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
82
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/SvsK777K
0
专业英语八级
相关试题推荐
A、Theteacher.B、Thesocialworker.C、Thefirefighter.D、Themanager.D
HowtoApproachDiscursiveWriting?Howtoimprovetheeffectivenessofstudents’writing?Therearesixstageswhichshoul
A、Theybothhavealonghistory.B、Theybothhaveaninfluenceonsociety.C、Theyarebothfunnysubjects.D、Theyarebothserio
Untilrecently,mostpopulationgrowthhasoccurredinrelativelydenseurbanenvironments.Inanotherwords,evenifwewerewi
GlobalwarmingcouldactuallychilldownNorthAmericawithinjustafewdecades,accordingtoanewstudythatsaysasuddenco
Freud’smostfamouspupilisCarlGustavJung,aSwissphysician,psychiatrist,philosopherandpsychologist.SelectingJungas
Freud’smostfamouspupilisCarlGustavJung,aSwissphysician,psychiatrist,philosopherandpsychologist.SelectingJungas
PASSAGEFOURWhatcausedaglobaldeclineofsharkpopulations?
SitcomsasaToolforELTEnglishteachershavebeenusingvideosintheclassroomfordecadesandnowsitcomsemergeinclassr
(1)Sometimes,medicalsciencemakesbreakthroughsthatalmostno-oneseescoming.Othertimes,itjustseemstocatchupwithwh
随机试题
数列极限=________.
A.母乳B.鲜牛奶C.8%糖牛奶D.全脂奶粉E.羊奶按体积比1:4加水冲调即成全乳的是
结核性脑膜炎的发生最常见于
某城市建设项目,建设单位委托监理单位承担施工阶段的监理任务,并通过公开招标选甲施工单位作为施工总承包单位,工程实施中发生了如下事件:事件一:桩基工程开始后,专业监理工程师发现甲施工单位未经建设单位同意将桩基工程分包给乙施工单位,为此,项目监理机构要暂停桩
常用来作为对未来收益率的无偏估计的指标是()。
方先生为境内某上市公司雇员,每月工资3000元。2011年该公司开始实行股票期权计划。2011年6月28日,该公司授予方先生不可公开交易的股票期权50000股,授予价2.5元/股;该股票期权无公开市场价格,并约定2011年12月28日起方先生可以行权,行权
关于资源税的下列说法中,正确的有()。
银行作项目环境条件分析时,()是项目建设和生产条件的核心内容。
国债二级市场一般是()之间的交易场所。
以下对四川境内的风景描述正确的是()。
最新回复
(
0
)