• In academic circles, this decoding of the text is often carried out through the use of literary theory, using a mythological, psychological, cultural, historical, or other approach.
"But why can't I go?" Karen wailed. "Everyone else is going. You never let me go anywhere!" You just don't want me to grow up and have fun!" Karen wheeled around and stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind her.
What is novel ?
• Novel is a fictional piece of prose usually written in a narrative style. Novels tell stories, which are typically defined as a series of events described in a sequence.
• Effects of Setting- Creates atmosphere, gives
insight to characters, and provides connections to other aspects of the story.
Example of Setting
Jane Eyre
behavior; describing the reactions of other characters
to the individual; revealing the character’s thoughts and
feelings
Examples of Characterization I
How do we interpret and evaluate literature?
• we may discover meaning in literature by looking at what the author says and how he/she says it. We may interpret the author's message.
a story as a narrative of events arranged in their time sequence. (A plot is also a narrative of events, the emphasis falling on causality. )
III.
Character & Characterization
Research Methods and Thesis WritingLiterature
Ways to Understand and Interpret the Novel
Whe?
• Literature represents a language or a people: culture and tradition. But, literature is more important than just a historical or cultural artifact. Literature introduces us to new worlds of experience.
• Character refers to one of the persons in the story– the end result of the author’s effort to create a fictional personality.
• Characterization refers to The method an author uses to acquaint the reader with his or her characters.
• She really ought to get up, she thought. Sally was coming over at eleven. Maybe she should make some sandwiches so they could eat out in the backyard. Mrs. Henley was taking them to the beach in the afternoon. She should finish that letter to Peggy...maybe she would tonight...if she remembered...and if she had time.
• Formula: • Patterns:
The Precritical Response
• Ⅰ. Setting • Ⅱ. Plot • Ⅲ. Character • Ⅳ. Theme • Ⅴ. Symbolism • VI. Point of View
I. Setting
• Definition: Setting is the time and place in which the events of a narrative occur. The major elements of setting are the time, the place, and the social environment that frames the characters.
Methods of Characterization:
There are four methods of characterization: describing the character’s appearance; reporting the character’s speech and
II. Plot
• Simply speaking, plot is the arrangement of the events or actions in a story into a causal relationship.
• “The king died and then the queen died.” • In Aspects of the Novel, E.M Foster defined
1. What is Joanie’s relationship to Karen? 2. What do you learn about Karen from Joanie’s comments?
Examples of Characterization IV
• The sunlight trickled between the slates of the bamboo blinds. Karen stretched luxuriously, pleasantly aware of the tingling sensation in her muscles.
☆ Setting (time) - Early decades of the 19th century. ☆ Setting (place) - The novel is structured around five
separate locations, all supposedly in northern England: 1. The Reed family's home at Gateshead, 2. The wretched Lowood School, 3. Rochester's manor house Thornfield, 4. The Rivers family's home at Moor House, 5. Rochester's rural retreat at Ferndean.
Karen was small for her age and inclined to plumpness. Her blue eyes viewed the people and events around her with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. She was not a woman, but she was past being a child; too sophisticated for toys, she might still, on impulse, turn a somersault (翻筋斗) on the living rug.
I've known Karen for a long time, ever since first grade. We've been best friends since last year. I like her because...well, I guess it's because she is always so happy and sure of herself and she's good at things like baseball, and swimming and painting and stuff." Joanie paused, then added, "Everybody at school likes her."
1. What does Karen reveal about her personality in this speech? 2. What do her actions contribute to your picture of her?