Focus:

1. How to Usehttp://farrellela.pbworks.comfor Organizing ELA Notes, Research, Collaboration, and Writing Assignments Focus: Read and follow written multistep directions or procedures to accomplish a task or complete an assignment

2. What is literature?

3. Literary Genres

4. What is the difference between fiction and non-fiction?

5. What is Analysis? • Analyze/Analysis • Don't panic when your instructor tells you that you need to write an analysis! All he or she wants is for you to take something apart to see HOW it works. • To write an analysis, you need to think about how each part of something contributes to the success of the whole. • Caution! Make sure that you're NOT just summarizing the original article, story, novel, poem, etc. Go beyond simply telling us WHAT you are talking about: describe HOW and WHY its elements function. • Specific Information for Analyzing Literature • Summarizing = WHAT • Analyzing = HOW & WHY • When you think about analysis, try thinking about how you might analyze a car. • Ask yourself: What do we want the car to do or accomplish? • Answer: (minivan) “provide transportation for my family” • Analysis: how does each part of the van achieve this goal? • Example: gasoline powers the engine • Answer: (sports car) “speed, agility, and style” • Analysis: how does each part of the sports car achieve this goal? • Example: light-weight construction enables speed

7. How to Start • Understanding Your Assignment • Strong papers begin with good planning, and good planning begins with an understanding of the task at hand. If I do not understand my assignment, how can I be expected to execute it properly? The following is a series of steps to help you understand the textual clues within an assignment and apply those towards creating a successful paper. • 1)READ YOUR ASSIGNMENT COMPLETELY! • 2)RE-READ YOUR ASSIGNMENT COMPLETELY! Be sure to ask your teacher for clarification if you still need help! The only way you can know for sure is to ask! • 3)BREAK IT UP! Break up the assignment into simpler, smaller pieces. • 4)ORGANIZE! Create formal or informal outlines. • 5)WRITE! Create a narrowed thesis, and structure a formal introduction to set the tone for your paper.

8. What is Literary Analysis? Literary Analysis: Using Elements of Literature Students are asked to write literary analysis essays because this type of assignment encourages you to think about how and why a poem, short story, novel, or play was written. To successfully analyze literature, you’ll need to remember that authors make specific choices for particular reasons. Your essay should point out the author’s choices and attempt to explain their significance. Another way to look at a literary analysis is to consider a piece of literature from your own perspective. Rather than thinking about the author’s intentions, you can develop an argument based on any single term (or combination of terms) listed below. You’ll just need to use the original text to defend and explain your argument to the reader.

9. Setting • SETTING -- The time and location in which a story takes place is called the setting. For some stories the setting is very important, while for others it is not. There are several aspects of a story's setting to consider when examining how setting contributes to a story (some, or all, may be present in a story): • a) place - geographical location. Where is the action of the story taking place? • b) time - When is the story taking place? (historical period, time of day, year, etc) • c) weather conditions - Is it rainy, sunny, stormy, etc? • d) social conditions - What is the daily life of the characters like? Does the story contain local colour (writing that focuses on the speech, dress, mannerisms, customs, etc. of a particular place)? • e) mood or atmosphere - What feeling is created at the beginning of the story? Is it bright and cheerful or dark and frightening?

10. Plot • PLOT -- The plot is how the author arranges events to develop his basic idea; It is the sequence of events in a story or play. The plot is a planned, logical series of events having a beginning, middle, and end. The short story usually has one plot so it can be read in one sitting. There are five essential parts of plot: • a) Introduction - The beginning of the story where the characters and the setting is revealed. • b) Rising Action - This is where the events in the story become complicated and the conflict in the story is revealed (events between the introduction and climax). • c) Climax - This is the highest point of interest and the turning point of the story. The reader wonders what will happen next; will the conflict be resolved or not? • d) Falling action - The events and complications begin to resolve themselves. The reader knows what has happened next and if the conflict was resolved or not (events between climax and denouement). • e) Denouement - This is the final outcome or untangling of events in the story. • It is helpful to consider climax as a three-fold phenomenon: 1) the main character receives new information 2) accepts this information (realizes it but does not necessarily agree with it) 3) acts on this information (makes a choice that will determine whether or not he/she gains his objective).

11. Theme • THEME -- The theme in a piece of fiction is its controlling idea or its central insight. It is the author's underlying meaning or main idea that he is trying to convey. The theme may be the author's thoughts about a topic or view of human nature. The title of the short story usually points to what the writer is saying and he may use various figures of speech to emphasize his theme, such as: symbol, allusion, simile, metaphor, hyperbole, or irony. • Some simple examples of common themes from literature, TV, and film are: • - things are not always as they appear to be • - Love is blind • - Believe in yourself • - People are afraid of change • - Don't judge a book by its cover

12. Conflict • CONFLICT-- Conflict is essential to plot. Without conflict there is no plot. It is the opposition of forces which ties one incident to another and makes the plot move. Conflict is not merely limited to open arguments, rather it is any form of opposition that faces the main character. Within a short story there may be only one central struggle, or there may be one dominant struggle with many minor ones. • There are two types of conflict: • 1) External - A struggle with a force outside one's self. • 2) Internal - A struggle within one's self; a person must make some decision, overcome pain, quiet their temper, resist an urge, etc. • There are four kinds of conflict: • 1) Man vs. Man (physical) - The leading character struggles with his physical strength against other men, forces of nature, or animals. • 2) Man vs. Circumstances (classical) - The leading character struggles against fate, or the circumstances of life facing him/her. • 3) Man vs. Society (social) - The leading character struggles against ideas, practices, or customs of other people. • 4) Man vs. Himself/Herself (psychological) - The leading character struggles with himself/herself; with his/her own soul, ideas of right or wrong, physical limitations, choices, etc.

13. Character • CHARACTER -- There are two meanings for the word character: • 1) The person in a work of fiction. • 2) The characteristics of a person. • Persons in a work of fiction - Antagonist and Protagonist • Short stories use few characters. One character is clearly central to the story with all major events having some importance to this character - he/she is the PROTAGONIST. The opposer of the main character is called the ANTAGONIST. • The Characteristics of a Person - • In order for a story to seem real to the reader its characters must seem real. Characterization is the information the author gives the reader about the characters themselves. The author may reveal a character in several ways: • a) his/her physical appearance • b) what he/she says, thinks, feels and dreams • c) what he/she does or does not do • d) what others say about him/her and how others react to him/her • Characters are convincing if they are: consistent, motivated, and life-like (resemble real people) • Characters are... • 1. Individual - round, many sided and complex personalities. • 2. Developing - dynamic, many sided personalities that change, for better or worse, by the end of the story. • 3. Static - Stereotype, have one or two characteristics that never change and are emphasized e.g. brilliant detective, drunk, scrooge, cruel stepmother, etc.

14. Point-of-view • POINT OF VIEW • Point of view, or p.o.v., is defined as the angle from which the story is told. • 1. Innocent Eye - The story is told through the eyes of a child (his/her judgment being different from that of an adult) . • 2. Stream of Consciousness - The story is told so that the reader feels as if they are inside the head of one character and knows all their thoughts and reactions. • 3. First Person - The story is told by the protagonist or one of the characters who interacts closely with the protagonist or other characters (using pronouns I, me, we, etc). The reader sees the story through this person's eyes as he/she experiences it and only knows what he/she knows or feels. • 4. Omniscient- The author can narrate the story using the omniscient point of view. He can move from character to character, event to event, having free access to the thoughts, feelings and motivations of his characters and he introduces information where and when he chooses. There are two main types of omniscient point of view: • a) Omniscient Limited - The author tells the story in third person (using pronouns they, she, he, it, etc). We know only what the character knows and what the author allows him/her to tell us. We can see the thoughts and feelings of characters if the author chooses to reveal them to us. • b) Omniscient Objective – The author tells the story in the third person. It appears as though a camera is following the characters, going anywhere, and recording only what is seen and heard. There is no comment on the characters or their thoughts. No interpretations are offered. The reader is placed in the position of spectator without the author there to explain. The reader has to interpret events on his own.

15. Literary Analysis Cont… • Allegory - narrative form in which the characters are representative of some larger humanistic trait (i.e. greed, vanity, or bravery) and attempt to convey some larger lesson or meaning to life. Although allegory was originally and traditionally character based, modern allegories tend to parallel story and theme. • William Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily- the decline of the Old South • Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde- man’s struggle to contain his inner primal instincts • District 9- South African Apartheid • X Men- the evils of prejudice • Harry Potter- the dangers of seeking “racial purity” • Character - representation of a person, place, or thing performing traditionally human activities or functions in a work of fiction • Protagonist - The character the story revolves around. • Antagonist - A character or force that opposes the protagonist. • Minor character - Often provides support and illuminates the protagonist. • Static character - A character that remains the same. • Dynamic character - A character that changes in some important way. • Characterization - The choices an author makes to reveal a character’s personality, such as appearance, actions, dialogue, and motivations. • Look for: Connections, links, and clues between and about characters. Ask yourself what the function and significance of each character is. Make this determination based upon the character's history, what the reader is told (and not told), and what other characters say about themselves and others.

16. Diction - word choice that both conveys and emphasizes the meaning or theme of a poem through distinctions in sound, look, rhythm, syllable, letters, and definition Figurative language - the use of words to express meaning beyond the literal meaning of the words themselves Metaphor - contrasting to seemingly unalike things to enhance the meaning of a situation or theme without using like or as You are the sunshine of my life. Simile - contrasting to seemingly unalike things to enhance the meaning of a situation or theme using like or as What happens to a dream deferred, does it dry up like a raisin in the sun Hyperbole - exaggeration I have a million things to do today. Personification - giving non-human objects human characteristics America has thrown her hat into the ring, and will be joining forces with the British. Foot - grouping of stressed and unstressed syllables used in line or poem Iamb - unstressed syllable followed by stressed Made famous by the Shakespearian sonnet, closest to the natural rhythm of human speech How do I love thee? Let me count the ways Spondee - stressed stressed Used to add emphasis and break up monotonous rhythm Blood boil, mind-meld, well- loved Trochee - stressed unstressed Often used in children’s rhymes and to help with memorization, gives poem a hurried feeling While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, Anapest - unstressed unstressed stressed Often used in longer poems or “rhymed stories” Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house Dactyls - stressed unstressed unstressed Often used in classical Greek or Latin text, later revived by the Romantics, then again by the Beatles, often thought to create a heartbeat or pulse in a poem Picture yourself in a boat on a river, With tangerine trees and marmalade skies. The iamb stumbles through my books; trochees rush and tumble; while anapest runs like a hurrying brook; dactyls are stately and classical. Literary Analysis Cont… • Connotation - implied meaning of word. BEWARE! Connotations can change over time. • confidence/ arrogance • mouse/ rat • cautious/ scared • curious/ nosey • frugal/ cheap • Denotation - dictionary definition of a word • Diction - word choice that both conveys and emphasizes the meaning or theme of a poem through distinctions in sound, look, rhythm, syllable, letters, and definition • Figurative language - the use of words to express meaning beyond the literal meaning of the words themselves • Metaphor - contrasting to seemingly unalike things to enhance the meaning of a situation or theme without using like or as • You are the sunshine of my life. • Simile - contrasting to seemingly unalike things to enhance the meaning of a situation or theme using like or as • What happens to a dream deferred, does it dry up like a raisin in the sun • Hyperbole - exaggeration • I have a million things to do today. • Personification - giving non-human objects human characteristics • America has thrown her hat into the ring, and will be joining forces with the British.

17. Diction - word choice that both conveys and emphasizes the meaning or theme of a poem through distinctions in sound, look, rhythm, syllable, letters, and definition Figurative language - the use of words to express meaning beyond the literal meaning of the words themselves Metaphor - contrasting to seemingly unalike things to enhance the meaning of a situation or theme without using like or as You are the sunshine of my life. Simile - contrasting to seemingly unalike things to enhance the meaning of a situation or theme using like or as What happens to a dream deferred, does it dry up like a raisin in the sun Hyperbole - exaggeration I have a million things to do today. Personification - giving non-human objects human characteristics America has thrown her hat into the ring, and will be joining forces with the British. Foot - grouping of stressed and unstressed syllables used in line or poem Iamb - unstressed syllable followed by stressed Made famous by the Shakespearian sonnet, closest to the natural rhythm of human speech How do I love thee? Let me count the ways Spondee - stressed stressed Used to add emphasis and break up monotonous rhythm Blood boil, mind-meld, well- loved Trochee - stressed unstressed Often used in children’s rhymes and to help with memorization, gives poem a hurried feeling While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, Anapest - unstressed unstressed stressed Often used in longer poems or “rhymed stories” Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house Dactyls - stressed unstressed unstressed Often used in classical Greek or Latin text, later revived by the Romantics, then again by the Beatles, often thought to create a heartbeat or pulse in a poem Picture yourself in a boat on a river, With tangerine trees and marmalade skies. The iamb stumbles through my books; trochees rush and tumble; while anapest runs like a hurrying brook; dactyls are stately and classical. Literary Analysis Cont… • Foot - grouping of stressed and unstressed syllables used in line or poem • Iamb - unstressed syllable followed by stressed • Made famous by the Shakespearian sonnet, closest to the natural rhythm of human speech • How do I love thee? Let me count the ways • Spondee - stressed stressed • Used to add emphasis and break up monotonous rhythm • Blood boil, mind-meld, well- loved • Trochee - stressed unstressed • Often used in children’s rhymes and to help with memorization, gives poem a hurried feeling • While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, • Anapest - unstressed unstressed stressed • Often used in longer poems or “rhymed stories” • Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house • Dactyls - stressed unstressed unstressed • Often used in classical Greek or Latin text, later revived by the Romantics, then again by the Beatles, often thought to create a heartbeat or pulse in a poem • Picture yourself in a boat on a river, • With tangerine trees and marmalade skies. • The iamb stumbles through my books; trochees rush and tumble; while anapest runs like a hurrying brook; dactyls are stately and classical.

18. Diction - word choice that both conveys and emphasizes the meaning or theme of a poem through distinctions in sound, look, rhythm, syllable, letters, and definition Figurative language - the use of words to express meaning beyond the literal meaning of the words themselves Metaphor - contrasting to seemingly unalike things to enhance the meaning of a situation or theme without using like or as You are the sunshine of my life. Simile - contrasting to seemingly unalike things to enhance the meaning of a situation or theme using like or as What happens to a dream deferred, does it dry up like a raisin in the sun Hyperbole - exaggeration I have a million things to do today. Personification - giving non-human objects human characteristics America has thrown her hat into the ring, and will be joining forces with the British. Foot - grouping of stressed and unstressed syllables used in line or poem Iamb - unstressed syllable followed by stressed Made famous by the Shakespearian sonnet, closest to the natural rhythm of human speech How do I love thee? Let me count the ways Spondee - stressed stressed Used to add emphasis and break up monotonous rhythm Blood boil, mind-meld, well- loved Trochee - stressed unstressed Often used in children’s rhymes and to help with memorization, gives poem a hurried feeling While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, Anapest - unstressed unstressed stressed Often used in longer poems or “rhymed stories” Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house Dactyls - stressed unstressed unstressed Often used in classical Greek or Latin text, later revived by the Romantics, then again by the Beatles, often thought to create a heartbeat or pulse in a poem Picture yourself in a boat on a river, With tangerine trees and marmalade skies. The iamb stumbles through my books; trochees rush and tumble; while anapest runs like a hurrying brook; dactyls are stately and classical. Literary Analysis Cont… • Imagery - the author’s attempt to create a mental picture (or reference point) in the mind of the reader. Remember, though the most immediate forms of imagery are visual, strong and effective imagery can be used to invoke an emotional, sensational (taste, touch, smell etc) or even physical response. • Meter - measure or structuring of rhythm in a poem • Plot - the arrangement of ideas and/or incidents that make up a story Foreshadowing - When the writer clues the reader in to something that will eventually occur in the story; it may be explicit (obvious) or implied (disguised). • Suspense - The tension that the author uses to create a feeling of discomfort about the unknown • Conflict - Struggle between opposing forces. • Exposition - Background information regarding the setting, characters, plot. • Rising Action - The process the story follows as it builds to its main conflict • Crisis - A significant turning point in the story that determines how it must end • Resolution/Denouement - The way the story turns out. • Point of View - pertains to who tells the story and how it is told. The point of view of a story can sometimes indirectly establish the author's intentions. • Narrator - The person telling the story who may or may not be a character in the story. • First-person - Narrator participates in action but sometimes has limited knowledge/vision. • Second person - Narrator addresses the reader directly as though she is part of the story. (i.e. “You walk into your bedroom. You see clutter everywhere and…”) • Third Person (Objective) - Narrator is unnamed/unidentified (a detached observer). Does not assume character's perspective and is not a character in the story. The narrator reports on events and lets the reader supply the meaning. • Omniscient - All-knowing narrator (multiple perspectives). The narrator knows what each character is thinking and feeling, not just what they are doing throughout the story. This type of narrator usually jumps around within the text, following one character for a few pages or chapters, and then switching to another character for a few pages, chapters, etc. Omniscient narrators also sometimes step out of a particular character’s mind to evaluate him or her in some meaningful way.

19. How to interpret literature • Rhythm - often thought of as a poem’s timing. Rhythm is the juxtaposition of stressed and unstressed beats in a poem, and is often used to give the reader a lens through which to move through the work. (See meter and foot) • Setting - the place or location of the action. The setting provides the historical and cultural context for characters. It often can symbolize the emotional state of characters. Example – In Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher, the crumbling old mansion reflects the decaying state of both the family and the narrator’s mind. We also see this type of emphasis on setting in Thomas Mann’s Death in Venice. • Speaker - the person delivering the poem. Remember, a poem does not have to have a speaker, and the speaker and the poet are not necessarily one in the same. • Structure (fiction) - The way that the writer arranges the plot of a story. • Look for: Repeated elements in action, gesture, dialogue, description, as well as shifts in direction, focus, time, place, etc. • Structure (poetry) - The pattern of organization of a poem. For example, a Shakespearean sonnet is a 14-line poem written in iambic pentameter. Because the sonnet is strictly constrained, it is considered a closed or fixed form. An open or free form poem has looser form, or perhaps one of the author’s invention, but it is important to remember that these poems are not necessarily formless.

20. Interpreting literature • Symbolism - when an object is meant to be representative of something or an idea greater than the object itself. • Cross - representative of Christ or Christianity • Bald Eagle - America or Patriotism • Owl - wisdom or knowledge • Yellow - implies cowardice or rot • Tone - the implied attitude towards the subject of the poem. Is it hopeful, pessimistic, dreary, worried? A poet conveys tone by combining all of the elements listed above to create a precise impression on the reader.