English Through Literature

Why do we think literary texts are such a good language learning resource? It is a mine of language for us to exploit. It is a mine of language for us to exploit. Literature opens windows on the world. Literature opens windows on the world. Literature touches our lives as people. Literature touches our lives as people. Literature is all around us. Literature is all around us.

proverbs proverbs a proverb is a piece of ‘ folk wisdom ’ which has become crystallised as a fixed set of words a proverb is a piece of ‘ folk wisdom ’ which has become crystallised as a fixed set of words aphorisms aphorisms an aphorism is a clever or witty saying an aphorism is a clever or witty saying graffiti graffiti graffiti are slogans painted on walls graffiti are slogans painted on walls newspaper headlines newspaper headlines advertisements advertisements

The language of literature comparing things comparing things comparison seems to be a very important category within literature comparison seems to be a very important category within literature simile simile we call it a simile when one thing is compared with another, usually using the word like. we call it a simile when one thing is compared with another, usually using the word like. metaphor metaphor a metaphor is created when we make a direct comparison between one idea and another unrelated idea. a metaphor is created when we make a direct comparison between one idea and another unrelated idea.

Alliteration Alliteration alliteration occurs when the same consonant sound is repeated in words either next to or close to each other. alliteration occurs when the same consonant sound is repeated in words either next to or close to each other. Assonance Assonance Assonance refers to the repetition of similar vowel sounds close to each other. Assonance refers to the repetition of similar vowel sounds close to each other. Personification Personification Personification occurs when a non-animate object is given animate characteristics. Personification occurs when a non-animate object is given animate characteristics. Repetition Repetition At the level of repeated sounds, we find alliteration, assonance, and rhyme. At the level of repeated sounds, we find alliteration, assonance, and rhyme. Parallelism Parallelism When we have an identical structure repeated one or more times, we call that parallelism. When we have an identical structure repeated one or more times, we call that parallelism.

Irony (and sarcasm) Irony (and sarcasm) Irony occurs when a person ’ s words do not match their intention. Irony occurs when a person ’ s words do not match their intention. Sarcasm aims to hurt or humiliate the receiver; irony is no more than an amused comment. Sarcasm aims to hurt or humiliate the receiver; irony is no more than an amused comment. Puns and wordplay Puns and wordplay Foregrounding: All it means is ‘ making prominent ’ Foregrounding: All it means is ‘ making prominent ’ Word choice: General or specific Word choice: General or specific Collocation: Collocation: It simply means the words which a given word likes to be near. It simply means the words which a given word likes to be near. Degrees of formality Degrees of formality Patterns of sound in words Patterns of sound in words

Narrative and the short story Plot: what happens? Plot: what happens? Setting: where does it happen? Setting: where does it happen? Characters: who is involved? Characters: who is involved? Point of view: who is telling the story? Point of view: who is telling the story? Time structure: when does it happen? Time structure: when does it happen? Dialogue: how do the characters speak and what do they say? Dialogue: how do the characters speak and what do they say?

The shape of the story The opening The opening The development The development The climax or crisis point The climax or crisis point The anticlimax The anticlimax The coda The coda

Point of view A.first person narrative A.first person narrative b. third person narrative b. third person narrative c. third person narrative seen from only one of the characters ’ point of view c. third person narrative seen from only one of the characters ’ point of view d. third person narrative showing the same events from two or more different character ’ s points of view. d. third person narrative showing the same events from two or more different character ’ s points of view. e. third person omniscient narrative e. third person omniscient narrative

Time structure In linear stories, the action proceeds as in real time. In linear stories, the action proceeds as in real time. Flashback usually works by starting a story at a point in the recent past, Flashback usually works by starting a story at a point in the recent past, Moving point time structure is when the writer shifts abruptly back and forth between different time zones. Moving point time structure is when the writer shifts abruptly back and forth between different time zones.

Ernest Hemingway : Hills Like White Elephant, The Old Man and the Sea Ernest Hemingway : Hills Like White Elephant, The Old Man and the Sea John Steinbeck: The Pearl, The Wrath of Grapes John Steinbeck: The Pearl, The Wrath of Grapes Thomas Hardy : Mayor of Casterbridge, Tess of the D ’ Urbervilles Thomas Hardy : Mayor of Casterbridge, Tess of the D ’ Urbervilles Oscar Wilde : The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde : The Picture of Dorian Gray Charles Dickens : Great Expectations Charles Dickens : Great Expectations

Non-fiction Speeches Speeches The Gettysburg Address, I Have a Dream The Gettysburg Address, I Have a Dream Essays Essays Francis Bacon: The Essays Francis Bacon: The Essays

Types of poetry Lyrical poetry: to express strong emotional feelings Lyrical poetry: to express strong emotional feelings Narrative poetry: to tell a story Narrative poetry: to tell a story Elegides: to commemorate someone who has died. Elegides: to commemorate someone who has died. Confessional poetry: to explore the poet ’ s inner world and feelings Confessional poetry: to explore the poet ’ s inner world and feelings

Poetry of observation: to describe in perceptive ways an object or person Poetry of observation: to describe in perceptive ways an object or person Protest poetry: to criticize or protest against something or someone Protest poetry: to criticize or protest against something or someone Satirical poetry: to mock people or manners Satirical poetry: to mock people or manners Humorous or comic poetry: to amuse people and make them laugh Humorous or comic poetry: to amuse people and make them laugh

Poetic devices These devices include rhyme, rhythm, alliteration, assonance, personification, metaphor and simile, repetition, parallelism, irony, etc. These devices include rhyme, rhythm, alliteration, assonance, personification, metaphor and simile, repetition, parallelism, irony, etc.