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? Reading critically does not mean tearing a work of literature apart, but understanding and ev
How to Read Literature Critically? Reading critically does not mean tearing a work of literature apart, but understanding and ev
admin
2017-04-25
21
问题
How to Read Literature Critically?
Reading critically does not mean tearing a work of literature apart, but understanding and evaluating the work as a whole. A six-step method will help us read literature critically.
I. Figurative Language
— Make note of expressive language
— Think about the【T1】_____ behind employing the devices【T1】______
— Some examples of figurative language
a)【T2】_____: a comparison of two terms【T2】______
b)Metaphor: a comparison of two seemingly【T3】_____ subjects【T3】______
c)【T4】_____: granting human traits to objects or animals【T4】______
II. Structure
— Nonlinear structure: a story【T5】_____ order【T5】______
sequence with【T6】_____ or integrated tales【T6】______
— Examples: A Rose for Emily & The Joy Luck Club III. Influence
— Trace an influence between authors a)the lessons learned
b)【T7】_____【T7】______
c)the conclusions reached
— Example: Hawthorne’s influence on Melville
IV. Archetypes
— Archetypes patterned after an original
— Two types of archetypes
【T8】_____【T8】______
a)buddy pair
b)Christ-figure
c)the scapegoat
d)the hero
Situational archetypes
a)【T9】_____ and pursuit of an elusive goal【T9】______
b)loss of innocence
c)【T10】_____【T10】______
— Authors can【T11】_____ different archetypes,【T11】______
e.g. Hemingway’s Indian Camp
V. Symbolism
— A symbol contains both【T12】_____ meanings【T12】______
— A symbol is not necessarily a statement
— Common symbols in literature
a)Spring, which symbolizes【T13】_____【T13】______
b)Winter, which symbolizes death
— Other common symbols, like【T14】_____ etc.【T14】______
VI. Read and Reread
— Don’t【T15】_____ a work after you first read it【T15】______
【T11】
How to Read Literature Critically?
Good morning, everyone. Today, I am going to talk about 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 6-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.
Firstly, figurative language. As you are reading, make note of expressive language such as similes, metaphors, and personification.[1]Then consider why the author employs these devices. Here’s a brief definition of each term and an example:
[2]Simile. A simile is a comparison of two terms and 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.[3]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.
Personification.[4]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 "feel" anything, friendly or otherwise. But for the reader, personification provides yet another way to understand the author’s intent.
Secondly, structure.[5]/[6]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.
Thirdly, influence.[7]For every writer, some other authors’ works appeal 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 of the 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.
Fourthly, archetypes. Your critical reading should also include an awareness of archetypes. 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.[8]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, the scapegoat, and the hero who saves the day, for instance Homer’s Odysseus or J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter.[9]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.[10]Initiation is also a frequent situational archetype.[11]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.
Fifthly, symbolism. Ah, the most dreaded word for many a reader. What is a symbol and how can you identify one in literature?[12]A symbol typically encompasses both a literal meaning and a figurative meaning. 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.[13]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".[14]Other common symbols include lightness and darkness, the Christian cross, the Star of David, and the Nazi swastika. The more symbols you are able to identify, the richer your critical interpretation will be.
Sixthly, read and reread.[15]Resist the impulse to assess a work after you first read it, even if you have diligently completed the first five steps given here. A thorough critical analysis cannot be accomplished until you’ve reread the work.
OK I have outlined 6 steps for you to follow when you read literature. These steps will help you better understand and appreciate the literary works of all times.
选项
答案
combine
解析
本题考查考生的推理能力。讲座中引用了海明威的作品来说明两种原型之间是可以整合在一起的。题目问的是作家如何对待不同的原型。考生可以在题目后面海明威的例子找到信息线索,填动词combine。
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/4osK777K
0
专业英语八级
相关试题推荐
AllthefollowingworkswerewrittenbyW.B.YeatsEXCEPT
AllthefollowingworkswerewrittenbyThackerayEXCEPT
WhichofthefollowingnovelswasNOTwrittenbyCharlesDickens?
WhichofthefollowingisNathanielHawthorne’smostnoteworthynovelintheworld?
WhichofthefollowingisNOTFrancisBacon’sessay?
Iwasslowtounderstandthedeepgrievancesofwomen.Thiswasbecause,asaboy,Ihadenviedthem.Beforecollege,theonlyp
CollegesandUniversities,institutionsofhighereducationthatofferprogramsbeyondthehighschoollevel.Collegesanduniv
Engaginginahobbylikereadingabook,makingapatchworkquiltorevenplayingcomputergamescandelaytheonsetofdementi
Nowadays,thereisaphenomenonthatattractspeople’sattention—collegestudentsareencouragedtobevolunteerteachersinthe
随机试题
假设检验的基本思想是()。Ⅰ.先对总体的参数或分布函数的表达式做出某种假设,然后找出一个在假设成立条件下出现可能性甚小的(条件)小概率事件Ⅱ.如果试验或抽样的结果使该小概率事件出现了,这与小概率原理相违背,表明原来的假设有问题,应予
A.产后2~3dB.产后4dC.3~7dD.产后10~14dE.产后2~3周新生儿乳房肿大或乳汁分泌自然消退的时间是()
根据《水利水电工程标准施工招标文件》,变更的范围包括()等。
人们通常认为可以通过动物的异常行为来预测海啸。这种看法是基于主观类比,不一定能揭示客观联系。一只猫在海啸前24小时行为异常,给它的主人留下深刻印象,但事实上,这个世界上的任何一刻,都有猫行为异常。为了评论上述论证,回答以下哪个问题最不重要?(
如果没有闪电,人类将失去一位勤劳的“清洁工”。闪电交作时,大气中的部分氧气被激发成臭氧,稀薄的臭氧不但不臭,而且能吸收大部分宇宙射线,使地球表面的生物免遭紫外线过量照射的危害。闪电过程中产生的高温,又可杀死大气中90%以上的细菌和微生物,从而使空气变得更加
把数学和语言学这两门差别悬殊的学科联系起来的强有力的纽带,是语言通讯技术和电子计算机,前者实现了语言符号的远距离传输和转换,后者则用数字化的快速运算来处理非数值符号——语言。20世纪以来科学发展日新月异的要求,使数学的领域空前地扩展了,语言学的领域也空前地
《吾国吾民》是()的代表作。该书将中国人的性格、心灵、理想、生活、政治、社会、艺术剖析得非常美妙,并与西方人的性格、理想、生活等做了相应的广泛深入的比较,在海内外引起轰动。
Theproblemtobetakenupandthepointatwhichthesearchforasolutionwillbeginarecustomarilyprescribedbytheinvesti
【B1】【B14】
Communicationinaforeignlanguagemustinvolvebothteachersandpupilsusingthetargetlanguageasthenormalmeansofcomm
最新回复
(
0
)