Literature & Literary Analysis

Question 1

Literature, etymologically, is derived from the Latin word?

Answer 1

litaritura/litteratura meaning “writing formed with letters”

Question 2

a literary piece containing syllabication, rhythm

Answer 2

Poem

Question 3

contains words form into sentences then form into ideas

Answer 3

Prose

Question 4

a form of paper written with the objectives to analyze and break down a literary piece

Answer 4

Literary Analysis

Question 5

While summarizing is ______ necessary, the objective is not to write a summary of a story, but rather to ______ and _______ the literature

Answer 5

partially
examine
evaluate

Question 6

Things to consider when analyzing

Answer 6

Author’s Purpose
○ Conflicts
○ Themes
○ Characterizations

Question 7

Types of Conflicts

Answer 7

◆ Man vs. Self
◆ Man vs. Man
◆ Man vs. Nature
◆ Man vs. Society
◆ Man vs. Technology

Question 8

– 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

Answer 8

Man vs. Self

Question 9

a common type of conflict in which one character’s needs or wants are at odds with another’s

Answer 9

Man vs. Man

Question 10

when a character is set in opposition to nature

Answer 10

Man vs. Nature

Question 11

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

Answer 11

Man vs. Society

Question 12

when a character is in conflict with some kind of technology

Answer 12

Man vs. Technology

Question 13

Elements when analyzing Themes

Answer 13

◆ Figurative Language
◆ Point of View
◆ Symbolism
◆ Conflict

Question 14

How authors reveal characterization

Answer 14

◆ Thoughts
◆ Thought of others
◆ Dialogues
◆ Actions

Question 15

characters who are capable of changing in the story

Answer 15

Dynamic Characters

Question 16

characters who remain the same throughout the story

Answer 16

Static Characters

Question 17

a school of thought or style of literary analysis that gives readers a means to critique the ideas and principles of literature

Answer 17

Literary Theory

Question 18

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

Answer 18

Literary Theory

Question 19

other term for literary theory

Answer 19

Hermeneutics

Question 20

5 Approaches to Literary Criticism

Answer 20

● Cultural Studies
● Formalism
● Reader-response
● Psychoanalytic Criticism
● Deconstruction/Deconstructionism

Question 21

– the context of the setting towards the plot
– focuses on significant events, key figures, socio-cultural environment

Answer 21

Cultural Studies

Question 22

– caters the conventions of the language
– focuses on grammar & chromatics

Answer 22

Formalism

Question 23

compels readers to judge the artistic merit of literature by examining its formal
elements, like language and technical skill

Answer 23

Formalism

Question 24

favors a literary canon of works that exemplify the highest standards of literature, as determined by formalist critics

Answer 24

Formalism

Question 25

all about how the reader interprets the text

Answer 25

Reader-response

Question 26

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

Answer 26

Reader-response

Question 27

focuses on mind and behavior of the character and its effects to the plot

Answer 27

Psychoanalytic Criticism

Question 28

looks to the neuroses and psychological states of characters in literature to interpret a text’s meaning

Answer 28

Psychoanalytic Criticism

Question 29

uses Sigmund Freud’s principles of psychoanalysis

Answer 29

Psychoanalytic Criticism

Question 30

analyzes each argument within the literary text

Answer 30

Deconstruction/Deconstructionism

Question 31

deconstructing text to look for arguments and proposing a counterargument

Answer 31

Deconstruction/Deconstructionism

Question 32

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

Answer 32

Deconstruction/Deconstructionism

Question 33

Format of Literary Critique

Answer 33

● 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

Question 34

used to describe the conflict/problem faced by the character/subject

Answer 34

Beginning

Question 35

used to describe the climax or crisis reached by the character/subject

Answer 35

Middle

Question 36

used to resolve the conflict/problem and establish a theme

Answer 36

End

Question 37

9 Steps in Conducting a Basic Critique for Beginners

Answer 37

1. Read the literature carefully
2. Create a graphic organizer
3. Think about the literal meaning
4. Think about what the author might be suggesting about society or humanity
5. Form a thesis statement
6. Locate evidence in the literature to support your thesis
7. Make an outline
8. Write the essay
9. Revise the essay