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.
【T13】
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
character
解析
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/NEIK777K
0
专业英语八级
相关试题推荐
AnancientGreekphilosopheroncewrotethatlaughteriswhatmakesushuman—thatitdefinesusas【T1】______.Muchmorerecentd
Alow-contextcultureisoneinwhichthemessage,theeventortheactionis【T1】______,havingmeaningontoitself,regardless
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
TypesofLanguageTestingI.Placement—sortnewstudentsinto【T1】______【T1】______—testthestudent’s【T2】______ratherthansp
江南的春天素称多雨,一落就是七八天。住在上海的人们,平日既感不到雨的需要,一旦下雨,天气是那么阴沉,谁也耐不住闷在狭小的家里;可是跑到外面,没有山,没有湖,也没有经雨的嫩绿的叶子,一切都不及暗天好:有时阔人的汽车从你的身旁驰过,还带一身泥污回来。记得六七年
猫的性格实在有些古怪。说它老实吧,它的确有时候很乖。它会找个暖和的地方,成天睡大觉,无忧无虑,什么事也不过问。可是,它决定要出去玩玩,就会出走一天一夜,任凭谁怎么呼唤,它也不肯回来。说它贪玩吧,的确是呀,要不怎么会一天一夜不回家呢?可是,它听到老鼠的一点响
随机试题
性格是指
A、三氧化二砷B、对氨基苯磺酸C、无水碳酸钠D、重铬酸钾E、邻苯二甲酸氢钾标定;下面滴定液所用的基准物质是盐酸滴定液
有关人民法院赔偿委员会的说法,下列哪些选项是正确的?()
对带租约的房地产进行估价,应考虑租约对价值产生影响的有()。
控制面板主要有()的设置。
证券成交速度快,说明其流动性很好。()
关于公平理论的说法,错误的有()。
某村村民吴某因家里人口多,住房紧张,向乡政府提出建房申请。经乡人民政府土地员刘某批准后,即开始划线动工。周围左邻申某与右邻崔某发现吴某专用了自己使用多年的宅基地,即同吴某交涉。吴某申辩说建房是按批准文件划线动工,不同意改变施工计划。如果申某和崔某直接向
根据以下资料,回答下列题。免费午餐基金自2011年4月正式启动,截至2012年底,总收入为4377.4万元,总支出为1459.1万元,结余2918.3万元。2012年度筹资费用约是2011年度的多少倍?
设栈S和队列Q的初始状态均为空,元素a,b,c,d,e,f,g依次进入栈S。若每个元素出栈后立即进入队列Q,且7个元素出队的顺序是b,d,c,f,e,a,g,则栈S的容量至少是_______。
最新回复
(
0
)