首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
外语
How to Read Literature Critically The four-step method - The first step —pay attention to 【T1】______language 【T1】_____
How to Read Literature Critically The four-step method - The first step —pay attention to 【T1】______language 【T1】_____
admin
2020-11-24
15
问题
How to Read Literature Critically
The four-step method
- The first step
—pay attention to 【T1】______language 【T1】______
—while reading, make notes of 【T2】______language 【T2】______
—consider why the author adopts these devices
—definition and example
A. 【T3】______ 【T3】______
—a comparison of two terms
—frequently uses the words【T4】"______" or "as" 【T4】______
B. Metaphor
—a comparison of two 【T5】______ 【T5】______
—giving language color and depth
—impacting the reader’s senses
C. 【T6】______ 【T6】______
—the granting of 【T7】______to objects or animals 【T7】______
—another way to understand the author’s intent
D. Symbolism
—encompasses both a literal meaning and a figurative meaning
—not necessarily a 【T8】______ 【T8】______
e. g., a. spring is a symbol of 【T9】______. 【T9】______
b. winter often symbolizes a figurative death.
- The second step
—a clear mind about structure
e. g., telling a story out of 【T10】______, perhaps with flashbacks or integrated 【T10】______
tales
- The third step
—be keen on 【T11】______on this work 【T11】______
- The fourth step
—keep a sharp eye for archetypes
—the definition: things patterned after 【T12】______ 【T12】______
—two categories:
a. 【T13】______archetypes 【T13】______
b. situational archetypes: eg., 【T14】______ 【T14】______
Conclusion
To summarize today’s lecture, four steps must be taken to be 【T15】______ of 【T15】______
literature.
【T11】
How to Read Literature Critically
Good morning, everyone. In our last lecture, I was talking about the definition of classic literature and features of it. And today, I’m going to move on to another topic. That is, how to read literature critically.
Even if you’re taking your very first literature class, it’s easy to read critically if you follow our four-step method. But before you get started, always keep this in mind: reading critically doesn’t mean tearing a work of literature apart. Instead, it means understanding what the author has written and evaluating the success of the work as a whole.
[1] Firstly, pay attention to figurative language. [2] As you are reading, make notes of expressive language such as similes, metaphors, and personification, etc. Then consider why the author employs these devices. Here’s a brief definition of each term and an example:
[3] Simile. A simile is a comparison of two terms and [4] frequently uses the words "like" or "as". For example, in John Steinbeck’s short story "The Chrysanthemums," he writes of the character Eliza: "She crouched low like a fawning dog. " The image gives the reader a clear indication of Eliza’s state of mind as she reaches out to the peddler for acceptance. Literary works are replete with similes, so being aware of their presence and possible meanings will aid your critical analysis.
Metaphor. [5] A metaphor is a comparison of two seemingly unrelated subjects. In Toni Morrison’s novel Beloved, her character Paul D. ’s pain is expressed in a metaphor: "He would keep his heart where it belonged: in that tobacco tin buried in his chest where his red heart used to be. " Metaphors are used to give language color and depth and to impact the reader’s senses.
[6] Personification. [7] Personification is the granting of human traits to objects or animals. When Nick in Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby describes the trees in his hometown as " friendly,"he is giving human qualities to an object that obviously cannot be friendly or otherwise. But for the reader, personification provides yet another way to understand the author’s intent.
Symbolism. Symbolism is the most dreaded word for many a reader. What is a symbol and how can you identify one in literature? A symbol typically encompasses both a literal meaning and a figurative meaning. [8] Unlike a metaphor, a symbol is not necessarily a statement: a single word can evoke meaning and become a symbol. Being aware of common symbols in novels will increase your ability to read a work critically. [9] Spring, for example, is often a symbol of renewal: conversely, winter often symbolizes a figurative death. Fitzgerald’s short story "Winter Dreams" is heartbreakingly rendered from the outset by the symbolism of its title. We know that the harsh, symbolically loaded word "winter" offsets the fragility and hope of the word "dreams". Other common symbols include lightness and darkness, the Christian cross, the Star of David, and the Nazi swastika, etc. The more symbols you are able to identify, the richer your critical interpretation will be.
Secondly, have a clear mind about structure. [10] Many times an author opts to tell a story out of chronological sequence, perhaps with flashbacks or integrated tales. Faulkner does this in his short story " A Rose for Emily". The purpose of the nonlinear structure is for the reader to understand, in retrospect, how prior events led to the discovery of Emily’s dark secret and how the town’s complicity contributed to her death. Amy Tan’s novel The Joy Luck Club uses flashback and multiple voices in the narrative to create a new perspective on immigration.
[11] Thirdly, be keen on others’ influence on this work. For every writer, some other author’s work appeals to him or her on some level, whether it is in the lessons learned, the style used, or the conclusions reached. Try to discover who has influenced the author’s work you are studying. Herman Melville dedicated his novel Moby Dick to fellow writer Nathaniel Hawthorne. Although the two men have a markedly different style, Melville so admired Hawthorne that he wrote to the elder author: "I feel that the Godhead is broken up like the bread at the Supper, and that we are the pieces. " If you can trace an influence like this one, your critical approach will be more nuanced.
Lastly, keep a sharp eye for archetypes. Your critical reading should also include an awareness of archetypes. [12] Like influences, archetypes are things patterned after an original, and many are so common that you often don’t need extensive knowledge of the original to appreciate the meaning or intent. For example, Cervantes’ Don Quixote is an example of the most notable of archetypal "buddy pairs" : both the Don and his sidekick Sancho Panza are clueless but essentially well-meaning characters who stick together (even when they’d prefer not to). Friends who rely on one another through thick and thin are a staple of literature—from John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men to Jack Kerouac’s On the Road.
[13] Archetypes often fall into one of two categories: character archetypes and situational archetypes.
Along with the buddy pair, common character archetypes include the Christ-figure (Simon in Lord of the Flies) , the scapegoat (Darcy in Pride and Prejudice) , and the hero who saves the day (Homer’s Odysseus or J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter).
Situational archetypes include the quest and the pursuit of an elusive goal, whether that quest is King Arthur’s relentless pursuit of the Holy Grail or Frodo’s search for the ring in Tolkien’s trilogy. Another readily identifiable situational archetype is the loss of innocence, such as Huck Finn’s evolving racial awareness or Holden Caulfield’s recollection of the harsh realities of adulthood. [14] Initiation is also a frequent situational archetype. In fact, Hemingway’s short story "Indian Camp" combines both the initiation and loss of innocence archetypes: Nick, the young protagonist, must be initiated into the world of sexuality by witnessing its most profound product—childbirth. At the same time, he is stripped of any romantic illusions about a woman’s body.
To summarize today’s lecture, [15] four steps must be taken to be a critical reader of literature. A thorough critical analysis cannot be accomplished until you follow the four basic steps. I hope every one of you can be a successful critic of literature in the future.
选项
答案
others’ influence
解析
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/8EIK777K
0
专业英语八级
相关试题推荐
Nowlet’stakealookatthefirstapproach,thatis,meaningis【T1】______.Doesaworkofliteraturemeanwhattheauthorinten
Alow-contextcultureisoneinwhichthemessage,theeventortheactionis【T1】______,havingmeaningontoitself,regardless
Youprobablyknowwhatamobileis,butthemobileI’mtalkingaboutisadelicateobjectof【T1】______,hangingfromtheceilin
TypesofLanguageTestingI.Placement—sortnewstudentsinto【T1】______【T1】______—testthestudent’s【T2】______ratherthansp
TypesofLanguageTestingI.Placement—sortnewstudentsinto【T1】______【T1】______—testthestudent’s【T2】______ratherthansp
作家有三种死法。一曰自然的死,二曰痛苦的死,三曰快乐的死。自然的死属于心脏停止跳动,是一种普遍的死亡形式,没有特色,可以略而不议。快乐的死和痛苦的死不属于心脏停止跳动,是人还活着,作品已经或几乎是没有了!作家没有了作品,可以看作是个人艺
母亲是个“好劳动”。从我能记忆时起,总是天不亮就起床。全家二十口人,妇女们轮班煮饭,轮到就煮一年。母亲把饭煮了,还要种田,种菜,喂猪,养蚕,纺棉花。因为她身材高大结实,还能挑水挑粪。母亲这样地整日劳碌着。我到四五岁时就很自然地在旁边帮她的忙,到八九岁时就不
古人的茶道、围棋、抚琴,都以安静功课为根柢,传递出一种深长的静思意味。直到现在,如果能遇到一个自然深入的老者,看他品茶下棋,或者听他弹琴,会发现流露在外边的表演招式几乎没有,而给人流畅舒服的感觉,十分熨帖。这种生活举止甚是雅致,同时又很朴素,一点做作都没有
随机试题
Thistestisforstudents______nativelanguageisnotEnglish.
群落与环境的关系为()
提出教学过程最优化思想的教育家是()
初产妇,25岁,曾因感冒诱发心力衰竭,现妊娠13周就诊。以下哪项为正确的临床处理
轻型桥台适用于小跨径桥梁,桥跨孔数与轻型桥墩配合使用时不宜超过()个。
财政部的总体规划目标是:到2010年,力争使()的基层单位基本实现会计电算化。
为了允许不同用户的文件具有相同的文件名,通常在文件系统中采用()。
建设一支听党指挥、能打胜仗、作风优良的人民军队是党在新形势下的强军目标。()
造成这一结果的原因有很多,其中包括不断增长的机动车数量和工业品产量。
It’snicetohavepeopleoflikemindaround.Agreeablepeopleboostyourconfidenceandallowyoutorelaxandfeelcomfortable
最新回复
(
0
)