Understanding Literature The Reading and Writing Program At Western New England College

 Imagine living your life with no mirror or reflecting pool.

 Not only would you never know when you were having a bad hair day…  You would only understand yourself from one limited perspective.

 In the same way that a mirror shows you something important about yourself,  Literature reflects the great themes of human life… Good Evil Life Death Right Wrong Love Hate

 Usually we encounter literature on the page, but the stage, podium, and screen are other possible venues.

Basic Elements  Literature is built around several key elements. It is important to understand these elements, if you are going to appreciate the texts you’re reading.  Point of View – the perspective from which a story is observed and told  Symbol – an object that represents an abstraction (Doves symbolize peace.)  Theme – the main idea

Basic Elements  Tone – the overall mood  Setting – the geographical, historical, and social location  Plot – the sequence of events and action

 Often it takes more than one encounter with literature to make us appreciate its value, especially when we are reading.  Reading is challenging because it requires an active mind.

Read Actively  Consider the title carefully. Titles usually provide basic information about a text.  Here are some examples:  Bonfire of the Vanities  My Antonía  The Waste Land  The Inferno

How to Read Actively  Mark unfamiliar words and expressions, and look them up in a dictionary or reference resource.  Keep track of your feelings and responses to the text.  Label key passages.  Ask questions while you are reading.

How to Read Actively  List themes, insights, and key quotations.  Underline important ideas or passages that you don’t understand.  Make connections between related ideas or expressions.  Summarize the action or main ideas.

Annotating a Text  If you follow the guidelines for active reading, you will create an annotation of the text.  Annotations serve as a guide and help you uncover key themes and questions for writing assignments.

 Don’t let your cultural biases or beliefs destroy your objective approach to the text.  Be open to new ways of looking at the world.

And Remember…  Reading literature will teach you many things about yourself and the world around you.