Literature

Definition

Literature is a form of art that uses language as a medium of expression. It encompasses different types of written and spoken works, including poems, dramas, short stories, and novels. Literature explores themes and ideas that may have a personal, cultural, social, or political significance.

Key Concepts

• Genre: Refers to the category or type of literature. Common genres include fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, and prose.
• Narrative: The way a story is told, including the plot, characters, setting, and conflict.
• Theme: The underlying idea or message explored in a literary work.
• Symbolism: The use of symbols to represent abstract ideas or concepts.
• Imagery: The use of descriptive language to create a mental picture in the reader's mind.

Literary Devices

• Metaphor: A figure of speech that compares two unlike things without using like or as.
• Simile: A figure of speech that compares two unlike things using like or as.
• Personification: A figure of speech that gives human-like qualities to non-living things.
• Allusion: A reference to a well-known person, place, event, or artwork in literature.
• Irony: A literary technique that creates a contrast between expectation and reality.

Importance of Literature

• Expands our understanding of ourselves, others and the world around us
• Develops critical thinking skills
• Enhances communication skills
• Provides a means of escapism and entertainment
• Raises social awareness and empathy

Takeaways

• Literature involves written and spoken works that explore personal, cultural, social, or political themes and ideas.
• Key concepts include genre, narrative, theme, symbolism, and imagery.
• Literary devices such as metaphor, simile, personification, allusion, and irony add depth and meaning in literature.
• Literature expands our understanding of ourselves, others, and the world. It also develops critical thinking and communication skills and provides a means of escapism and entertainment.

Literature Study Guide

Welcome to the Literature Study Guide! The following information will help you better understand how to approach reading and analyzing works of literature.

Reading Strategies

Here are some helpful reading strategies to employ when reading literature:

• Close reading: This involves reading a text multiple times and taking detailed notes on important elements such as character development, plot, themes, and symbolism.
• Active reading: In order to engage with a text, actively reading involves making connections, asking questions, and making predictions.
• Contextual reading: This means understanding the historical and social context that a work was written in, in order to better understand the author’s intentions and perspectives.

Literary Elements and Devices

It’s important to be familiar with common literary elements and devices that are used in literature, including:

• Plot: The sequence of events that occur in a story.
• Character: The individuals in a story, including the protagonist, antagonist and supporting characters.
• Setting: The time and place in which a story takes place.
• Theme: The central idea, message or meaning of a story.
• Symbolism: The use of objects, characters, or actions to represent abstract ideas or qualities.
• Style: The way in which an author writes, including their use of language, sentence structure and tone.

Literary Genres

There are several different genres of literature to be aware of, including:

• Poetry: A form of literary expression that emphasizes the use of language and verse to evoke emotions and responses from the reader.
• Prose: A form of writing that lacks the rhythmic or poetic structure of verse, such as novels, short stories, and essays.
• Drama: A form of literature that is meant to be performed in front of an audience.
• Nonfiction: Writing that is based on facts, real events, and real people.
• Fiction: Writing that is based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact.

Literary Analysis

When analyzing a work of literature, it’s important to consider different elements and perspectives, including:

• Historical context: Understanding the historical and social context that a work was written in.
• Author’s background: Considering the author’s life experiences, beliefs and cultural background can add insight into the work.
• Reader response: Analyzing your own response to the work can provide insight into its significance and meaning for you.
• Critical theory: Examining the work from different critical perspectives, such as feminist or Marxist criticism, can provide a deeper understanding of the meaning and symbolism of the work.

Conclusion

By following these strategies and considering the literary elements, genres and analysis approaches mentioned in this guide, you should be well-equipped to approach and better understand works of literature. Happy reading!

Literature Practice Sheet

Short Answer

1. What is the difference between point of view and perspective?
2. Name three literary devices commonly used in poetry.
3. Explain the difference between dynamic and static characters.
4. What is the difference between a tragedy and a comedy?
5. What is the importance of setting in literature?
6. Define symbolism in literature.
7. How does theme differ from plot?
8. What is foreshadowing and how is it used in literature?
9. What is the difference between omniscient and limited point of view?
10. In literature, what is the purpose of conflict?

Short Essay

1. Discuss the significance of the title in a literary work.
2. What is the meaning behind the following quote from Shakespeare's Hamlet: To be, or not to be: that is the question?
3. Explain the use of metaphor in John Donne's poem The Flea.
4. Compare and contrast the writing styles of American authors Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald.
5. Analyze the role of women in Shakespeare's plays.
6. What makes a literary work a classic? Provide examples to support your answer.

Long Essay

Choose one of the following prompts and write a well-developed essay.

1. Analyze the use of symbolism in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter.
2. Discuss the themes of love and death in Emily Dickinson's poetry.
3. Explain the role of the narrator in Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment.
4. How does the setting impact the characters and their actions in William Faulkner's A Rose for Emily?
5. Compare and contrast the Romanticism and Realism literary movements.

Sample Practice Problem

Analyzing a Literary Text

The following is an excerpt from a literary text:

The sun shone brightly in the sky, and the birds sang joyfully in the trees.

Step 1: Identify the Literary Devices

The literary devices used in this excerpt are personification and imagery. Personification is used to give human qualities to the sun and the birds, and imagery is used to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind.

Step 2: Analyze the Purpose

The purpose of this excerpt is to create a peaceful and pleasant atmosphere. The use of personification and imagery helps to create a sense of joy and serenity.

Practice Problems

1. Read the following excerpt from a literary text and identify the literary devices used:

The wind howled and the branches of the trees creaked in the night.

Answer: The literary devices used in this excerpt are personification and imagery. Personification is used to give human qualities to the wind, and imagery is used to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind.

1. Read the following excerpt from a literary text and analyze the purpose:

The thunder roared and the lightning flashed across the sky.

Answer: The purpose of this excerpt is to create a sense of danger and suspense. The use of personification and imagery helps to create a sense of fear and tension.

College Literature Practice Sheet

Part I: Analyzing Literary Texts

1. What is the central theme of the text?
2. How does the author present the theme through the use of literary devices?
3. What is the author's purpose in writing the text?
4. What is the tone of the text?
5. How does the author use figurative language to convey the theme?
6. What is the narrative structure of the text?
7. How does the author use characterization to develop the theme?
8. What is the overall message of the text?

Part II: Writing about Literary Texts

1. How does the text reflect the values and attitudes of its time period?
2. How does the text relate to other works by the same author?
3. How does the text reflect the author's style and technique?
4. How is the text relevant to modern readers?
5. What is the significance of the text in terms of its literary genre?
6. What is the overall impact of the text?
7. How does the text contribute to the development of the literary canon?
8. What is the lasting legacy of the text?

Literature Quiz

Test your knowledge and insight about Literature with this challenging quiz.

1. Simile: A comparison between two unlike things using the words “like” or “as”. Its purpose is to make a comparison that is easier to understand.
2. Alliteration: The repetition of the same sound at the beginning of two or more words in a phrase or sentence. Its purpose is to create a rhythm or emphasize certain words.| |What is the difference between a theme and a motif?|A theme is a central idea or message in a work of literature, while a motif is a recurring element that helps to reinforce the theme.| |What is the purpose of a protagonist in a work of literature?|The protagonist is the main character in a work of literature and is typically the hero of the story. The purpose of the protagonist is to drive the plot forward and to evoke an emotional response from the reader.| |What is the difference between a tragedy and a comedy?|A tragedy is a work of literature that typically involves the downfall of the protagonist, while a comedy is a work of literature that typically involves humorous situations and happy endings.| |Name three elements of a plot and explain their purpose.|1. Exposition: The introduction of the setting, characters, and the main conflict of the story. Its purpose is to provide the reader with the necessary information to understand the story.
3. Rising Action: The events that lead up to the climax of the story. Its purpose is to create suspense and tension.
4. Resolution: The conclusion of the story. Its purpose is to provide closure and resolution to the story.| |What is the difference between an allegory and a parable?|An allegory is a story with a symbolic meaning, while a parable is a short story that is meant to teach a moral lesson.| |What is the definition of irony?|Irony is a literary device that involves an incongruity between what is expected and what actually occurs.| |What is the difference between a soliloquy and a monologue?|A soliloquy is a speech given by a character in a play that reveals their inner thoughts and feelings, while a monologue is a speech given by a character to another character or characters.| |What is the purpose of a foil character?|A foil character is a character that is used to contrast with the protagonist in order to emphasize certain qualities or traits. Its purpose is to highlight the differences between the protagonist and the foil character.|