WHY LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE ARE IMPORTANT

I. Why we study Language A.We use language to communicate to each other and to express how we feel. B.In the study of language, essentially, we study ourselves. C.Words are our history, our history is preserved through our stories A.We use language to communicate to each other and to express how we feel. B.In the study of language, essentially, we study ourselves. C.Words are our history, our history is preserved through our stories

II. How do we do this? A.We listen to and tell stories, as well as read and write them. B.We also tend to act them out and we enjoy watching a story unfold. (theater, movies, video games, songs, camp fire stories, etc.) A.We listen to and tell stories, as well as read and write them. B.We also tend to act them out and we enjoy watching a story unfold. (theater, movies, video games, songs, camp fire stories, etc.)

III. What does it look like? A.To learn from stories, we must ask ourselves about its origins, the author, what time period it might be written in. B.There are 5 key elements that we look for within a story to help us determine the true meaning and origin (Setting, Symbols, Characters, Conflicts, Themes) A.To learn from stories, we must ask ourselves about its origins, the author, what time period it might be written in. B.There are 5 key elements that we look for within a story to help us determine the true meaning and origin (Setting, Symbols, Characters, Conflicts, Themes)

1.We look at the SETTING of a story, meaning its location, time period, and atmosphere or feel of the environment. a. Setting helps us determine when the story was written and under what circumstances, if any b.How does setting do this? What technology are the people using? What are there living conditions like? Do they have a government? Is the location real? Are the people real? 1.We look at the SETTING of a story, meaning its location, time period, and atmosphere or feel of the environment. a. Setting helps us determine when the story was written and under what circumstances, if any b.How does setting do this? What technology are the people using? What are there living conditions like? Do they have a government? Is the location real? Are the people real?

What can you infer from the setting of this picture?

2.We try to find SYMBOLS that reveal hidden meanings. a. Symbols are a person, place, thing, or event that stands for itself (literal) and for something beyond itself (figurative) 2.We try to find SYMBOLS that reveal hidden meanings. a. Symbols are a person, place, thing, or event that stands for itself (literal) and for something beyond itself (figurative) We investigate symbols in order to find the true intention of the author’s words

Grammar Warm-Up Copy this in your notes Using what we learned yesterday, determine which sentence is a compound sentence and correctly place a comma in the sentences that require one. 1.Y/N: Janie enjoys walking with her dogs or relaxing at a swimming pool. 2.Y/N: Steven wants to join a gym but he doesn’t want to pay the fees. 3.Y/N: Erica and Tom decided it was too hot to play golf so they went to a movie.

Janie enjoys walking with her dogs or relaxing at a swimming pool. Is this a compound sentence? NO! Why? Janie enjoys walking with her dogs. This part is a complete sentence. There is a subject, verb, and complete thought. BUT… Relaxing at the pool. This is NOT a complete sentence. There is no subject. Who is relaxing at the pool? NO COMMA NEEDED!

Steven wants to join a gym but he doesn’t want to pay the fees.. Is this a compound sentence? YES! Why? Steven wants to join a gym. Who? Steven What? Wants Thought? to join a gym This is a complete sentence. It has a subject, verb, and complete thought. He doesn’t want to pay the fees. Who? He What? Doesn’t want Thought? To pay fees, The comma goes here!

Erica and Tom decided it was too hot to play golf so they went to the movies. Is this a compound sentence? YES! Why? Erica and Tom decided it was too hot to play golf. Who? Erica and Tom What? Decided Thought? It was too hot to play golf This is a complete sentence. It has a subject, verb, and complete thought. They went to a movie. Who? They What? Went Thought? Went to a movie, The comma goes here!

3.We look at the CHARACTERS and wonder about their personality and motivation or simply, why they do what they do. (heroes, villains, sidekicks, etc.) a.Round: a character that has depth (“more than meets the eye”) b.Flat: a character with no depth c.Dynamic: a character that changes during the tale d.Static: a character that does not undergo change

4.From these characters, naturally a CONFLICT arises. a. Conflict is a struggle or clash between opposing characters, forces, or emotions b.Internal: conflict that takes place solely within a single character’s mind, thoughts, or emotion (Man v. Self) c.External: conflict that takes place in the outside world, between more than one character, force, or emotion (Man v. Man, Man v. Nature, Man v. Society) 4.From these characters, naturally a CONFLICT arises. a. Conflict is a struggle or clash between opposing characters, forces, or emotions b.Internal: conflict that takes place solely within a single character’s mind, thoughts, or emotion (Man v. Self) c.External: conflict that takes place in the outside world, between more than one character, force, or emotion (Man v. Man, Man v. Nature, Man v. Society)

5.Through the study of all of this, THEMES emerge a. Theme: Idea or insight revealed by a work of literature. It is the message the writer wishes us to discover about that subject. b.The author uses setting, symbols, characters, and conflict to present the theme c. A theme is NOT a one word concept, like LOVE. A theme is expressed as a sentence: LOVE HAS THE POWER TO TRANSFORM A PERSON. 5.Through the study of all of this, THEMES emerge a. Theme: Idea or insight revealed by a work of literature. It is the message the writer wishes us to discover about that subject. b.The author uses setting, symbols, characters, and conflict to present the theme c. A theme is NOT a one word concept, like LOVE. A theme is expressed as a sentence: LOVE HAS THE POWER TO TRANSFORM A PERSON.

IV. Why are themes important? A.We find common themes in many stories. B.If we are communicating through telling our own stories and reading others, we are finding out that we have many things in common. C.We share many of the same experiences and emotions as we react to the experience of life. D.Themes transcend culture, tradition, and time periods. They speak to who WE are as a species, and connect all of us. A.We find common themes in many stories. B.If we are communicating through telling our own stories and reading others, we are finding out that we have many things in common. C.We share many of the same experiences and emotions as we react to the experience of life. D.Themes transcend culture, tradition, and time periods. They speak to who WE are as a species, and connect all of us.

V. Why is it important to study World Literature? A.First, what do we all have in common? What is the most basic common denominator? We are all human. B.By the study of stories from all over the world, crossing cultures and time periods, we find the things we have in common. These things tell us about ourselves, the essentials of being human. C.Science cannot explain everything; we have to wonder and try to explain the rest. This may be why we feel this need to tell stories. A.First, what do we all have in common? What is the most basic common denominator? We are all human. B.By the study of stories from all over the world, crossing cultures and time periods, we find the things we have in common. These things tell us about ourselves, the essentials of being human. C.Science cannot explain everything; we have to wonder and try to explain the rest. This may be why we feel this need to tell stories.

VI. What kind of stories do we start with? A.The first stories are called Myths. B.These are stories about beginnings, an attempt to explain mysteries. C.Like what? Why and how the world was created, why people die, why not everything is perfect. Questions that do not have definite answers. D.A similar type of story is the folktale. These are usually told for entertainment, but have been known to teach a moral lesson. A.The first stories are called Myths. B.These are stories about beginnings, an attempt to explain mysteries. C.Like what? Why and how the world was created, why people die, why not everything is perfect. Questions that do not have definite answers. D.A similar type of story is the folktale. These are usually told for entertainment, but have been known to teach a moral lesson.

VII. Why are these important in every world culture? A.These stories give a culture its identity, traditions, and a name. Greece = The Iliad, The Odyssey Rome = The Aeneid China = Romance of the Three Kingdoms England = Beowulf Italy = The Divine Comedy Japan = The Tale of Genji Babylon = Epic of Gilgamesh Persia = One Thousand and One Nights Germany = Nibelungenlied France = The Song of Roland Egypt = Story of Sinuhe Africa = Epic of Sundiata