G10 4Q English: Fourth Quarter Notes from the Powerpoint

1.Formalist/Structuralist Approach

2. Marxist Approach

3. Feminist Approach

4. Moralist Approach

5. Readers-Response Approach

6. Historical Approach

The 6 Types of Approaches in Litterature

- Plot

- Characters

- Setting

- Theme

- Conflict

- Point of View

- Tone

- Mood

The 8 Types of Literary Elements

Formalist/Sturcturalist Approach

in literature, focuses on analyzing the structure of a text rather than its meaning or historical background.

Plot

The sequence of events in the story.

Characters

The individuals who take part in the action of the story.

Setting

The time and place where the story occurs.

Theme

The central idea or message the story conveys.

Conflict

The struggle between opposing forces that drives the plot.

Point of View

The perspective from which the story is told.

Tone

The author's attitude toward the subject or the audience.

Mood

The emotional atmosphere created for the reader.

Symbolism

The use of objects, characters, or colors to represent deeper meanings.

Example: In The Great Gatsby, the green light at the end of Daisy's dock symbolizes Gatsby's unattainable dreams and hopes for the future.

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality, often creating humor or a surprising twist.

Example: In The Gift of the Magi, a couple sells their most valued possessions to buy gifts for each other, only to find that the gifts are now useless. The irony is that their sacrifices were made in vain.

- Allusion

- Symbolism

- Irony

- Foreshadowing

- Flashback

- Allegory

- Pun

- Satire

8 Types of Literary Devices

- Situational Irony

- Verbal Irony

- Dramatic Irony

3 Types of Irony

Situational Irony

When the outcome of a situation is the opposite of what is expected.

Example: A fire station burns down.

Verbal Irony

When someone says something but means the opposite, it's often like sarcasm.

Example: A student looks at a long homework assignment and says, "Oh great! Just what I needed!" (The student is not actually happy about the assignment..)

Dramatic Irony

When the audience knows something that the characters do not.

Example: In Romeo and Juliet, the audience knows that Juliet is alive, but Romeo believes she is dead.

(This leads him to take his own life, creating a tragic irony.)

Example: In a horror movie, a character enters a house, unaware that the killer is inside, but the audience knows.

(This builds suspense because the audience understands the danger before the character does.)

Foreshadowing

A hint or clue about what will happen later in the story.

Example: In Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie's conversation about the dream of owning a farm foreshadows their tragic end, where that dream is never realized.

Flashback

A scene set in an earlier time is used to provide background or context to the current story.

Example: In The Kite Runner, the story often shifts to flashbacks of Amir's childhood to explain his relationship with his father and Hassan.

Allegory

A narrative in which characters and events represent abstract ideas or moral qualities.

Example: Animal Farm by George Orwell is an allegory where the animals represent different classes and political figures, with the farm symbolizing a society under a totalitarian regime.

Pun

A play on words that exploits multiple meanings or similar-sounding words for humorous effect.

Example: "I used to be a baker, but I couldn't make enough dough." - A pun on the word "dough," meaning both bread and money.

Satire

The use of humor, irony, or ridicule to criticize or mock societal issues, people, or institutions.

Example: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain satirizes the social norms and attitudes toward race and class in pre-Civil War America.

Structure

The organization and arrangement of a story, including how the events are presented and in what order. It refers to the framework that holds the narrative together, determining how the story unfolds to the reader.

Example: In The Great Gatsby, the story is told through Nick Carraway's retrospective perspective, and the

Narrative Flow

This is the sequence in which events or ideas are presented in a story. It refers to how smoothly and logically the events transition from one to the next, maintaining the reader's engagement and understanding.

Example: In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling, the narrative flow is straightforward, with events unfolding in chronological order, helping the reader follow Harry's journey from receiving his letter to discovering the mysteries at Hogwarts.

Point of View (POV)

This refers to the vantage point from which the story is told. It influences how the events are perceived by the reader and can range from first-person (narrator is a character in the story) to third-person (narrator is outside the story, knowing more than the characters).

Example: In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the story is told from the first-person point of view through Scout Finch, who reflects on events from her childhood. This creates an intimate connection with the reader, allowing us to see the world through her eyes as she learns about racial injustice.

Diction

The choice of words and style of expression used by the author. It can be formal, informal, colloquial, or literary.

Example: In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield's use of informal, conversational diction reflects his rebellious, disillusioned personality.

Syntax

The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences. It involves sentence structure, punctuation, and word order.

Example: In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens uses long, complex sentences with varied syntax to emphasize the gravity of the opening lines, such as, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."

Tone

The author's attitude toward the subject or the audience, conveyed through language choices. Tone can be serious, humorous, sarcastic, optimistic, etc.

Example: In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen's tone is often ironic, highlighting the social norms and attitudes through witty language and subtle humor.

Style

The distinctive way in which an author writes is determined by their use of language, sentence structure, and tone. Style shapes the reader's experience and interpretation of the text.

Example: Ernest Hemingway is known for his minimalist style, using short, simple sentences and avoiding elaborate descriptions to create a direct, unadorned narrative.

Connotation

The implied or emotional meaning of a word, beyond its literal definition.

Example: The word "home" carries connotations of warmth, safety, and family, unlike the neutral word "house," which simply refers to a physical structure.

- Author's Background

- Cultural and Social Norms

- Political Influence

3 Parts of a Historical Approach

Author's Background

The personal life, beliefs, and experiences of the author that may influence their writing, themes, and perspectives in the work. This includes their social class, education, and historical experiences.

Example: In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley's personal experiences with loss and her knowledge of scientific advancements during her time influenced the themes of creation and ethics in the novel.

Cultural and Social Norms

The cultural values, customs, and beliefs prevalent at the time the work was written, which shape how characters act, what is considered moral or immoral, and the societal expectations depicted in the text.

Example: In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen critiques the class system and gender roles in early 19th-century England, reflecting the social norms of her time.

Political Influence

The political environment and ideologies present during the period when the work was written. This includes the author's stance on government, revolution, war, and social justice, and how these views are reflected in the work.

Example: In Animal Farm, George Orwell uses the Russian Revolution as a backdrop to comment on the dangers of political corruption and totalitarianism.

- Moral Values and Themes

- Character Actions and Decisions

2 Parts of Moralist Approach

Moral Values and Themes

The ethical principles and moral lessons conveyed in the text, which may encourage virtues like justice, honesty, or compassion.

Example: In A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge learns the importance of generosity and kindness, reinforcing the moral lesson that people should care for others.

Character Actions and Decisions

The moral choices made by characters and their consequences, illustrating ethical dilemmas or lessons.

Example: In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch's decision to defend Tom Robinson despite societal backlash highlights the importance of integrity and standing up for justice.

- Class Conflict

- Economic Conditions

- Oppression and Exploitation

3 Parts of a Marxist Approach

Class Conflict

The struggle between social classes, where the ruling class often exploits the working class.

Example: In Les Misérables, Victor Hugo portrays the suffering of the poor and the injustices of the legal system, emphasizing class struggles.

Economic Conditions

How wealth, poverty, and material conditions shape the lives of characters and their opportunities.

Example: In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald contrasts the lavish wealth of the upper class with the struggles of the lower class, criticizing economic inequality.

Oppression and Exploitation

The ways in which the wealthy or powerful oppress and exploit the poor, leading to social injustice.

Example: In The Jungle, Upton Sinclair exposes the harsh conditions of immigrant workers in meatpacking factories, highlighting their exploitation.

- Representation of Women

- Gender Roles and Stereotypes

2 Parts of a Feminist Approach

Representation of Women

How female characters are portrayed—whether they are strong and independent or confined to traditional roles.

Example: In Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë presents a strong-willed female protagonist who challenges gender norms by asserting her independence.

Gender Roles and Stereotypes

Whether the text reinforces or challenges societal expectations for men and women.

Example: In The Yellow Wallpaper, Charlotte Perkins Gilman critiques the restrictive roles imposed on women, particularly in marriage and medicine.

- Personal Interpretation

- Emotional Interpretation

- Subjectivity vs. Authorial Intent

3 Parts of Reader-Response Approach

Personal Interpretation

How a reader's background, beliefs, and experiences shape their understanding of the text.

Example: A teenager reading Catcher in the Rye might relate to Holden's struggles with alienation, while an adult might see him as immature.

Emotional Interpretation

The feelings and reactions a story evokes in different readers.

Example: In The Fault in Our Stars, some readers may find the love story tragic and heartbreaking, while others may focus on its message of hope.

Subjectivity vs. Authorial Intent

Whether meaning comes from the author's intention or the reader's interpretation.

Example: In The Road, some readers see it as a bleak dystopian story, while others interpret it as a hopeful tale of love and survival.