Literature & Literary Analysis Flashcards
Literature, etymologically, is derived from the Latin word?
litaritura/litteratura meaning “writing formed with letters”
a literary piece containing syllabication, rhythm
Poem
contains words form into sentences then form into ideas
Prose
a form of paper written with the objectives to analyze and break down a literary piece
Literary Analysis
While summarizing is ______ necessary, the objective is not to write a summary of a story, but rather to ______ and _______ the literature
partially
examine
evaluate
Things to consider when analyzing
Author’s Purpose
○ Conflicts
○ Themes
○ Characterizations
Types of Conflicts
◆ Man vs. Self
◆ Man vs. Man
◆ Man vs. Nature
◆ Man vs. Society
◆ Man vs. Technology
– an internal conflict, meaning that the opposition the character faces is coming from within
– may entail a struggle to discern what the moral or “right” choice is, or it may also encompass mental health struggles
Man vs. Self
a common type of conflict in which one character’s needs or wants are at odds with another’s
Man vs. Man
when a character is set in opposition to nature
Man vs. Nature
an external conflict that occurs in literature when the protagonist is placed in opposition with society, the government, or a cultural tradition or societal norm of some kind
Man vs. Society
when a character is in conflict with some kind of technology
Man vs. Technology
Elements when analyzing Themes
◆ Figurative Language
◆ Point of View
◆ Symbolism
◆ Conflict
How authors reveal characterization
◆ Thoughts
◆ Thought of others
◆ Dialogues
◆ Actions
characters who are capable of changing in the story
Dynamic Characters
characters who remain the same throughout the story
Static Characters
a school of thought or style of literary analysis that gives readers a means to critique the ideas and principles of literature
Literary Theory
examines a cross section of literature from a specific era, geographic location, or from writers of specific backgrounds or identities to draw conclusions about the similarities and differences in similar kinds of literary works
Literary Theory
other term for literary theory
Hermeneutics
5 Approaches to Literary Criticism
● Cultural Studies
● Formalism
● Reader-response
● Psychoanalytic Criticism
● Deconstruction/Deconstructionism
– the context of the setting towards the plot
– focuses on significant events, key figures, socio-cultural environment
Cultural Studies
– caters the conventions of the language
– focuses on grammar & chromatics
Formalism
compels readers to judge the artistic merit of literature by examining its formal
elements, like language and technical skill
Formalism
favors a literary canon of works that exemplify the highest standards of literature, as determined by formalist critics
Formalism
all about how the reader interprets the text
Reader-response
rooted in the belief that a reader’s reaction to or interpretation of a text is as valuable a source of critical study as the text itself
Reader-response
focuses on mind and behavior of the character and its effects to the plot
Psychoanalytic Criticism
looks to the neuroses and psychological states of characters in literature to interpret a text’s meaning
Psychoanalytic Criticism
uses Sigmund Freud’s principles of psychoanalysis
Psychoanalytic Criticism
analyzes each argument within the literary text
Deconstruction/Deconstructionism
deconstructing text to look for arguments and proposing a counterargument
Deconstruction/Deconstructionism
proposed by Jacques Derrida, the picking apart of a text’s ideas or arguments to look for contradictions that render any singular reading of a text impossible
Deconstruction/Deconstructionism
Format of Literary Critique
● Meaning of the Story (Interpretation)
○ Identify the theme(s) and how the author announces it
○ Explain how the story elements contribute to the theme
○ Identify contextual elements (allusions, symbols, other devices) that point beyond the story to the author’s life/experience, history or to other writings
used to describe the conflict/problem faced by the character/subject
Beginning
used to describe the climax or crisis reached by the character/subject
Middle
used to resolve the conflict/problem and establish a theme
End
9 Steps in Conducting a Basic Critique for Beginners
- Read the literature carefully
- Create a graphic organizer
- Think about the literal meaning
- Think about what the author might be suggesting about society or humanity
- Form a thesis statement
- Locate evidence in the literature to support your thesis
- Make an outline
- Write the essay
- Revise the essay
