English 300: Introduction to Literature

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English 300 Introduction to Literature

• Prof. Mercedes Torres
• Lesson1 Introduction to Literary Terms

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Literature Websites to visit

• 1. www.bartleyby.com
• 2. http//xroads.virginia.edu/HYPER
• 3.www.bedfordstmartins.com/literature/bedlit/gloss
  ary_a.htm
• 4. www.virtualsalt.com/rhetoric.htm
• 5.http//www.leeds.ac.uk/classics/resources/poetic
  s/poettran.htm

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Literature Websites to visit

• 6. www.favoritepoems.org
• 7. www.poetry.org
• 8. www.poets.org
• 9. www.theatlantic.com/unbound/
• 10. www.webster.com
• 11. www.loc.gov/
• 12.http//www.bibliomania.com/0/0/frameset.html

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Exploration Activity 1

• Think about the concept of literature. What words
  or phrases come to your mind? List at least five.
• What different types of literature pieces are you
  familiar with?
• Ex drama Romeo and Juliet
  poetry Death Be Not Proud
• short stories The Cask of Amontillado
  

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Exploration Activity 1

• Why are these selections significant?
• How would you describe the relationship between
  the reader and the writer?
• Prepare a concept map of term Literature.

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Concept Map

• Literature

is
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Concepts in Literature
Literature
Genres
Genres
Fiction
Essay
Poetry
Drama
Short story
Novel
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Examining the concept of literature

• Literature is a form of expression through
  writing which leads us in a journey of feelings
  and imagination. It releases emotions, opinions,
  and criticism by means of different forms of
  literature such as poetry, stories, plays.
• Literature is like a tree, in each branch we find
  different things that support and embrace one
  another.
• Definition presented by
• Jennifer Rivera, Jose Pacheco, Yesenia Cruz,
  Valerie Maldonado

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Examining the concept of literature

• Literature is an evolved piece of writing that
  captivates the reading and writing world.
• Definition presented by
• Emmanuel, Jaime, Betzaida, Jessica
• Literature is an art form that presents
  knowledge, feelings, experiences and imagination
  through the use of poems, novels, drama, and
  short stories.
• Definition presented by
• Angela Morales, Ana Santiago, Luz Melendez Joel
  Quintana

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Examining the concept of literature

• Literature is a unique development of writing
  that is different from all other writings because
  it involves expressions, inspiration, thought,
  feelings, knowledge and imagination for the
  readers.
• It is classified as poetry, drama, short stories
  and other forms that provide recreation,
  exploration, pleasure and understanding to the
  reader.
• Definition prepared by
• Jazmin Plaza, Ann Chamorro, Federico Ortiz, Luis
  Ramirez

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Chapter 1 The Bases of Literature

• Important terms
• Literature
• Interpretation
• Plot
• Character
• Action
• Emotion
• Unity

• Important terms
• Coherence
• Inevitability
• Language
• Questions of fact
• Questions of interpretation
• Message
• Meaning
• Didactic

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Concept Map

• Literature

derives pleasure from
writer
reader
Masters the craft of writing
Escape (value) Imitate life
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Definitions

• Literature is an art that allows the both the
  writer and the reader to derive pleasure. Its
  sources of pleasure derive from
• The writers ability to master the craft of
  writing.
• The readers ability to escape from his/her
  present circumstances, but to foresee the
  imitation of life.

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Important Elementsin Literature

• The readers judgment is based on
• Interpretation medium of words
• The writer must consider
• Plot action
• Character emotion
• Unity characters have performed the actions they
  were supposed to
• Coherence the actions could reasonably have
  taken place

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Important Elementsin Literature

• The writer must consider
• Language the words must fit the action and the
  character
• Questions of fact answers can be found without
  argument
• Questions of Interpretation the artistic vision
  underlying the piece of literature
• Theme
• Pattern
• Message
• meaning

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Important Elementsin Literature

• Didactic meaning or message must teach
  something a lesson to be learned from the
  experience

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Definitions

• Literature A collection of writings in prose or
  verse
• Genre is a French word meaning kind or type. The
  major genres in literature are poetry, fiction,
  drama, and essays. Genre can also refer to more
  specific types of literature such as comedy,
  tragedy, epic poetry, or science fiction"
  (Meyer).

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Definitions

• Poetry is writing in verse
• Narrative Fiction Narrative is the recounting of
  a succession of events. The word fiction comes
  from Latin fingere, to fashion or form, and
  refers to something made up. Fiction today is
  usually narrative, but it can be either verse or
  prose. The two most common modern forms of prose
  fiction are the short story and the novel.

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Definitions

• Drama is the literary form designed for the
  theater, in which the representation is by actors
  who impersonate the characters and perform the
  action and dialogues.
• Essay comes from the French word essai which
  means attempt or try. The writer in an essay
  tries to communicate his or her point of view
  on a subject.

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Definitions

• Affective theory or affective fallacy is the
  erroneous practice of interpreting texts
  according to the psychological or emotional
  responses of readers, confusing the text with its
  results.
• Imitative theory seeks to evaluate literature as
  an imitation or representation of life.
• Expressive theory or expressive criticism gushes
  about how well an author expressed or conveyed
  him or herself, his or her visions and feelings.

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Definitions

• Style is a characteristic manner of expression
  in prose or verse-it is how a speaker or writer
  says whatever he says. The style of work is
  analyzed in terms of
• Diction choice of words

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Definitions

• Grammar The study of how words and their
  component parts combine to form sentences.
• The study of structural relationships in language
  or in a language, sometimes including
  pronunciation, meaning, and linguistic history.

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Definitions

• Syntax the study of how words are organized in a
  sentence
• The study of the rules whereby words or other
  elements of sentence structure are combined to
  form grammatical sentences.
• The pattern of formation of sentences or phrases
  in a language.

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Definitions

• Tone The attitudes to the subject matter and to
  the audience implied in a discourse or literary
  piece.
• Formal
• Intimate
• Solemn
• Playful

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Definitions

• Theme the concept embodied in the structure and
  imagery of a literary work. The doctrine that
  underlies the literary piece.

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Definitions

• Irony is a mode of speech in which the implied
  attitudes or evaluation are opposed to those
  literally expressed.

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References

• Abrahams, M.H. A Glossary of Literary Terms. New
  York Rinehart Company
• Landy, A. (2000). Introduction to Literature. New
  York Houghton Mifflin