Literary Texts Notes

Literary Texts

Introduction

• Literary texts come in various forms:
  • Realistic fiction: Reflects real-life situations and characters.
  • Science fiction: Explores future possibilities.
  • Fables, fairy tales, and legends: Traditional narrative forms.
• GED® test passages primarily come from classic literature of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• These works are rich in language, plots, and character development.
• Careful reading is essential for understanding these passages.
• Key elements of fiction to be aware of:
  • Theme
  • Plot or events of a story
  • Characters
  • Setting
  • Narrator and character viewpoint

Theme

• Theme: The central idea or underlying message of a story reflected through events and characters.
• Themes can vary widely:
  • Justice for the wronged.
  • The difficulty of making peace.
  • The wisdom gained through journeys.
• Themes are usually implied rather than directly stated.
• Understanding the theme requires interpreting:
  • Story events.
  • Character behavior.
  • Authorial descriptions.
• Theme identification must be based on textual evidence.

Example: "Paper Pills" by Sherwood Anderson

• Summary of the story:
  • Doctor Reefy: An old, peculiar doctor in Winesburg with a white beard, large nose, and oversized hands.
  • He marries a wealthy, tall, and dark-haired woman who dies within a year.
  • Doctor Reefy is a unique individual who creates and destroys "pyramids of truth" in his office.
  • He wears the same frayed suit for years and stuffs his pockets with paper scraps containing thoughts.
  • He throws paper balls at his only friend, John Spaniard (a tree nursery owner), jokingly calling him a sentimentalist.
  • His courtship is described as being "delicious, like the twisted little apples" of Winesburg.
  • The girl sought Doctor Reefy's help because she was pregnant and frightened.
  • She felt a deep connection with him and they married, but she died the following spring.
  • During the winter, he read his paper scraps to her.
• Key Metaphor:
  • The twisted apples symbolize the unconventional beauty and sweetness that only a few appreciate.
• Analysis:
  • Doctor Reefy is described as someone "forgotten" by the town, with attention drawn to his misshapen features.
  • The story highlights his inner fineness and his unusual courtship with the tall, dark girl.
  • The girl's attraction to Doctor Reefy is likened to discovering the sweetness of twisted apples, contrasting with the "round perfect fruit" consumed in cities.
• Theme:
  • The story suggests that "only the few know the sweetness of the twisted apples," meaning that only a select few can appreciate the value and beauty in those deemed outsiders by the majority.

Example: Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton

• Summary of the passage:
  • The narrator pieces together Ethan Frome's story from various townspeople in Starkfield, MA.
  • Ethan is described as a striking yet ruined figure, marked by lameness and a red gash on his forehead from a "smash-up" that occurred 24 years prior.
  • He regularly collects mail, including patent medicine advertisements for his wife, Zenobia Frome.
  • Ethan is taciturn and reserved but respected by the townspeople.
  • The narrator learns from Harmon Gow that Ethan has been stuck in Starkfield due to family obligations, caring for his father, mother, and then his wife.
• Key Elements:
  • Emphasis on Ethan's physical deterioration and the impact of the "smash-up."
  • The repetition of the phrase "Guess he's been in Starkfield too many winters."
• Theme:
  • The passage suggests that difficult life events can stifle personal desires and trap individuals in undesirable circumstances, as Ethan was compelled to stay in Starkfield due to familial obligations and the aftermath of his accident.

Example: "The Open Boat" by Stephen Crane

• Summary of the passage:
  • Four men (a captain, an oiler, a cook, and a correspondent) are in a dinghy at sea.
  • They develop a "subtle brotherhood" based on their shared peril.
  • They work together, using an overcoat as a sail, and spot a lighthouse and land.
  • They discuss the possibility of rescue but realize the life-saving station may be abandoned.
• Key Elements:
  • Emphasis on the camaraderie among the men.
  • The correspondent, initially cynical, recognizes this experience as the best of his life.
• Theme:
  • The passage suggests that people who go through dangerous situations together develop a special bond due to their shared experience and reliance on one another for survival.

Plot or Events in a Story

• Plot: The sequence of events that form a story.
• Typical plot elements:
  • Central problem: A challenge or conflict that needs resolution.
  • Storyline: Events that build up the narrative.
  • Resolution: How the problem is solved.

Example: Pat's Zoo

• Summary:
  • Pat's house is full of animals, which neighbors call a zoo.
  • Her mother discovers a mouse and decides the "zoo has got to go."
  • Pat must find homes for most of her pets but is allowed to keep the dog and cats.
  • Pat volunteers at a pet hospital, finding satisfaction in helping sick animals.
• Analysis:
  • Problem: Pat's mother wants to reduce the number of animals in the house.
  • Resolution: Pat finds a way to continue working with animals by volunteering at a pet hospital.

Characters

• Characters: Essential elements that shape a story and give it meaning.
• Character development:
  • Direct description: Author explicitly states character traits.
  • Indirect presentation: Character is revealed through actions, speech, others' opinions, and interactions.

Example: Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson

• Summary:
  • George is leaving Winesburg to start a new life; he is seen off by the townspeople.
  • He is concerned about appearing naïve and remembers his father's advice to "be a sharp one."
  • He reflects on small details of life in Winesburg.
  • George has a growing passion for dreams.
• Analysis:
  • George is portrayed as eager, thoughtful, and somewhat anxious.
  • He is both alert to the risk of being perceived as a greenhorn, and has sharp, nostalgic impressions of Winesburg.

Motivation

• Motivation: The reasons behind a character's actions.
• Can be stated directly or inferred from context.

Example: Ragged Dick by Horatio Alger, Jr.

• Summary:
  • Dick is shown a small, undesirable room to rent.
  • He decides to rent it because it is better than sleeping in a box or empty wagon.
• Analysis:
  • Motivation: Dick's decision is influenced by his past experiences of homelessness, making even a poor room seem comfortable.

Example: The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton

• Summary:
  • Rosedale finds Lily living in poor conditions and offers to pay her debt to Trenor.
  • He insists that Lily should not be in such a place and is moved by her situation.
• Analysis:
  • Motivation: Rosedale's offer seems driven by genuine care and concern for Lily’s well-being.

Character Traits

• Character Traits: Qualities or attributes that define a character.
• Authors use specific words to describe these traits, and readers infer motivations.

Example: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

• Summary:
  • Description of Hester Prynne as tall, elegant, beautiful, with dark hair and expressive eyes.
  • She possesses a certain dignity and impressiveness, shining despite the misfortune and ignominy she is experiencing.
• Analysis:
  • Hester is portrayed as elegant, feminine, and dignified.

Interaction Between Characters

• Interaction: Characters reveal themselves and others through their interactions.
• These interactions may trigger or influence story events.

Example: The Fate of Man by Mikhail Sholokhov

• Summary:
  • The narrator describes his wife, Irina, as good-tempered, cheerful, and smart.
  • Her kindness and gentle nature helped him overcome his ill temper after work.
• Analysis:
  • Irina’s positive character has a soothing and restorative effect on her husband, creating peace and harmony in their relationship.

Setting

• Setting: The time and place in which the story occurs.
• May be explicitly stated or inferred.
• Influences plot, character development, and overall atmosphere.

Example: To Build a Fire by Jack London

• Summary:
  • The setting is the Yukon, with a mile-wide river hidden under ice and snow.
  • The man is a newcomer, a cheechako, to this extreme environment.
  • He doesn't comprehend the significance of the cold and is without imagination.
• Analysis:
  • The harsh Yukon setting serves to highlight the man's lack of imagination and his inability to grasp the severity and danger of his situation.

Character and Narrator Viewpoint

• Viewpoint: Each character and the narrator have a perspective that influences the story.
• Understanding viewpoint requires interpreting words and actions.

Example: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

• Summary:
  • Huckleberry Finn describes his experiences living with the Widow Douglas, who tries to "sivilize" him.
  • He dislikes the structured, decent lifestyle but returns for Tom Sawyer's band of robbers.
• Analysis:
  • Huckleberry’s viewpoint is that he wants to be free and live by his own rules, rather than conform to societal expectations.

Example: The Sheik by Edith Hull

• Summary:
  • Diana listens to a Kashmiri song and expresses her appreciation for its beauty.
  • She claims to have no emotion but enjoys beautiful things like music, art, and nature.
  • She looks forward to her trip to the desert.
• Analysis:
  • Diana’s viewpoint is that she finds the desert exciting and associates it with freedom and pure joy.