how to sudy literature

[nawal812]

hello guys,

am new to this forum i realy need ur help.

i am a literature student and i really love reading in literature. bt the thing is that i find literature so dificult 2 be studied i.e analyising any literary work, writting esseys abt them and so on.

so plz guys i really need ur help if u have any kind of tips 2 hellp me improve myself.

and my last requist if u have anything about D.H Lawrence's the fox and the captain's doll plz let me know as we are studying D H Lawrence.

thx inadvance

[Redzeppelin]

hello guys,

am new to this forum i realy need ur help.

i am a literature student and i really love reading in literature. bt the thing is that i find literature so dificult 2 be studied i.e analyising any literary work, writting esseys abt them and so on.

so plz guys i really need ur help if u have any kind of tips 2 hellp me improve myself.

and my last requist if u have anything about D.H Lawrence's the fox and the captain's doll plz let me know as we are studying D H Lawrence.

thx inadvance

Hi there - welcome to the forums. First and foremost, if you wish for people here to take you seriously, you will need to clean up your writing a bit - the text messaging abbreviations and careless editing will probably turn most people away because those of us who read a lot get easily annoyed at having to wade through poorly written posts. No offense intended. :)

Second, understanding literature is something that you practice at. One of the easiest ways to begin is to start paying attention to the questions that are created as you read:

Why did the character/author make the decision s/he did?
Why is this location visited repeatedly by the characters?
Why is this action/thing important to the character?
Why does the character fear/desire what s/he fears/desires?
What is the main conflict of the story? What is in opposition to what? Why?
What if the character did 'x' instead of 'y' - how would the story change?

Thirdly, you can consult literary criticism (either in simplified form like Cliff's Notes or more difficult levels like critical anthologies) and see how other people have talked about works that you've read and are familiar with.

Good luck

[Laindessiel]

Very best explanation there. RedZep has a marvelous way of clearing things out thoroughly. I'm always a fan.

[toni]

Very best explanation there. RedZep has a marvelous way of clearing things out thoroughly. I'm always a fan.

I'll second that, sister. :thumbs_up :thumbs_up :thumbs_up for RedZep I hope he would be my Prof when I go to college.

[Aiculík]

Well I can only tell you what I do. :)

When I begin to read some book for study, I try to sort out what I already know about the author and his literary period. That way I can say what can I expect from the book. For example, if its Romantic author, the style will be obviously different that that of Realist author. Based on that, I form a set of questions, or issues I'll concentrate on. It may seem complicated, but in fact it only takes few minutes.

As I read, I mark relevant passages (usually I write them down on a sticky, also with the page number). Then after I finish the book, I compare my expectations with reality and answer my questions. Then I usually write it all down, together with quotes and my impression. I always try to do it in as much detail as possible and immediately after I finish book. That way, even after few months - or years, it's enough to read these notes and I'm able to talk about the book.

You might want to check the book Ways of Reading by M. Montgomery and other authors, if you already don't have it. One of my professors recommended it, and I must say, its really great and helped me a lot.

[ennison]

For a poem of the shorter kind. (Page or so) you can break your response up into four areas: Sound of the lines/words; imagery and its effects; ideas that the poem seems to contain; any personal connection that you have. I'll admit that is a pretty basic rule-of-thumb approach but try it with a few poems like say 'Cargoes' by Masefield or 'High Flight' by Magee and see what you can come up with.
Oh aye and dump the texting - it suggests illiteracy at best.

[nawal812]

hi redzeppelin,
thank you very much for your explanation. I apreciate it. i think Laindessiel and toni are pritty right about you "you are a great teacher". i will try to think of those quastions while i'm reading. and i'm sure it will help me alot.

and sorry for my bad writing. i'm trying hard to improve it.

have a good day

[nawal812]

hi aiculik and ennison,
thanks for your reply and be sure i will keep your ideas in mind and try to apply them. thank you, also, for the references.

have a nice day

[Redzeppelin]

Very best explanation there. RedZep has a marvelous way of clearing things out thoroughly. I'm always a fan.


I'll second that, sister. :thumbs_up :thumbs_up :thumbs_up for RedZep I hope he would be my Prof when I go to college.

You are both far too kind - your compliments embarrass me :blush:



Nawal812: A few more tips:

1) Always ask "why?" because nothing that occurs in great literature is accidental: situations, names, locations, word choices are chosen very carefully.

2) Dialogue is constructed likewise very precisely. Dialogue will either a) move the plot/action forward, or b) reveal character.

3) Extended descriptions - whether of setting, objects, or people should be carefully considered; any time a writer slows down to "show you the sights" there is something in the "scenery" s/he wants you to notice.

4) In terms of structure, if you wish to understand the function of a scene/episode or chapter, ask yourself what do you not know or understand if the scene/episode/chapter were omitted from the work as a whole?

5) A motif is a repeating element in a literary work - a word, phrase, location, object that seems to show up again and again. Example: in Dostoyevsky's Crime & Punishment, poverty and drinking are mentioned many, many times; in The Scarlet Letter, the namesake embroidery "A" is spoken of many times and in many ways. By motifs, writers highlight areas of thematic importance.

6) Any oppositions/dualities and/or patterns should be taken note of.

Hope those are helpful - class dismissed! :D

[Redzeppelin]

hi redzeppelin,
thank you very much for your explanation. I apreciate it. i think Laindessiel and toni are pritty right about you "you are a great teacher". i will try to think of those quastions while i'm reading. and i'm sure it will help me alot.

and sorry for my bad writing. i'm trying hard to improve it.

have a good day

No apology necessary - your desire to learn and appreciate literature says much good about you. One of the benefits of reading great books is that your writing will improve as a consequence because you will subconsciously be absorbing techniques from the greatest writers in history.

Good luck and thanks for asking such a great question! :)

[Janine]

hi redzeppelin,
thank you very much for your explanation. I apreciate it. i think Laindessiel and toni are pritty right about you "you are a great teacher". i will try to think of those quastions while i'm reading. and i'm sure it will help me alot.

and sorry for my bad writing. i'm trying hard to improve it.

have a good day

From earlier, first, posting:

....and my last requist if u have anything about D.H Lawrence's the fox and the captain's doll plz let me know as we are studying D H Lawrence.

Hi nawal812, I have been reading these posting and see you have been given some very good study advice from all and especially Redzeppelin; thank you Redzeppelin! If you are studying D.H.Lawrence in school you might be interested in joining in our discussions or just reading our posts in the "D.H.Lawrence Short Story" thread on this site. We are taking the stories very slowly and now are discussing the second one "The Horse-Dealer's Daughter". So far the stories we have choosen have been available on this site. Perhaps we will pick from only these available stories. Virgil did his thesis on aspects of Lawrence's philosophy and writing, and I have read and studied lawrence extensively for personal satisfaction. I read "The Fox" and "The Captain's Doll", sometime ago. Perhaps I could be of some assistence to you, although these stories I would probably have to re-read to have a fresh view of them in order to discuss. I think you will pick up ideas by reading the short story thread on how to study the works of Lawrence.
Hope all of this helps you out. If you are translating from a language other than English, you have my regards on your struggle with your grammar. My native tongue is English, so I have no problem, but I can certainly empathise with those translating.
Janine

[Asa Adams]

hi redzeppelin,
thank you very much for your explanation. I apreciate it. i think Laindessiel and toni are pritty right about you "you are a great teacher". i will try to think of those quastions while i'm reading. and i'm sure it will help me alot.

and sorry for my bad writing. i'm trying hard to improve it.

have a good day

Yes. Red is completely right. Do not apologize! Your passion is admirable, and you will be a great Bibliophile and writer! Good luck to you, :thumbs_up
Asa

[nawal812]

Hi Red,
thank you again. and sure I will consieder that too while reading. I'm really happy to have some one to help me. It's very kind of you.

[nawal812]

[QUOTE=Janine;354264]From earlier, first, posting:

If you are studying D.H.Lawrence in school you might be interested in joining in our discussions or just reading our posts in the "D.H.Lawrence Short Story" thread on this site.

[nawal812]

[QUOTE=Janine;354264]From earlier, first, posting:

If you are studying D.H.Lawrence in school you might be interested in joining in our discussions or just reading our posts in the "D.H.Lawrence Short Story" thread on this site.


I think that is a great idea. can you please tell me where exactly i can find that thred. I have looked for it evry where, but i couldn't find it. thank you

[nawal812]

[QUOTE=Janine;354264]From earlier, first, posting:


I read "The Fox" and "The Captain's Doll", sometime ago. Perhaps I could be of some assistence to you, although these stories I would probably have to re-read to have a fresh view of them in order to discuss.

Hey you are so generouse. yes please, I would love that. It will do me a great help.

[nawal812]

Yes. Red is completely right. Do not apologize! Your passion is admirable, and you will be a great Bibliophile and writer! Good luck to you, :thumbs_up
Asa

you made me feel better. Hopefuly I will

thank you verey much

[nawal812]

This is to all of you guys:

I'm really glad to have people like you ( Red, Janine, Asa and the rest). I can't express how much I'm thankful to YOU, all, for your pure willingness to help here. and thank you also for encoureging and telling me nice stuff to go on.

Have a nice day