Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing

Chapter 1

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What is Literature, and Why Do We Study It?

compositions that tell stories, dramatize situations, express emotions, and analyze or advocate ideas Most began as oral tradition. [W]e gain much from it.

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What is Literature, and Why Do We Study It?

Literature helps us grow, both personally and intellectually. It opens doors for us. It stretches our understanding, and enlarges our power of sympathy. It helps us see beauty in the world around us.

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What is Literature, and Why Do We Study It?

It links us with the cultural, philosophical, and religious world of which we are a part.It enables us to see worthiness in the aims of all people.

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What is Literature, and Why Do We Study It?

It makes us human.

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Types of Literature: The Genres

Prose fiction Poetry Drama Non-fiction prose

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Fiction
Short stories Novels The essence of fiction is narration, the relating or recounting of a sequence of events or actions.

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Poetry
If prose is expansive, poetry tends toward brevity.Poetrys power lies not only in its words and thoughts, but also in its music, using rhyme and variety of rhythms to intensify its emotional impact.

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Drama
Drama is literature designed for stage or film.The essence of drama is the development of character and situation through speech and action. Early drama was poetry.

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Types of Literature: The Genres

Prose fiction
myths parables romances novels short stories

Poetry
sonnet and villanelle ballad and epic blank verse couplets elegies epigrams hymns limericks songs or lyrics
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Types of Literature: The Genres

Non-fiction prose
news reports feature articles essays editorials textbooks diaries journals historical and biographical works

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Guidelines for Reading

Observations for basic understanding
Explain words, situations, and concepts. Determine what is happening in the work setting, characters, point of view

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Guidelines for Reading

Notes on first impressions
Make a record of your reactions and responses. Describe interesting characterizations, events, techniques, and ideas.

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Guidelines for Reading

Development of ideas and enlargement of responses
Trace developing patterns.conflicts. Write expanded notes about characters, situations, and actions. Always write down questions that come up during your reading.

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Raise and Answer Your Own Questions

What is happening as the work unfolds? How does an action at the works beginning bring about the works later actions and speeches? Who are the main characters? What seems unusual or different about what they do in the work?
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Raise and Answer Your Own Questions

What conclusions can you draw about the works actions, scenes, and situations? Explain these conclusions. What are the characters and speakers like? What do they do and say about themselves, their goals, the people around them, their families, their friends,, their work, and the general circumstances of their lives?
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Raise and Answer Your Own Questions

What kinds of words do the characters use: formal or informal words, slang or profanity?

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Writing Essays on Literary Topics

Writing does not come easily for anyone. A major purpose of your being in collegeis to develop your capacity to think and to express thoughts clearly and fully.

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The Writing Process

Planning
brainstorming, clustering, freewriting, outlining

Drafting Revising and editing

Use the process carefully. Use your colored pencils.
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The Goal of Writing: To Show a Process of Thought

Do not rehash the plot. [Y]our goal should always be to explain the work you are analyzing.

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I disagree.
I totally disagree with Robertss assertion about assuming the reader knows the work. Instead, include the plot summary in the opening paragraph that includes the whole story, not just a teaser.

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Argument When Writing Essays about Literature

proveor demonstratea point or idea about it. use the material from the story to prove your assertion (specifics)

The Need to Present an

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Approaches
Determine the Works Historical Period and Background Describe the Economic and Social Conditions Depicted in the Work Explain the Works Major Ideas Learn about and Describe the Works Artistic Qualities
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Verb tense
[W]hen writing about literature, you should use the present tense of verbs. Mathilde and her husband work and economize [not worked and economized] for ten years to pay off the 18,000-franc debt they undertake [not undertook] to pay for the lost necklace.
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Introduction
Title Author Plot summary transition Thesis: topic and assertion

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Authors Name
In the first sentence, use the authors whole name. Eudora Weltys A Worn Path is the story of an old African-American woman by the name of Phoenix Jackson, who walks the long miles into town to get much-needed medicine for her sick grandchild that swallowed lye years ago.
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Authors Name
In later paragraphs, use the authors last name only. Weltys Phoenix Jackson is a model for love, dedication, bravery, and determination.

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Body
The specifics with references to the text. Incorporate quotes smoothly into your text. Phoenixs eyes [are] blue with age (139), meaning that she can hardly see due to cataracts.

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Conclusion
Restate what you have proven. Broaden out.
If there were more people in the world with the drive and determination of Phoenix, the world would be a better place. Young people need role models like her.

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Guidelines
Never just retell the story or summarize the work. Bring in story materials only when you can use them as support for your central idea or argument. Throughout your essay, keep reminding the reader of your central idea.
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Guidelines
Within each paragraph, make sure that you stress your topic idea. Develop your subject. Make it bigger than it was when you began. Always make your statements exact, comprehensive, and forceful.

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Guidelines [R]emember, never just retell the story or summarize the work.
Not just plot!
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