Lesson One: Review of Concept

Five Reasons to Study Literature1

Studying literature enables the student to immerse into the world of words and gain
several bene ts

1. Literature improves communication skills. The easiest way to improve vocabulary,

writing, and speaking skills is to study literature. While reading American literature or classic
British literature, your children will absorb the words, grammar, and style of the author. Without
realizing it, they'll learn from the best " John Bunyan, William Blake, William Wordsworth, Lord
Byron, John Keats, Robert Browning, and the like. New words will be added to their vocabulary
and they'll express themselves with a style that will also improve their writing and composition
skills.

2. Literature teaches you about yourself. Since people think and feel the same as they did
hundreds of years ago, the lessons learned from the characters and stories of yesteryear remains
applicable to life today. Literature is full of human reactions that help children understand the
nature and condition of the human heart. Poems, essays, diaries, and narratives bridge the gap of
time as children explore another's message and lessons on life. As they respond to these lessons
from the past, they become more aware of today's problems.

3. Literature teaches about the past. Just as history records the past, literature also re ects
mankind at any point in time. Civic and historical knowledge is revealed and children gain a
perspective of other cultures and their viewpoints. History comes alive in imagination and
thought as they combine literature's portrayals of past events with ordinary lives

4. Literature entertains. Although we live in a technological age, reading American literature

classics is still fun. The characters, stories, and language in classic literature engages the mind,
upgrades leisure time, and transports children from enjoying the mediocre to embracing the
excellent.

1 Verbatim from https://www.aop.com/blog/ ve-reasons-to-study-literature

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 5. Literature cultivates wisdom and a worldview. Issues of the world are connected to the
emotions of the heart and good principles are formed when reading the classics. Children gain
discernment as they view what is healthy and destructive in the world. Good and evil, injustice
and its consequences all challenge them to make changes in society. Literature also plays a large
role in the development a nation's identity. The early Greek youths learned morals and political
ideologies from the epics of Homer. Likewise, the abolishment of slavery in America's early
history had more to do with Uncle Tom's Cabin than a politician's speech. Literature also helps
children develop community pride and respect for other cultures

Review of Literary Genre

A genre may be described as a group of books with a similar theme or style, but it is important
to note that the boundaries between genres are often blurred2. Genres of literature are important to
learn about. The two main categories separating the different genres of literature are ction and
non ction. There are several genres of literature that fall under the non ction category. Non ction sits
in direct opposition to ction3.

FICTION

Drama Stories composed in verse or prose, usually for theatrical performance, where
con icts and emotion are expressed through dialogue and action

Fable Narration demonstrating a useful truth, especially in which animals speak as

humans; legendary, supernatural tale.

Fairy Tale Story about fairies or other magical creatures, usually for children.

Fantasy Fiction with strange or other worldly settings or characters; ction which invites
suspension of reality.

Fiction Narrative literary works whose content is produced by the imagination and is not
necessarily based on fact.

Fiction in Verse Full-length novels with plot, subplot(s), theme(s), major and minor characters, in
which the narrative is presented in (usually blank) verse form.

Folklore The songs, stories, myths, and proverbs of a people or "folk" as handed down by
word of mouth.

Historical Fiction Story with ctional characters and events in a historical setting.

2 https://resource.acu.edu.au/acuskills/critlit/2_1.html
3 http://genreso iterature.com
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 Horror Fiction in which events evoke a feeling of dread in both the characters and the reader.

Humor Fiction full of fun, fancy, and excitement, meant to entertain; but can be contained in
all genres

Legend Story, sometimes of a national or folk hero, which has a basis in fact but also includes
imaginative material.

Mythology Legend or traditional narrative, often based in part on historical events, that reveals
human behavior and natural phenomena by its symbolism; often pertaining to the
actions of the gods.

Poetry Verse and rhythmic writing with imagery that creates emotional responses.

Realistic Fiction Story that can actually happen and is true to life.

Science Fiction Story based on impact of actual, imagined, or potential science, usually set in the
future or on other planets.

Short Story Fiction of such brevity that it supports no subplots.

Tall Tale Humorous story with blatant exaggerations, swaggering heroes who do the
impossible with nonchalance.

NON-FICTION

Biography/ Narrative of a person's life, a true story about a real person.

Autobiography

Essay A short literary composition that re ects the author's outlook or point.

Narrative Non ction Factual information presented in a format which tells a story.

Non- ction/ Non- Informational text dealing with an actual, real-life subject.
literary Text

Speech Public address or discourse.

Review of Literary Devices4

Literary Devices refers to the typical structures used by writers in their works to convey his or
her message(s) in a simple manner to his or her readers.  When employed properly, the different
literary devices help readers to appreciate, interpret and analyze a literary work. Literary Devices
have two aspects. They can be treated as either Literary Elements or Literary Techniques. It will be

4 https://literarydevices.net/literary-devices/
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 convenient to de ne them separately. Literary Elements have an inherent existence in literary piece
and are extensively employed by writers to develop a literary piece e.g. plot, setting, narrative
structure, characters, mood, theme, moral etc. Writers simply cannot create his desired work without
including Literary Elements in a thoroughly professional manner. Literary Techniques, on the contrary,
are structures usually a word s or phrases in literary texts that writers employ to achieve not merely
artistic ends but also readers a greater understanding and appreciation of their literary works.
Examples are:  metaphor, simile, alliteration, hyperbole, allegory etc. In contrast to Literary Elements,
Literary Techniques are not unavoidable aspect of literary works.
COMMON LITERARY ELEMENTS

Plot It is the logical sequence of events that develops a story.

Setting It refers to the time and place in which a story takes place.

Protagonist It is the main character of story, novel or a play

Antagonist It is the character in con ict with the protagonist

Narrator The person who tells the story

Narrative Method The manner in which a narrative is presented comprising plot and setting

Dialogue Where characters of a narrative speak to one another

Con ict It is an issue in the narrative around which the story revolves

Mood General atmosphere of the narrative

Theme It is the central idea or concept of a story

**5
COMMON LITERARY TECHNIQUES

Literary De nition Example

Technique

Imagery It is the use of gurative language to create visual The room was dark and gloomy
representations of action to appeal to our physical The river was roaring in the
senses. mountains.

5 https://literarydevices.net/literary-devices/
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 Simile and Both compare two distinct objects and draws My love is like a red red rose.
Metaphor similarity between them. The difference is that (Simile
similar uses “as” or “like” while metaphor does not. He is an old fox—very cunning.
(Metaphor)

Hyperbole It is deliberate exaggeration of actions and ideas for Your bag weighs a ton!
the sake of emphasis. I’ve got a million issues to look
after.

Personi cation It gives a thing, an idea or an animal human qualities. Flowers dance beside the lake.

Alliteration It refers to the same consonant sounds in words Claire closed her cluttered closet
coming together. …where they will not be judged
by the color or their skin but by
the content of their character.

Allegory It is a literary technique in which an abstract idea is The Animal Farm—a story by
given a form of characters, actions, or events George Orwell—is an allegory
using the actions of animals on a
farm to represent the overthrow of
the last of the Russian Tsar and the
Communist Revolution of Russia
before WW2.

Irony It is the use of the words in such a way in which the The bread is soft as a stone.
intended meaning is completely opposite of the literal
meaning.

In general, the literary devices are a collection of universal artistic structures that are so typical of all
works of literature frequently employed by the writers to give meanings and a logical framework to
their works through language.  When such works are read by readers, they ultimately recognize and
appreciate them. Because of their universality, they also allow the readers to compare a work of one
writer to that of the other to determine its worth. They not only beautify the piece of literature but
also give deeper meanings to it, testing the very understanding of the readers along with providing
them enjoyment of reading. Besides, they help motivating readers’ imagination to visualize the
characters and scenes more clearly.
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