Download introduction to literature

UNIVERSIDAD ESPECIALIZADA DE LAS AMÉRICAS
INTRODUCTION TO
LITERATURE
Module 1
SUMMER 2013
Mirla Mojica M
millyjoy02 @hotmail.com
http://www.edmodo.com
SANTIAGO, VERAGUAS
INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE
Dear students: Literature is a wonderful world which we will discover
together. Through the development of this course you will learn about
literature and its many different genres. However, in this particular first
module you will be introduced to the importance of literature and its
definition, and learn about the literary elements and the figures of the
speech which are very necessary to analyze literary pieces. All this
knowledge will allow you to read and analyze short stories while you
have fun. Welcome to the Introduction to Literature course, and
enjoy the experience of reading and analyzing literary texts based on
your personal interpretations! Mirla
MODULE #1
I. Relevant Aspects about Literature
A. What is Literature?
Literature is a term used to describe written or spoken material.
Broadly speaking, "literature" is used to describe anything from creative
writing to more technical or scientific works, but the term is most
commonly used to refer to works of the creative imagination, including
works of poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction.
B. Why do we read literature?
Literature represents a language or a people: culture and tradition. But,
literature is more important than just a historical or cultural artifact.
Literature introduces us to new worlds of experience. We learn about
books and literature; we enjoy the comedies and the tragedies of
poems, stories, and plays; and we may even grow and evolve through
our literary journey with books.
Ultimately, we may discover meaning in literature by looking at what
the author says and how he/she says it. We may interpret the author's
message. In academic circles, this decoding of the text is often carried
out through the use of literary theory, using a mythological,
sociological, psychological, historical, or other approach.
Whatever critical paradigm we use to discuss and analyze literature,
there is still an artistic quality to the works. Literature is important to us
because it speaks to us, it is universal, and it affects us. Even when it
is ugly, literature is beautiful.
C. Definitions and opinions about Literature
"Literature is a way in which we can capture and interpret what has
happened and is happening to us personally and to the world as a
whole Matt Beachey
Literature is an excellent way to enrich our minds, and presents a way
to improve the world not only through the beauty of its presence but
through the ideas and tangible possibilities it possesses." Matt
Beachey
Literature is an art full of passion and heart; it transcends the ages —
Ryan McGinty
Now that you have read different definitions and opinions
about what literature is, provide your own definition!
ASSIGNMENT: Essay
YOUTUBE VIDEO
“ WHAT IS LITERATURE”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRvav7oyjTY
Listen and analyze the video and write a 10 lines essay
based on your understanding of the video. Use Font:
Arial, Size: 12.
D. Major Literary Genres
Genre typically refers to a category of works of literature that share
common form, technique, style, or content. The major genres in
literature are poetry, fiction, and drama. Each of these categories can
be further subdivided into what are known as sub-genres
Genre means class or type. If you've ever studied science, you know
another word for classifications, genus, from the same Latin root.
In the arts, genre classifications are usually related to characteristics of
style, form, and presentation. For example, fiction typically is read
silently, poetry read aloud, and drama performed on stage.
Poetry, fiction, and drama!
I.
Poetry
In the words of William Wordsworth, one of the greatest poets of all
time, all good poetry is a spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it
takes its origin from emotions recollected in tranquility. Poetry is a
beautiful manifestation of the spontaneous emotions of a poet. A poem
is created when emotions find the right words to express themselves. A
poem often begins in an abstract idea that is developed by means of
concrete words, without letting the idea lose its abstractness!
Poetry has a long history. The earliest forms of poetry were recited and
sung. With the passing years, it obtained a structured form that later
evolved into a free verse format. Poets dealing with different subjects
and presenting their ideas in different ways, gave rise to various kinds
of poetry.
Acrostic: In acrostic poems, the first letters of each line of the poem are
aligned vertically to form a word. Generally, the word formed thus, is
the subject of the poem.
Ballad: Ballads are narrative poems that are supposed to be sung. The
narrator usually starts with a dramatic scene and relates the narrative
with dialog and actions.
Cinquain: Cinquain poems are five lines long. They do not rhyme.
Concrete: In this kind of poetry, the topographical arrangement of
words supports the meaning conveyed by the poem. The poems form
a picture of the topic on which they are centered.
Couplet: It is a very simple form of a verse, which contains two rhyming
lines.
Diamante: This type of poetry is one of the simplest ones to write. The
first line of a diamante is a single word; the second line consists of two
adjectives describing that word, third line contains three words about
the subject while the fourth line contains four. The fifth line and the
lines that follow consist of a similar pattern of words describing the idea
opposite to the subject of the poem. It seems this kind of poetry writing
is simple and interesting. Doesn't it?
Dramatic Poetry: A drama that is written in the form of verses to be
recited or sung refers to the dramatic genre of poetry. This form of
poetry has evolved from Greek and Sanskrit literature.
Epic Poetry: This genre of poetry is a type of narrative literature that
narrates stories of mythological heroes. Homer's Iliad and Odyssey
and the great Indian epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana are a few of
the noteworthy examples of epic poetry.
Free Verse: Free verses refer to the different styles of poetry, wherein
the poems do not carry a specific meter. Free verses are a poet's
expressions, which are free from any rules or restrictions pertaining to
the rhyme schemes of the poem.
Haiku: It is an unrhymed form of poetry that is native to Japan. It
contains three sections that can be written in a single line, but are
written in three lines instead. The way it is broken into, is in essence
the poetic effect of this poetic form. This kind of poetry contains a
cutting word, which is known as a kireji and a season word, known as a
kigo.
Lyric Poetry: Lyric poetry is of a personal nature, wherein a poet
expresses his/her perceptions and ideas through poetry. Lyric poems
deal with subjects like love, peace, loss and grief. T. S. Eliot is one of
the prominent names in lyric poetry.
Narrative Poetry: This is a genre of poetry that involves story-telling
and is one of the very old forms of poetry. The content of these types
of poems is intended to appeal the masses. Ovid, William Langland,
Alexander Pope and Shakespeare are some of the notable figures in
the field of narrative poetry.
Nursery Rhymes: It is one of the most popular types of poetry,
especially a favorite of most of the kids. Nursery rhymes are short
poems written for children and are usually handed over from one
generation to another.
Ode: Originally developed by the Greek and Latin poets, Odes soon
began to appear in different cultures across the world. Odes possess a
formal poetic diction and deal with a variety of different subjects.
Sonnet: Derived from Occitan and Italian words meaning 'a little song',
Sonnet was originally a fourteen-line song that was based on a strict
rhyme scheme and structure. Shakespeare, who wrote 154 sonnets,
was one of the most important figures in the field of sonnets.
With this, we covered a detailed list of the most common different kind
of poetry as also the various genres of poetry.
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
Whenever you describe something by comparing it with something
else, you are using figurative language. Figurative language refers to
any language that goes beyond the literal meaning of words in order to
furnish new effects or fresh insights into an idea or a subject. It
requires you to use your imagination to figure out the author's
meaning. For example, if someone tells you that it is raining cats and
dogs, you know that there are not actually cats and dogs falling from
the sky. You know it really means that it is raining very hard. The most
common figures
of
speech are simile,
metaphor,
alliteration,
personification, Onomatopoeia, and hyperbole.
Simile
It refers to a figure of speech which involves a direct comparison
between two unlike things, usually with the words like or as. Example:
The muscles on his brawny arms are strong as iron bands.
Metaphor
A figure of speech which involves an implied comparison between two
relatively unlike things using a form of be. The comparison is not
announced by like or as. Example: The road was a ribbon of moonlight.
Alliteration
Repeated consonant sounds occurring at the beginning of words or
within words. Alliteration is used to create melody, establish mood, call
attention to important words, and point out similarities and contrasts.
Example: wide-eyed and wondering while we wait for others to waken.
Personification
A figure of speech which gives the qualities of a person to an animal,
an object, or an idea. It is a comparison which the author uses to show
something in an entirely new light, to communicate a certain feeling or
attitude towards it and to control the way a reader perceives it.
Example: a brave handsome brute fell with a creaking rending cry--the
author is giving a tree human qualities.
Onomatopoeia
The use of words that mimic sounds. They appeal to our sense of
hearing and they help bring a description to life. A string of syllables
the author has made up to represent the way a sound really sounds.
Example: Caarackle!
Hyperbole
An exaggerated statement used to heighten effect. It is not used to
mislead the reader, but to emphasize a point. Example: She’s said so
on several million occasions.
AFTER READING ACTIVITIES
1. In the space below, write a short paragraph about a topic of your choice, in two ways.
First write the paragraph without any imagery. Then rewrite the paragraph using imagery.
Which paragraph is more interesting? Why?
2. Read the descriptive words below that appeal to the senses. On the line beside
each word, write SI for sight, SM for smell, TO for touch, TA for taste, or H for
hearing. You may use a dictionary for help.
____ Aromatic
____ Bitter
____ Chartreuse
____ chattering
____ Dissonant
____ ebony
____ Fragrant
____ Iridescent
____ Melodious
____ Nubby
____ piquant
____ pungent
____ shrill
____ smooth
____ staccato
____ stark
____ tangy
____ velvety
____ vermilion
____ viscous
2. Write a short paragraph about a topic of your choice, in two ways. First write the
paragraph without any imagery. Then rewrite the paragraph using imagery. You should
call upon all five sentences to rewrite the paragraph. Which paragraph is more
interesting? Why?
3. Read the paragraph below. Notice the author’s use of imagery.
“The ground was rich brown and smelled of growing things. In the round, stone
encircled garden bed, flowers in a dizzying variety of colors waved in the gentle
breeze. Lydia trod upon the grassy, verdant pathway, pausing to look at a stand of
cheery yellow daylilies. Upon them shiny, red beetles swarmed, from stem to
petal”.
Instructions: On another sheet of paper, draw a picture, in color, of what the
paragraph describes. Compare your picture with that of a classmate. How do they
differ?
4. Based on what you previously read, name the "figure of speech" word that
matches its definition or the example given.
A series of words that begin with the same letter
______________________
Your eyes are diamonds.
______________________
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
______________________
We watched the BLIP on the computer monitor
______________________
Giving an non-human thing human qualities
______________________
A comparison of two unlike objects; USES LIKE or AS ______________________
a large exaggeration
______________________
There were a thousand people at my party
______________________
Your eyes are like diamonds
______________________
A comparison of two unlike objects; does NOT use LIKE or AS ________________
Does not mean exactly what it says; used to add color _____________________
Mrs. Thompson is the candy monster!
_____________________
Sara is a doll!
_____________________
Tara is so tired she could sleep for a year!
_____________________
Dawn is like an angel.
_____________________