Literary Analysis: Understanding Canons, Genres, and Critical Approaches - Prof. Janice Po, Study notes of English Language

Download Literary Analysis: Understanding Canons, Genres, and Critical Approaches - Prof. Janice Po and more Study notes English Language in PDF only on Docsity! 1. Define the following words: Canon- a group of works chosen to be studied for their literary merit. Genre- a type or category of something (short fiction, drama, fairy tale) 2. List three suggestions on how to read actively: a. Read three times. b. Find somewhere comfortable to read. c. Underline unfamiliar words. 3. List and briefly define five of the nine critical approaches to interpreting literature. a. Biographical criticism- connecting the author’s life to the writings. b. Psychological criticism- analyzing the behavior of the characters. c. Mythological criticism- connecting characters to mythological creatures. d. Historical criticism- studying the history of the time the book was written. e. Formalist criticism- writing just about literary elements. E.g. plot, irony 4. Answer fill-in-the-blank questions about the early beginning of the short story genre. Fairytales were the first stories to publish widely. The Printing Press changed the way stories were told. The earliest stories told were drawings on cave walls or papyrus. 5. Answer fill-in-blank short questions about how the short story genre became “American-ized.” 6. List three common characteristics of the fairy tale genre. a. Imaginary settings b. Imaginary events c. “Happily ever after” endings 7. List three changes made in the later versions of fairly tales. a. Violence increased. b. Pictures more colorful/elaborate c. Less text of page 8. List three traits of the modern children’s stories. a. More politically correct b. Less violence c. Much more multicultural 9. Name the two authors who are considered the “founders” of the American short story. a. Edgar Allen Poe b. Nathaniel Hawthorne 10. Draw and label the short story parts Exposition-End Orientation-Rising conflict-Climax-Resolution 11. Define “end orientation” End orientation- hint at the beginning of the story for how the story will end. 12. Name and define one point of view category (narration). First person- the telling of a story by a person who was involved in/directly observed the action. 13. Define three of the following: plot; theme; tone; style. Plot- is the sequence of events in a story and their relation to one another. Tone- a way authors convey their unstated attitudes toward their subjects as revealed in their literary style. Theme- generalization about the meaning of a story, poem, or play. 14. List and define the three types of story endings. a. Catharsis- purging of emotion b. Epiphany- realization c. Coup de’ gras- it ends suddenly 15. Define flat/round character OR static/dynamic character Static- is an unsurprising and unchanging character. Dynamic- is an often contradictory and changing in some way during the story. 16. Indentify the two forerunners of modern American poetry. a. Emily Dickenson b. Walt Whitman