Understanding Literature March 2, 2013 Li Baojie SDU

Functions of Reading Reading for escape Many literary works can either detach ourselves from this world, or transport us into a miraculous new world of imagination. Examples of the kind include Moby Dick, Leatherstocking Tales, “ Sleepy Hollow ” and “ Rip Van Winkle ”.

Reading to learn Literature provides readers knowledge in the form of information. The readers can learn about the world and people distant from their their own in the author ’ s re-created world. Examples are ample. The Scarlet Letter The Last of the Mohicans Moby Dick Sleepy Hollow

Reading to confront experiences Literature is a comprehensive reflection of human experiences. Literary characters offer us immediate access to a wide range of human experiences that we might never know otherwise. Sense of identification as evidence of the confrontation Ficiton and history

Reading for aesthetic pleasure “ A thing of beauty is a joy forever ” (John Keats) Reading provides an aesthetic pleasure of observing goodcraftsmanship, such as well- chosen words and pleasurable forms, especially in poetry. Sensual stimulus cause a sense of pleasure similar to what we respond to paintings, architectures and music

Literary Criticism Meaning of the term: Literary criticism is nothing more or less than an attempt to clarify, explain, and evaluate our experience with a given literary work. It is a method of learning about literature, and the more we learn about how to approach a literary work, the more likely we gain appreciation and satisfaction from the reading.

Literary criticism is an inevitable result of reading process. Academic criticism is the act of reflecting on, organizing, and articulating our response to a given literary work.

Fiction Broad definition: It refers to any narrative, in prose or verse, that is wholly or in part the product of the imagination. Genres: Short story, novel, play, narrative poem, folktale, parable, fable, legend, allegory, satire and romance.

Relationship between fiction and real life This has been a much-disputed topic ever since the classical times. Reliability of the narration has been a focus of study, especially in the post-modernist perspective of literary studies. “ Author is dead ” Eg. Fictional autonbiography, autobiography and biography

Significance of ficiotnal writing Communication Exposure Self-expression Inspiration (for others)

Bscis Elements Plot and its elements 1. exposition 5. resolution 2 3. crisis 4 2. complication 4. Falling action

Characters Characters are more than people we know in everyday life since fiction offers us access to the internals of figures, so that we can learn about human happiness, goodness, hope, doubt, sorrow, despair, loneliness, hatred, desire and greed.

Protagonist and antagonist Hero, heroine or villain Flat characters and round characters Reliable narrative and unreliable narative

Society and history Literature as a representation, a mirror to reflect history and society. History with the similar function as a form of narrative (in the perspective of new-historicism) Hsitorical works (Shakespearean historical palys, James Fenimore Cooper ’ s Leatherstocing Tales, 19 th century literature by women writers)