...to focus your annotation on instances of dramatic irony, images of vision and blindness, and tension between fate and free will. The following literary analysis assignment will be collected during the second week of school. LITERARY ANALYSIS OF DRAMA In a typed, one-page essay, offer your assessment of Oedipus at the end of the play. Was he foolish? Heroic? Fated? Support with textual evidence as appropriate and follow MLA format. II. READING FOR PLEASURE Read a book—fiction or non-fiction—strictly for pleasure. Strong readers and writers have a wealth of textual experiences and a vast amount of background knowledge from which to draw. The most important aspect of this assignment is that you select a work you will enjoy reading. During the first week of class, you will conduct a book talk over your selected work in which you will “sell” the experience of reading your book to your peers, so pick something good! Some suggestions for selecting your “reading for pleasure” book include, but are not limited to: * Classic works of literature from an era, author, or genre you know and enjoy * Contemporary literature from the New York Times Bestseller List * Works of “Representative Authors” from College Board * Non-fiction works about a time period or person of interest to you III. LITERARY CRITICISM How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster ISBN 978-0-06-000942-7 Purchase and read the book prior to the first day of class...
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...Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction ‘Jonathan Culler has always been about the best person around at explaining literary theory without oversimplifying it or treating it with polemical bias. Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction is an exemplary work in this genre.’ J. Hillis Miller, University of California, Irvine ‘An impressive and engaging feat of condensation . . . the avoidance of the usual plod through schools and approaches allows the reader to get straight to the heart of the crucial issue for many students, which is: why are they studying literary theory in the first place? . . . an engaging and lively book.’ Patricia Waugh, University of Durham Jonathan Culler LITERARY THEORY A Very Short Introduction 1 Great Clarendon Street, Oxford o x2 6 d p Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide in Oxford New York Athens Auckland Bangkok Bogotá Buenos Aires Calcutta Cape Town Chennai Dar es Salaam Delhi Florence Hong Kong Istanbul Karachi Kuala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Mumbai Nairobi Paris São Paulo Shanghai Singapore Taipei Tokyo Toronto Warsaw with associated companies in Berlin Ibadan Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University Press in the UK and in certain other countries Published in the United States by Oxford University Press Inc., New York © Jonathan Culler 1997 The moral rights...
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...To reinforce the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing; ❑ To develop the skills of students in the use of idiomatic English and the capability of expressing ideas and thoughts in English; ❑ To develop and reinforce communicative interaction; ❑ To introduce the understanding of western philosophy and ideas and their influence on literature; ❑ To introduce classical literature, the Greek myths, the Bible and other writings which have influenced English literary works; ❑ To introduce and refine the understanding of American literature with emphasis on some selected literary works; ❑ To increase the appreciation of Bangla literature and culture among students and to develop their ability to relate experiences from English and American literature to Bangla literary works; ❑ To deepen students’ awareness of the universal concerns that are the basis of literary works; ❑ To stimulate a greater appreciation of language as an aesthetic medium and of the artistic principles that shape literary works; ❑ To appreciate literature as an expression of human values within an historical and social context. ❑ To understand the fundamentals of information communication technology and be able to use it for greater understanding of English language and literature. CURRICULUM STRUCTURE: Total requirements of credits...
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...OBSCURITY AS NOISE IN THE LITERARY CHANNEL OF COMMUNICATION: THE WRITER AND THE QUESTION OF IMMORTALITY CALLER: Hello, can hear me? RECEIVER: Hello, who is on the line, Hello…Hello… Hello…I..I… can’t hear you, there is a whole lot of Noise where you are, please move away from that Place. CALLER: (Moves away from the noisy area) an you hear me Now? RECEIVER: (smiling) Yes!!! Immortality is the essence of existence, It is its soul. It is that which death fears. Immortality is that which transcends the ends. He gave it to he who would Live beyond the end. Nwokedi Nwa Nwokedi 19/5/06 You may be wondering if this is another reading of a dramatic text or a poetic rendition. It is neither of the two, it is simply the introduction to what you may for paucity of nomenclature, call an essay. For me this dialectic or polemic is a critical arousal aimed at arousing our scholastic consciousness so that we can reason together. My brothers and sisters in the ”Literary Evangelistic Mission Incorporated”, “come let us reason together”. Three issues shall be of principal concern and interest to us in this arousal of critical thinking. They are (1) Obscurity (2) Noise and (3) Immortality. It is within this triangle that we shall conduct our creative reasoning and “deliverance” session. Our sole aim being to decipher and bring to everybody’s attention, that which the writer must do for him and his work to cloth themselves...
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...X it is important to note Y By the same token, … But we should also consider, … Despite these criticisms, …it’s popularity remains high. Certainly, there is no shortage of disagreement within… Consequently, … Correspondingly, … Conversely, … Chaytor, … in particular, has focused on the Despite this, … Despite these criticisms, … the popularity of X remains largely undiminished. Each of these theoretical positions make an important contribution to our understanding of, … Evidence for in support of this position, can be found in…, Evidently, For this reason, … For these reasons, … Furthermore, … Given, the current high profile debate with regard to, …it is quite surprising that … Given, the advantages of … outlined in the previous paragraph, …it is quite predictable that … However, … Having considered X, it is also reasonable to look at … Hence, … In addition to, … In contrast, … In this way, … In this manner, … In the final analysis, … In short, … Indeed, … It can be seen from the above analysis that, … It could also be said that, … It is however, important to note the limitations of… It is important however not to assume the applicability of, …in all cases. It is important however not to overemphasis the strengths of … In the face of such criticism, proponents of, …have responded in a number of ways. Moreover, … Notwithstanding such criticism, ….it’s popularity remains largely undiminished. Notwithstanding these limitations, ….it worth...
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...APPROACHES IN LITERARY CRITICISM 1. Moral / Philosophical Approach - Critics believe that the larger purpose of literature is to teach morality and to probe philosophical issues. - Many poets have strong ethical or religious convictions, but the moralist critic usually has a broader interest. Literature has a humanizing or civilizing mission, and the critic values work which furthers that end: promotes tolerance, social justice, sensitivity to individual wishes and talents, etc. 2. Topical/Historical/Biographical - Critics see works as the reflection of an author's life and times (or of the characters' life and times). They believe it is necessary to know about the author and the political, economical, and sociological context of his times in order to truly understand his works. - Poems are placed in their historical context — to explain not only their allusions and particular use of words, but the conventions and expectations of the times. The approach may be evaluative (i.e. the critic may suggest ways of responding to the poem once the perspective is corrected), or may simply use it as historical data. - a poem may be used to illuminate the writer's psychology, or as biographic data. No less than the correspondence, remembered conversations, choice of reading matter, the poem is analyzed for relevance to its author. 3. New Critical Formalist - A formalistic approach to literature, once called New Criticism, involves a close reading of the text. Formalistic...
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...ground not only by making history a discipline of knowledge but also by expanding the horizon of the discipline by incorporating other non-European regions, especially Asia and America. The author makes a detailed analogy of historiography of this period based on his reading of Montesquieu, Voltaire, Hume, Diderot and Raynal, Gibbon, etc., and he argues that it is during this period history comes to the centre of human society. In the nineteenth century German historical tradition as an academic discipline also gained importance, specially with thinkers like, Humboldt and his introduction of epistemological language in the discipline of history (as the realization of idea), or Niebuhr and his initiation in creating the tradition of 'source-criticism' as a method of history-writing, and Ranke's inauguration of a new language in the practice of history-writing by introducing scientific, objective, and empirical viewpoint (p223). It was Ranke, as the author notes, who attempted to divide primary sources from secondary sources and aimed at finding 'historical fact' from the 'world of truth' (p229). It was around this period, romantic historiography took shape primarily in Europe and then in America and produced a critical historiography. It is only with the coming of modernity several new methodological tools became crucial in the process of history-writing. The book devotes quite a bit of research in reading two crucial methodological apparatuses, namely— (a) historicism and...
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...Fall 2010 ------------------------------------------------- Catalogue Description: This course examines the literary traditions of sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean through an intensive study of selected works. Negritude is explored in its own right but also in its relationship with the literature of Europe and the Harlem Renaissance. Particular emphasis is placed on the socio-cultural and political forces that shaped this literature as well as the mode of presentation. General Education Goals: ENG 232 is affirmed in the following General Education Foundation Categories: Humanistic Perspective and Global and Cultural Awareness of Diversity. The corresponding General Education Goals are respectively as follows: Students will analyze works in the field of art, music, or theater; literature; and philosophy and/or religious studies; and will gain competence in the use of a foreign language; and Students will understand the importance of global perspective and culturally diverse peoples. Course Goals: Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to do the following: 1. discuss the universality and the diversity of literary thought; 2. apply critical and analytical approaches to the study of African and Caribbean literature to compose critical and analytical essays about such literary works and, specifically, about literary elements; 3. write a fully documented, multiple...
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...William Shakespeare, often called the English national poet, is widely considered the greatest dramatist of all time. They believe he was born April 23, 1564 around the day he was baptized, which was April 26, 1564. From roughly 1594 onward he was an important member of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men company of theatrical players. Written records give little indication of the way in which shakespeare’s professional life molded his artistry. Al that can be deduced is that over the course of 20 years, Shakespeare wrote plays that capture the complete range of human emotion and conflict. Smith, Peter. The Library of Literary Criticism of English and American Authors. Vol. I. Ed. Charles Wells Moulton. Gloucester: The Moulton Publishing Company, 1959. 447. Talks about how Shakespeare as a child apprenticed his father as a butcher in the family trade. It describes how later on Shakespeare broke away from the family and relocated to London with his wife, Ann Hathaway, to write and perform plays. I am skeptical as to the level that Shakespeare actually disliked his family’s trade, as described here. He always gave prolix orations before slaughtering a calf, which makes me think he was not entirely opposed to being a butcher. Bradley, A. C. . "Shakespeare the Man." Oxford Lectures on Poetry (1909): 330-334. Bradley argues an interesting parallel between Shakespeare’s intense feeling expressed in his works and the “high-flown language of the time” (333). It is suggested...
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...Anonymous Mrs. Buckley Eng102 15 May 2015 I Kill Giant Criticism: New Perspective from Different Point Of View In the graphic novel I Kill Giant, Joe Kelly has written a story about a young girl name Barbara, the protagonist of the story that’s trapped in her own imaginary world. Unable to accept the fact that her mother is slowly dying from cancer, Barbara creates her own world with the goal to destroy all the giants in order to save her mother from the death. Using the second world as her defense mechanism, Barbara disconnects from the real world and totally immerses in her journey to defeat her mother's sickness. As the Dungeon's Master in Dungeons and Dungeons gameplay, Barbara maximizes her imaginary world filled with fairies, flying animals, and giants. Because she's constantly intertwining with the real world in her own world, Barbara labels as an outcast in the ordinary world. To better understand the meaning and hidden ideas in the graphic novel, the use of literature criticisms is critical for deeper analysis. Reader – Response Criticism When I was eight years old, I used to go out into my backyard and pretend that I was a wizard who was granted with the most powerful power. I danced around and read weird spells and often I wasn't aware of my surroundings because it would be embarrassing if others saw it. My childhood was always full of imagination and the love for my family is what makes me who I am today. When I read the graphic novel I Kill...
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...theories and theorists when attempting to analyze literature? It is very helpful to know theories and theorists when attempting to analyse the piece of literature because it allows every distinct person to have their own analysis of a particular piece of literature leading to more diverse and richer amount of views. I think that knowing each theory and theorists will reveal ways to analyse the literature that one may have never thought of before. 2.) Review the schools of literary theory (download the notes) and choose two that you are interested in or identify with (200 words for each theory). One of the literary theories that I am interested in is Formalism. This theory is based on structural components of literature. Formalism takes a more scientific approach to literature rather than the approach of interpreting literature by relating it to the historical circumstance it was written in, personal experiences that the author has been through, and more. Formalism pays close attention to literary devices that are used and the patterns these devices present in literature. It has three main categories, which are form, unity and diction. Form is one of the most important parts because it looks at the way the whole piece was written. It looks at the point of view of the literature, if there is closure and how the story is told whether it is told using flashback, told in chronological order or some other way. Point of view is a great way to analyze literature because it is critical...
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...Studieplan over engelsk eksamens materiale Forløb og tekster fra 1.G 1. Literature/fiction and film analysis * http://so1.cphwest.dk/kulturelle_materialer/Engelsk_kulturelle.pdf * Working with Fiction (dokumenter): Read "The New Girl" * Litterature: 'My Son the Fanatic * Film analysis (oral): 'Crash' * Literary analysis of short stories relating to racial diversity, immigration and general social issues etc. * Texts: Aline's journey, The New Girl; The First Day (US society; Racism; Social class in the US); 'Little Things' by Raymond Carver; 'My Son the Fanatic' by Hanif Kureishi (UK Area Study); First Confession by Frank O'Connor (Ireland: an introduction-Religion). Film analysis. * Subjects related to sporting, social, political and economic themes. Films: Green Street Hooligans (Sport+UK society); Crash (US society); Bloody Sunday by Paul Greengrass (UK - Nothern Ireland); Bowling for Columbine (Guns in America). 2. UK: Area study * “Two Speed Britain” (s.54-s.63) fra bogen;” What’s up, Britain” * Tekster fra Current magazien "Margaret Thatcher", "The Rise of UKIP", "The Weird Foods Brits Love", "Jack the Ripper Stalks London" og "London's East End" * “My Son the fantastic” * Waterboys sang ”Old England” 3. USA: Political, Society and culture * "Mapping where English is not the language at home" By Dan Keating and Darla Cameron: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/national/us-language-map/ * Cadillac advert analysis:...
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...Chrystal Hemphill Dr. Kilpatrick ENG 500 10/12/2015 The Role of Knowledge and Preference in Literary Criticism Some argue that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, while others argue that there are scientific and social factors that contribute to a clear definition of beauty. The same type of argument comes into focus when one considers literature. Dictionary.com defines literature as “written works, especially those considered of superior or lasting artistic merit,” but this brings into question how one is to judge whether a work has greater or enduring artistic value. This question is addressed in Plato’s Ion. In Ion, Plato addresses whether it is through experience and skill or through divine intervention that Ion judges the merit of works. Through an explication of the text, one can consider whether it is knowledge or preference that leads to determining value through literary criticism. The dialogue opens with Socrates speaking to Ion who is a rhapsodist, or a professional performer of epic poetry. The reader learns that Ion is a skilled rhapsodist as he has just won first place among competitors at the festival of Asclepius. It is upon this knowledge and skill that Ion bases his affinity for Homer. Ion makes the claim that Homer is a superior poet and because of this, Ion is better able to interpret his works as compared to his inability to interpret other poets’ works. When this claim is made, Socrates goes through a series of deductions in order...
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...The book Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, has many literary terms within the story. No story, book, essay, or short story can be written without literary terms. This book uses irony, tone, symbolism, and theme. Each one is explained differently and put in so that the readers could have different perspectives. This allows readers to understand a certain book better. Theme, tone, irony, and symbolism all have different meanings to the each reader. Theme is a central meaning or dominant idea in a literary work. It provides a unifying point around which the plot, characters, setting, point of view, symbols, and other elements of work. Zora Neale Hurston writes the theme in many different ways. The one that stands out to me...
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...Comprehensive Literary Analysis “The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual's own reason and critical analysis.”-Dalai Lama Literary works present culture, philosophy, and deep truths about the nature of humanity, but the interpretation of these texts is left solely to the reader. Analysis is the ability to understand the fundamental concepts of information received in any form by breaking down the complexities into essential features and their relations. One’s interpretation may change one’s view of the world or entertain them but, in seeking the purpose of the information one is presented one is able to question fundamental concepts and create his or her own ideologies. Kaiji the ultimate survivor is a literary text that tackles many these ideologies that one may...
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