Foundations of Literature Student Learning Map Notes

Concept 1: Oral Tradition LEQs 1.Who was Homer? 2.How did the oral tradition affect culture and literature? Concept Words – Oral Tradition – Oral History – Folklore – Myth – Fables – Homeric Question

The Homeric Question The Homeric Question concerns the doubts and consequent debate over the identity of Homer, the authorship of the Iliad and Odyssey, and their historicity. HomerIliad Odyssey – No much is known about Homer – He is believed to have been a blind man living in Asia Minor

Oral Tradition Oral tradition, oral culture and oral lore are messages or testimony transmitted orally from one generation to another

Oral History History communicated through oral means – Telling stories to create historical tradition

Folklore Folklore is the body of expressive culture, including tales, music, dance, legends, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, customs, and so forth within a particular population comprising the traditions (including oral traditions) of that culture, subculture, or groupculturemusicdancelegendsoral historyproverbsjokespopular beliefstraditionsoral traditions subculturegroup – EXAMPLE: Native folk dancing

Myth A traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, esp. one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature. – EX: Creation Stories

Fable A story with a moral lesson that utilizes animals as the subjects of the tale – Three Little Pigs – The Three Bears

Concept 2: Biblical Texts LEQs 1.What is the Bible? 2.How has the Bible influenced subsequent literature? Concept Words – Allusions – Symbolism – Figures of Speech – Metaphors – Imagery

Allusions Hints or references to something (usually historical in nature) – O’Henry alludes to the Bible in The Gift of the Magi because he uses the main characters to symbolize the wise men.

Symbolism the practice of representing things by symbols, or of investing things with a symbolic meaning or character. – American flag symbolizes freedom – “W” icon symbolizes Microsoft Word ©

Figures of Speech Any expressive use of language, as a metaphor, simile, personification, or antithesis, in which words are used in other than their literal sense, or in other than their ordinary locutions, in order to suggest a picture or image or for other special effect. – “It’s raining cats and dogs!” – “Her eyes were as blue as the ocean”

Metaphor a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance, as in – “A mighty fortress is our God.” – “She was a diamond in the rough.” – “Love is a battlefield.”

Diction Word Choice – Using “antithesis” instead of “opposite” – Using “halted” instead of “stop” – Using “content” instead of “okay”

Imagery figurative description or illustration; rhetorical images collectively. – Sensory Imagery – utilizes diction to appeal to all five senses

Concept 3: Parables and Allegories LEQs – What is a “tragic hero?” – What is the role of parables and allegories in literature? Concept Words – Tragic Hero – Hubris – Parable – Allegory – Theme – Moral

Tragic Hero a literary character who makes an error of judgment or has a fatal flaw that, combined with fate and external forces, brings on a tragedy – Romeo

Hubris Excessive pride or self-confidence; arrogance – Often times the fatal flaw of a tragic hero

Allegory A representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material forms; figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another. – The Wizard of Oz

Wizard of Oz Allegory for Political Systems of 1890’s Dorothy represents the blue collar workers led astray Cyclone represents a political revolution Wicked Witch of the East – represents big corporations on the East coast of the U.S. Tinman represents dehumanized industrial workers, badly mistreated by the Wicked Witch of the East

Parable A short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson. – Biblical parables – Little Red Riding Hood

Concept 4: World Literature LEQs – What are didactic works? – How has ancient literature affected modern literature? Concept Words – Didactic – Anecdotes – Aphorism

Didactic Teaching or intending to teach a moral lesson. – Much like a parable, except didactic works mostly refer to poetry

Anecdote A short account of a particular incident or event of an interesting or amusing nature, often biographical. – Joke

Aphorism a terse saying embodying a general truth, or astute observation, as – “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” (Lord Acton). – "Sits he on ever so high a throne, a man still sits on his bottom.“ (Montaigne) – "If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got.“ ("Moms" Mabley)