An ironic literary creation detailing the defeat of decency and virtue and the triumph of folly or vice. The work may utilize any literary form — either fictional or nonfictional — relying heavily upon parody, paradox, and anti-climax, and is usually infused with wit and high spirits. Because of its mix of jaunty vigor and bad news, there is no evident catharsis, the works being open-ended and disjunct. The implication at the close is that things will continue to get worse.
Like any discipline, there are certain conventions we need to use when we write about literature. You should learn these conventions formally in ENGL 1102. Consider this list a review if you’ve made it through 1102, or consult these general writing prompts. You might also consider these resources:
I use a variety of texts when teaching science fiction — more than are available within any anthology. These texts fall under fair use, since I use them for education. However, unless they are in the public domain, all of the following texts are password-protected, only available to members of my sf Google Group. Most of the selections are PDF and therefore require some sort of reader, like Adobe’s.
The study of literature — or really any cultural text — requires two components: research and response. The latter builds on the former. Begin by studying the primary text then researching that text using secondary sources. Take copious notes during your study; this will help you remember facts and arguments in order to compose your replies later.
What is it we are supposed to get out of a work of literature, especially those composed hundreds of years ago? We can approach any work of literature from a variety of perspectives, but reader-response criticism locates the center of meaning in the reader, and therefore relies on her experiences to guide her interpretation.
Archetypes reflect universal, primitive, and elemental patterns whose effective embodiment in a literary work evokes a profound response from the reader. They manifest as narrative designs, character types, images identifiable in a wide variety of works of literature, myths, dreams, and ritualized modes of social behavior. Anthropologist J. G. Frazer, in his work The Golden Bough, suggests that an archetype represents elemental patterns of myth and ritual recurring in legends and ceremonies of diverse cultures. Carl Jung sees archetypes as “primordial images” or “psychic residue” of repeated types of experiences in the lives of our ancient ancestors that present themselves in the “collective unconscious” of the human race and give rise to myth, religion, dream, fantasy, and literature.
Our study of world literature will attempt to fulfill the following goals.
Having difficulty getting started with your blog? Well, you might consider starting here. Choose one of the following questions for discussion in a blog entry. Remember to be clear and concise in your answer, follow the conventions of writing about literature, and consult how to blog.
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