FOUNDATIONAL PHILOSOPHIES OF LITERATURE

PURITANISM View of God: loving, powerful, just View of Man: sinful, helpless Basis: Bible Writing Goals: glorify God, instruct

NEOCLASSICISM View of God: benevolent clock-winder View of Man: rational, improving Basis: man’s reason Writing Goals: glorify man; persuade

ROMANTICISM View of God: force in nature View of Man: naturally good Basis: emotions Writing Goals: to entertain; art

REALISM/NATURALISM View of God: indifferent View of Man: rational animal Basis: fact, science Writing Goals: expose, record

MODERNISM/ POST-MODERNISM View of God: “dead”; inactive View of Man: slave to fate, trapped animal Basis: disbelief Writing Goals: express self, escape

Introduction to Conflict What is Conflict? 1. Struggle! 2. Origin— Garden of Eden 3. Good literature always has conflict.

Introduction to Conflict 3 Types: 1. man vs. a power greater than himself 2. man vs. man 3. man vs. himself Every good story goes beyond conflict and provides RESOLUTION—The conflict is resolved (or brought to an end) in some way.

Introduction to Conflict Different Types of Literature: 1. escape literature a. to entertain example—Treasure Island b. man vs. man c. used to teach a moral point

Introduction to Conflict 2. interpretive literature a. to make readers think, to teach, to make a statement example—“Through the Tunnel” b. man vs. greater power

Introduction to Conflict Types of Characters: 1. protagonist: central character 2. antagonist: opposing force

Introduction to Conflict ?’s to ask: 1. Who is the protagonist? 2. Who or what is the antagonist? 3. Is there more than one antagonist? 4. If so, which one becomes the dominant? 5. How is the conflict between them resolved?