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
50
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
Thereareseveralpossiblerelationshipsbetweenlanguageandsociety.Oneiswhatsocialstructuremayeitherinfluenceordete
SuggestopediaI.IntroductionA.BasedonhowthebrainworksandhowwelearnmosteffectivelyB.Derivedfrom【T1】______andp
Language-basedlearningdisabilitiesareproblemswithage-appropriatereading,spelling,and/orwriting.Thisdisorderisnot
MynameisKathyH..I’mthirty-oneyearsold,andI’vebeenacarernowforoverelevenyears.Thatsoundslongenough,Iknow,
A、Makingsuitabledevelopmentgoals.B、GettingaMBAdiploma.C、Findingajobineducation.D、Beingcreativeandexperienced.B本
Untilrecently,mostpopulationgrowthhasoccurredinrelativelydenseurbanenvironments.Inanotherwords,evenifwewerewi
A、Foodswithhealthyfat.B、Dairyproducts.C、Alcoholicandnon-alcoholicdrinks.D、FoodsrichinproteinandvitaminB6.C本题设题点
A、Theguestscancookforthemselves.B、TheguestscansurftheInternet.C、Theguestscanparktheircars.D、Theguestscanhav
Freud’smostfamouspupilisCarlGustavJung,aSwissphysician,psychiatrist,philosopherandpsychologist.SelectingJungas
(1)Desertification,drought,anddespair—that’swhatglobalwarminghasinstoreformuchofAfrica.Orsowehear.(2)Emerg
随机试题
A.浆液性淋巴结炎B.出血性淋巴结炎C.坏死性淋巴结炎D.化脓性淋巴结炎E.增生性淋巴结炎马腺疫病马颌下淋巴结肿胀,有波动,局部皮肤变薄,后自行破溃,流出大量黄白色黏稠液体。此病变为
多并发急性胰腺炎和附睾炎的疾病是
某患者,男,35岁,出现流涕,高热,诊断为伤寒应给予
A.调经丸B.同仁乌鸡白凤丸C.逍遥丸D.当归丸E.暖官七味丸
供求定理
ABC公司一直采用吸收成本用于企业的内部报告,目前正在考虑是否要使用变动成本来进行内部绩效的评估。当期预算和实际的经营数据如下所示:计划的单位成本数据是基于当期140000个的预算产量而计算得出的。ABC公司通过预设的制造费用率将制造费用分配
对借款人的贷后监控包括()。
目前,随着国家政治经济的快速发展,大量青壮劳动力为了改变生存状况,常年外出务工,很多夫妻因经济原因无法将子女带在身边,由此引发了一系列社会问题。据调查,中国农村留守儿童数量超过5800万人。其中,57.2%的留守儿童是父母一方外出,42.8%的留守儿童是父
不少作家把人生比作登山,___________就是登上山顶略事休息徘徊的那一刹那。此前是“快乐地努力地向前走”,此后则“别有一般滋味”的“想回家”;此前是“路上有好多块绊脚石,曾把自己磕碰得鼻青脸肿”,此后则“前面是下坡路,好走得多”。“下坡路”也罢,“想
某企业3个月后需用美元支付200欧元进口贷款,预测汇率会有大幅变动,采用外汇期权交易保值。已知即期汇率$1=;协定价格=$1.0100;期权价格=$0.0388;佣金占合同金额0.5%,采用欧式期权。试问三个月后市场汇率为$1=的情况下企业该如何操作?
最新回复
(
0
)