ROAD TO BETTER ANALYSIS OF LITERARY WORKS

ROAD TO BETTER ANALYSIS OF LITERARY WORKS

INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE: THE ROAD TO FULL UNDERSTANDING AND ANALYSIS OF LITERARY WORKS

INTRODUCTION.
This is the aspect that is intended to introduce students to the ways or various techniques of analysing various works of art. It is not possible for students to jump directly to the analysis of books especially literary works. These are the items that should be discussed by the teacher and students before starting to analyse various literary texts.
For a teacher to fully teach Appreciation of Literary Works, he/she must equip the students with the following important ideas in literature:

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Definitions of literature
The teacher should guide students to discuss various definitions of literature and how these definitions share some aspects in common. Read More  

Origin and Development of Literature.
In this aspect, a teacher guides students to brainstorm and discuss the origin of literature as a term and as a discipline/ subject of study. Read More

Importance of Language in Literature.
In this aspect, students and a teacher brainstorm and discuss about the importance of language in literature. A teacher guides students to understand more on how literature and language co exists. Read More

Functions of Literature.
These purposes of literature are very important for the students. When they learn these, they understand that literature is created for the sake of human beings. They can now realize that literature has nothing to do with animals but with real people like themselves. Read More

TYPES OF LITERATURE
The teacher to discuss various types of literature with students.
Oral literature:
To guide them define and discuss kinds of oral literature and how they are important in the society. Read Here
Written Literature:
Teacher to guide students to define written literature and discuss the forms of written literature. Read Here

COMMON ELEMENTS OF ANY LITERARY WORK
In literature, there are main important elements or features of narratives. These features are common to most literary narratives. They are important features because they used by many literary writers in creating literary works.
The following are the important elements/features of any literary work:
(i)                 Plot. This refers to the series of events which form a story. To identify the plot, find the main events in the story, arrange them in chronological order, and then write them out as a brief paragraph.
(ii)               Conflict. This is a situation in the story where thoughts, ideas, actions, events, decisions, or characters disagree or cause misunderstanding or disagreement.
(iii)             Characterization. This is the writer’s process of creating characters in the story. This also involves identifying the characters in a story and analysing their physical, emotional, and psychological traits. A character is a person in a story. Or a character may be defined as the representation of persons. Characters have personalities which distinguish one fictional person from another. Even when the characters are animals, they almost invariably represent human beings or exhibit human attributes.
(iv)             Setting. This is the time, place and social conditions in which a story takes place.
(v)               Theme. This is the main idea or ideas in a story. This is also a statement or the basic idea expressed by a work of literature. The theme develops from interplay of characters and plots. A theme may be broken up into several themes of ideas.
(vi)             Language. This is the way a writer uses words to create literature. It stems from choice of words, how these words are structured or arranged, and writer’s point of view to the application of figurative language.
Almost every literary work includes six or more elements shown above.
As you read a story you need to remember these features to be able to analyse the story. Pay attention to the events as they are developing within the story. At the end of your reading, write brief notes on each of the features outlined above.

FORM AND CONTENT
These terms are very crucial in analysing literary texts. A teacher should guide students to discuss about the elements of form and those elements of content. These elements are combined together when analysing various literary works.
Thus, any literary work can be analysed in terms of looking at form and content as well:

Elements of Form
Language.
Style.
Characters.
Setting.
Plot.

Elements of Content
Conflict.
Theme.
Message.
Moral lesson.
Philosophy of the writer.
For more on the Diagram of Elements of Literature and More Click here

CONCLUSION
When the students have experienced the actual reading of a literary work, now they can discuss more elements of literature so as to make them aware of more elements of literary works other than characters, setting, and plot.
Mastering these literary concepts paves the way to the comprehensive analysis and fuller understanding of literary works. The next sub topic will be about Identifying Characters, Setting, and Plot of the literary works. Thus, having mastered all the necessary concepts, students can now be given an activity under guided reading and analyse the techniques at hand.
The next topic has almost 20 periods which may take up to three weeks. Within this period of time, a teacher and students can discuss these concepts and analyse the works of art.
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Check out how to Study & Teach other Form Three Sub Topics in this Blog!

Related Topics:

Also check out:
Form I Sub topics, at FORM I SYLLABUS TOPICS REVIEW
Form II Sub topics, at FORM II SYLLABUS TOPICS REVIEW
Form IV Sub topics, at FORM IV SYLLABUS TOPICS REVIEW  

For more on Literature Topics, check out Literature in English Blog
For how to be professional keeper of your Diary in Kiswahili or English, check out My Diary

For Form IV NECTA Examination Sections, check out ELABORATED CSEE NECTA EXAMINATION SECTIONS


References.
  1. Abrahams, M.H (1971) A Glossary of Literary Terms, Holt, Rinehart and Winston Inc. New York.
  2. Daniel, K et al (ed.) (2003) Elements of Literature: Fourth Course with Readings in World Literature; Florida Edition, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Austin.
  3. Daniel, K et al (ed.) (2003) Elements of Literature: Sixth Course; Literature of Britain with World Classics; Florida Edition, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Austin.
  4. Kinsella, K et al (2003) Prentice Hall Literature: Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes; Copper Level, Pearson, Upper Saddle River.
  5. http://www.storyboardthat.com/teacher-guide/the-lightning-thief-by-rick-riordan



Emmanuel Kachele

Emmanuel Kachele is a founder and Blogger of KACHELE ONLINE Blog, an educational blog where 'O' Level English - 'OLE', 'A' Level English (ALE) and other related teaching and life skills are shared extensively. This is an online center for all Tanzanian Secondary School English Language students and teachers (Forms I-VI) and all interested English Language learners and teachers worldwide.

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