June 10th Reading and Blog

Please read: Literary Critical Theory summary

Yes, this is more complex than much of what we’ve worked with, but it is not beyond your abilities. Think of a theory as a particular perspective on a text (Marxism looks at issues of class and history, Feminism at issues of gender and power, so forth). Nor are you expected to have this memorized. Read through it, try to understand the basic concerns of each school of thought. Literary theory is where scholars of the field move beyond the terminology we are learning. This information is important for when you begin researching for your paper, and may even point you towards an aspect of the text you’d like to focus on.

Blog: Beginning Review

        Select one of the short stories we have read. Provide a brief summary of it, as well as your interpretation of the meaning of the overall story (yes, it can differ from what some of us have suggested in class). Then, specifically analyze the story using all of the major concepts we have discussed: character, setting, style, tone, symbolism, and theme. Show how these elements led to your interpretation. Do not skimp on this assignment. Be detailed, offering some quotes throughout to support your analysis.