RR does_VDZ n't_XX matter_VVI ._. 
But_CCB it_PPH1 does_VDZ matter_VVI ._. 
We_PPIS2 all_DB look_VV0 for_IF both_RR authority_NN1 and_CC authenticity_NN1 in_II reports_NN2 of_IO all_DB sorts_NN2 that_CST are_VBR presented_VVN to_II us_PPIO2 ,_, whether_CSW in_II the_AT public_JJ media_NN --_JJ print_NN1 or_CC electronic_JJ --_NN1 or_CC in_II "_" private_JJ "_" communications_NN2 like_II letters_NN2 and_CC conversations_NN2 ._. 
Moreover_RR ,_, practical_JJ life_NN1 experience_NN1 teaches_VVZ us_PPIO2 that_DD1 authority_NN1 and_CC authenticity_NN1 are_VBR inextricably_RR linked_VVN :_: we_PPIS2 "_" believe_VV0 "_" in_II31 proportion_II32 to_II33 the_AT extent_NN1 to_II which_DDQ we_PPIS2 account_VV0 our_APPGE source_NN1 credible_JJ and_CC reliable_JJ ._. 
The_AT very_JJ fact_NN1 that_CST an_AT1 aggrieved_JJ party_NN1 in_II any_DD argument_NN1 typically_RR demands_VVZ to_TO tell_VVI her_PPHO1 or_CC his_APPGE "_" side_NN1 of_IO the_AT story_NN1 "_" reminds_VVZ us_PPIO2 that_CST there_EX is_VBZ never_RR only_RR one_MC1 "_" story_NN1 "_" but_CCB rather_RG a_AT1 multiplicity_NN1 of_IO stories_NN2 that_CST account_VV0 for_IF the_AT same_DA phenomena_NN2 from_II often_RR widely_RR differing_JJ perspectives_NN2 ._. 
Ferreting_VVG out_RP the_AT "_" truth_NN1 "_" from_II these_DD2 many_DA2 accounts_NN2 involves_VVZ acknowledging_VVG immediately_RR that_CST the_AT difficultly_JJ lies_NN2 not_XX in_II the_AT fact_NN1 that_CST the_AT "_" truth_NN1 "_" is_VBZ ambivalent_JJ but_CCB rather_RR that_CST it_PPH1 is_VBZ firmly_RR polyvalent_JJ ._. 
So_RR ,_, too_RR ,_, is_VBZ autobiographical_JJ writing_NN1 ,_, as_CSA I_PPIS1 hope_VV0 to_TO demonstrate_VVI in_II what_DDQ follows_VVZ ._. 
In_II a_AT1 recent_JJ article_NN1 in_II The_AT Writer_NN1 's_GE Chronicle_NN1 Rachel_NP1 Graves_NN2 explains_VVZ the_AT complexities_NN2 faced_VVN by_II authors_NN2 who_PNQS are_VBR trying_VVG to_TO write_VVI nonfictional_JJ accounts_NN2 of_IO public_JJ figures_NN2 who_PNQS are_VBR little_RR inclined_JJ to_TO help_VVI and_CC who_PNQS consequently_RR impede_VVI them_PPHO2 in_II one_MC1 way_NN1 or_CC another_DD1 ._. 
"_" They_PPHS2 grant_VV0 some_DD access_NN1 ,_, "_" Graves_NN2 writes_VVZ ,_, "_" but_CCB never_RR enough_RR ;_; they_PPHS2 pretend_VV0 to_TO cooperate_VVI and_CC then_RT mislead_VVI the_AT writer_NN1 ;_; they_PPHS2 are_VBR available_JJ as_CSA public_JJ figures_NN2 but_CCB unwilling_JJ to_TO share_VVI their_APPGE private_JJ lives_NN2 "_" (_( Graves_NN2 15_MC )_) ._. 
Tellingly_RR ,_, Graves_NN2 's_GE article_NN1 is_VBZ titled_VVN "_" Liars_NN2 ,_, Manipulators_NP1 ,_, Evaders_NP1 ._. "_" 
The_AT title_NN1 is_VBZ remarkably_RR appropriate_JJ for_IF the_AT present_JJ occasion_NN1 ,_, for_IF autobiographical_JJ writing_NN1 ,_, too_RR ,_, is_VBZ replete_JJ with_IW all_DB three_MC ,_, often_RR in_II maddening_VVG combination_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 raise_VV0 this_DD1 point_NN1 because_CS in_II a_AT1 related_JJ discussion_NN1 about_II journalism_NN1 and_CC biography_NN1 ,_, Janet_NP1 Malcolm_NP1 makes_VVZ the_AT emphatic_JJ point_NN1 that_CST "_" &lsqb;_( w_ZZ1 &rsqb;_) hat_NN1 gives_VVZ journalism_NN1 its_APPGE authenticity_NN1 and_CC vitality_NN1 is_VBZ the_AT tension_NN1 between_II the_AT subject_NN1 's_GE blind_JJ self-absorption_NN1 and_CC the_AT journalist_NN1 's_GE skepticism_NN1 ._. 
Journalists_NN2 who_PNQS swallow_VV0 the_AT subject_NN1 's_GE account_NN1 whole_NN1 and_CC publish_VV0 it_PPH1 are_VBR not_XX journalists_NN2 but_CCB publicists_NN2 "_" (_( Malcolm_NP1 144_MC )_) ._. 
We_PPIS2 need_VV0 only_RR substitute_VVI ourselves_PPX2 as_CSA readers_NN2 for_IF "_" the_AT journalist_NN1 "_" in_II Malcolm_NP1 's_GE formulation_NN1 to_TO appreciate_VVI the_AT sort_NN1 of_IO dilemma_NN1 that_CST is_VBZ posed_VVN to_II us_PPIO2 at_II every_AT1 turn_NN1 by_II autobiographical_JJ writing_NN1 ._. 
The_AT autobiographer_NN1 ,_, like_II any_DD tale-teller_NN1 ,_, tells_VVZ her_PPHO1 or_CC his_APPGE side_NN1 of_IO the_AT story_NN1 and_CC asks_VVZ us_PPIO2 to_TO accept_VVI that_CST it_PPH1 is_VBZ the_AT only_JJ side_NN1 of_IO the_AT story_NN1 --_NN1 or_CC at_RR21 least_RR22 the_AT only_JJ credible_JJ side_NN1 ._. 
And_CC here_RL is_VBZ where_RRQ the_AT matter_NN1 of_IO authenticity_NN1 enters_VVZ the_AT picture_NN1 ._. 
Similarly_RR ,_, when_CS Dark_NN1 explains_VVZ that_CST her_APPGE Sonnet_NN1 XXXVI_MC was_VBDZ "_" composed_VVN during_II illness_NN1 "_" (_( p._NNU 75_MC )_) ,_, how_RGQ much_DA1 do_VD0 we_PPIS2 need_VVI (_( or_CC want_VV0 )_) to_TO know_VVI about_II the_AT particulars_NN2 of_IO that_DD1 illness_NN1 in_II order_NN1 to_TO "_" understand_VVI "_" her_APPGE sonnet_NN1 ?_? 
What_DDQ is_VBZ the_AT nature_NN1 of_IO her_APPGE "_" pale_JJ disease_NN1 and_CC pain_NN1 "_" (_( l._NNU 5_MC )_) ,_, and_CC why_RRQ (_( and_CC how_RRQ )_) are_VBR her_APPGE symptoms_NN2 relieved_VVN by_II hearing_NN1 (_( or_CC reading_NN1 )_) "_" the_AT beautiful_JJ introductory_JJ stanzas_NN2 to_II the_AT 'Lady_NN1 of_IO the_AT Lake'_NP1 "_" (_( note_VV0 ,_, p._NN1 75_MC )_) ?_? 
Is_VBZ Scott_NP1 's_GE verse_NN1 efficacious_JJ only_JJ when_CS Dark_NN1 is_VBZ ill_JJ ,_, then_RT ?_? 
Or_CC only_RR when_CS she_PPHS1 is_VBZ afflicted_VVN by_II these_DD2 particular_JJ symptoms_NN2 ?_? 
The_AT very_RG next_MD poem_NN1 in_II the_AT collection_NN1 is_VBZ inscribed_JJ "_" Night_NNT1 Scene_NN1 ,_, Oct._NPM1 1813_MC ,_, "_" which_DDQ suggests_VVZ a_AT1 significant_JJ particularity_NN1 that_CST is_VBZ not_XX in_II fact_NN1 borne_VVN out_RP by_II the_AT poem_NN1 's_GE text_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ describes_VVZ a_AT1 spiritually_RR uplifting_JJ sunset_NN1 that_CST could_VM presumably_RR have_VHI occurred_VVN with_IW just_RR as_RG profound_JJ an_AT1 effect_NN1 in_II April_NPM1 of_IO 1814_MC or_CC July_NPM1 of_IO 1816_MC ._. 
Like_II Wordsworth_NP1 's_GE famous_JJ sonnet_NN1 on_II Westminster_NP1 Bridge_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ was_VBDZ in_II fact_NN1 not_XX composed_VVN on_II 3_MC September_NPM1 1803_MC ,_, its_APPGE title_NN1 notwithstanding_RR ,_, Dark_NN1 's_GE sonnet_NN1 involves_VVZ a_AT1 dating_NN1 that_CST pointedly_RR suggests_VVZ signification_NN1 without_IW following_VVG through_RP and_CC delivering_VVG it_PPH1 ._. 
Or_CC at_RR21 least_RR22 not_XX in_II any_DD way_NN1 that_CST we_PPIS2 as_II readers_NN2 are_VBR able_JK to_TO determine_VVI ._. 
In_II other_JJ words_NN2 ,_, like_II Wordsworth_NP1 's_VBZ deliberately_RR misleading_JJ date-specific_JJ title_NN1 ,_, Dark_NN1 's_GE apparent_JJ specificity_NN1 belongs_VVZ more_RRR to_II the_AT poem_NN1 as_CSA performance_NN1 than_CSN it_PPH1 does_VDZ to_II the_AT poem_NN1 as_CSA historical_JJ record_NN1 ,_, as_CSA "_" autobiography_NN1 ._. "_" 
It_PPH1 "_" places_VVZ "_" the_AT poem_NN1 in_II a_AT1 way_NN1 that_CST invites_VVZ us_PPIO2 to_TO work_VVI out_RP apersonal_JJ (_( and_CC thus_RR biographical_JJ )_) relationship_NN1 between_II the_AT date_NN1 and_CC the_AT events_NN2 the_AT sonnet_NN1 describes_VVZ ,_, and_CC thus_RR to_TO seem_VVI to_TO "_" know_VVI "_" Dark_NN1 better_RRR ._. 
This_DD1 gesturing_VVG in_II the_AT direction_NN1 of_IO signification_NN1 without_IW finally_RR attributing_VVG it_PPH1 is_VBZ apparent_JJ in_II Dark_NN1 's_GE concluding_JJ poem_NN1 ,_, whose_DDQGE full_JJ title_NN1 is_VBZ "_" On_II the_AT Birth_NN1 of_IO My_APPGE Sister_NN1 's_VBZ Little_DA1 Girl_NN1 ,_, Three_MC Days_NNT2 after_II the_AT Funeral_NN1 of_IO Her_APPGE Grandfather_NN1 ._. "_" 
Its_APPGE seeming_JJ familial_JJ and_CC chronological_JJ specificity_NN1 notwithstanding_RR ,_, the_AT poem_NN1 provides_VVZ neither_RR the_AT relevant_JJ dates_NN2 and_CC places_NN2 nor_CC the_AT names_NN2 of_IO any_DD of_IO the_AT participants_NN2 ._. 
Of_RR21 course_RR22 ,_, a_AT1 poem_NN1 of_IO this_DD1 sort_NN1 (_( which_DDQ is_VBZ a_AT1 spiritual_JJ meditation_NN1 on_II life_NN1 ,_, death_NN1 ,_, and_CC continuity_NN1 under_II the_AT hope_NN1 of_IO the_AT eternal_JJ life_NN1 granted_VVN by_II a_AT1 benevolent_JJ God_NP1 )_) requires_VVZ neither_RR names_NN2 nor_CC dates_VVZ to_TO back_VVI up_RP its_APPGE universal_JJ spiritual_JJ message_NN1 ._. 
The_AT specificity_NN1 of_IO the_AT title_NN1 ,_, therefore_RR ,_, is_VBZ yet_RR another_DD1 gesture_NN1 in_II the_AT direction_NN1 of_IO the_AT "_" authenticity_NN1 "_" I_PPIS1 have_VH0 stressed_VVN throughout_II this_DD1 discussion_NN1 ._. 
What_DDQ is_VBZ "_" autobiographical_JJ "_" about_II this_DD1 concluding_JJ poem_NN1 is_VBZ ,_, paradoxically_RR ,_, also_RR what_DDQ is_VBZ universal_JJ :_: the_AT "_" local_JJ "_" experience_NN1 of_IO Dark_NN1 's_GE family_NN1 circle_NN1 provides_VVZ the_AT microcosmic_JJ illustration_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 universal_JJ pattern_NN1 of_IO human_JJ experience_NN1 ._. 
Like_II so_RG much_DA1 of_IO autobiographical_JJ writing_NN1 ,_, the_AT author_NN1 's_GE disclosures_NN2 about_II her_APPGE life_NN1 ,_, experiences_NN2 ,_, and_CC thoughts_NN2 help_VV0 us_PPIO2 better_RRR and_CC more_RGR completely_RR to_TO see_VVI and_CC assess_VVI our_APPGE own_DA within_II the_AT broad_JJ context_NN1 of_IO human_JJ experience_NN1 ._. 
Because_CS we_PPIS2 know_VV0 so_RG little_DA1 about_II her_PPHO1 ,_, Mariann_NP1 Dark_NN1 provides_VVZ a_AT1 useful_JJ test_NN1 of_IO our_APPGE responses_NN2 to_II autobiographical_JJ writing_NN1 ,_, and_CC the_AT results_NN2 of_IO the_AT test_NN1 are_VBR unsettling_VVG because_CS they_PPHS2 are_VBR so_RR destabilizing_VVG ._. 
Even_RR the_AT brief_JJ glimpse_NN1 of_IO Dark_NN1 and_CC her_APPGE writing_NN1 contained_VVN in_II the_AT preceding_JJ paragraphs_NN2 demonstrates_VVZ that_CST autobiographical_JJ writing_NN1 --_NN1 whether_CSW deliberate_JJ or_CC incidental_JJ --_NN1 is_VBZ never_RR wholly_RR candid_JJ or_CC straightforward_JJ ._. 
The_AT self-reflectivity_NN1 of_IO all_DB such_DA writing_NN1 is_VBZ inherently_RR performative_JJ ,_, undertaken_VVN always_RR with_IW an_AT1 eye_NN1 on_II an_AT1 intended_JJ reader_NN1 ,_, listener_NN1 ,_, or_CC viewer_NN1 upon_II whom_PNQO the_AT author_NN1 or_CC artist_NN1 has_VHZ definite_JJ designs_NN2 ._. 
In_II this_DD1 insistent_JJ performativity_NN1 lie_VV0 the_AT sources_NN2 of_IO autobiographical_JJ discourse_NN1 's_GE inherent_JJ polyvalence_NN1 ,_, its_APPGE dramatic_JJ multistability_NN1 ,_, as_II31 well_II32 as_II33 its_APPGE clear_JJ effectiveness_NN1 as_II a_AT1 vehicle_NN1 for_IF engaging_VVG its_APPGE audience_NN1 on_II multiple_JJ levels_NN2 ._. 
In_II the_AT second_MD of_IO two_MC poems_NN2 in_II which_DDQ she_PPHS1 considers_VVZ her_APPGE relation_NN1 to_II the_AT famous_JJ Charlotte_NP1 Smith_NP1 ,_, whose_DDQGE Elegiac_JJ Sonnets_NN2 ,_, first_MD published_VVN in_II 1784_MC ,_, had_VHD largely_RR resurrected_VVN the_AT sonnet_NN1 in_II English_NN1 ,_, Dark_NN1 lamented_VVD her_APPGE fate_NN1 as_CSA one_MC1 of_IO those_DD2 writers_NN2 who_PNQS work_VV0 in_II obscurity_NN1 and_CC then_RT vanish_VV0 without_IW a_AT1 trace_NN1 :_: "_" I_PPIS1 strike_VV0 the_AT lyre_NN1 unknown_JJ !_! 
My_APPGE very_JJ name_NN1 /_FO Will_VM soon_RR be_VBI blotted_VVN from_II this_DD1 wretched_JJ earth_NN1 "_" ._. 
