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
2017-12-07
77
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】______
【T14】
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
lightness and darkness//Christian cross//Star of David//Nazi swastika
解析
本题询问文学作品中还有哪些常见的象征。由于题目中有etc.,因此考生只要填出一个即可。答案为lightness and darkness//Christian cross//Star of David//Nazi swastika。
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/MvsK777K
0
专业英语八级
相关试题推荐
TeachingMethodsforEffectiveCommunicationI.Introduction:someteachingapproacheshelpfultoclassroomcommunication—wel
TeachingMethodsforEffectiveCommunicationI.Introduction:someteachingapproacheshelpfultoclassroomcommunication—wel
Thereareseveralpossiblerelationshipsbetweenlanguageandsociety.Oneiswhatsocialstructuremayeitherinfluenceordete
Thereareseveralpossiblerelationshipsbetweenlanguageandsociety.Oneiswhatsocialstructuremayeitherinfluenceordete
Language-basedlearningdisabilitiesareproblemswithage-appropriatereading,spelling,and/orwriting.Thisdisorderisnot
Inacertaincitytherelivedaphysicianwhosoldyellowpaint.Thiswasofsosingularavirtuethatwhosowasbedaubedwithi
PASSAGETHREEWhatisthenatureoftheactionofthepaint,accordingtothephysician?
Untilrecently,mostpopulationgrowthhasoccurredinrelativelydenseurbanenvironments.Inanotherwords,evenifwewerewi
Freud’smostfamouspupilisCarlGustavJung,aSwissphysician,psychiatrist,philosopherandpsychologist.SelectingJungas
Freud’smostfamouspupilisCarlGustavJung,aSwissphysician,psychiatrist,philosopherandpsychologist.SelectingJungas
随机试题
绩效管理的重心在于()
A.凿开骨皮质,找到脓腔,清除脓液,关闭伤口,可愈合B.立即开放创口引流,全身应用抗生素,石膏固定,开创换药C.早期进行切开引流术,放置闭式引流或开放引流D.清除病灶死骨,消灭死腔,一期闭合伤口,接负压引流管E.截肢术硬化性骨髓炎的治疗方法是
应首先考虑当按上述诊断补充相应药物后,小儿抽搐仍不好转,则考虑为
下列属于条件反射的是
长江公司为增值税一般纳税人,2015年1月1日长江公司从乙公司购入一项专门用于生产新产品A产品的无形资产,由于长江公司资金周转比较困难,经与乙公司协商采用分期付款方式支付款项,该无形资产合同规定总价款为2000万元,从2015年起每年年末支付500万元,分
星煌公司是一家上市公司,现董事长吴某就星煌公司向坤诚公司的投资之事准备召开董事会。因公司资金比较紧张,董事梁某的妻子又在坤诚公司任副董事长,有部分董事对此投资事宜表示异议。根据公司法律制度的规定,下列表述中,正确的有()。
李大钊曾经指出,“太平天国禁止了鸦片,却采用了宗教,不建设民国,而建设天国,这是他们失败的一个重要原因。”这一“重要原因”是指
党在社会主义初级阶段的基本路线概括了()
设总体X的密度函数为f(x)=X1,X2,…,Xn为来自总体X的简单随机样本,求参数θ的最大似然估计量.
TCP/IP(71)layer protocols provide services to the application(72)running on a computer. The application layer does not define th
最新回复
(
0
)