After reading about the different critical approaches to literature, choose one of the stories that we have read this term and

Complete these readings from the textbook:  

· Literature

· The Thing in the Forest

· Lamb to the Slaughter by Roald Dahl

Remember that academic reading is a skill you develop over time.

Here is  my best advice for scholarly reading .

,

Module 11: Lesson and Notes

Uncertainty and Truth as a Literary Theme

Reading is an interactive experience. Authors create a story with the expectation that someone will read it.  Most authors of fiction want to make the reader feel something as they experience the story: fear, happiness, dismay, joy, etc. They want to appeal to the reader in some way and offer a sort of escape from reality. In turn, the reader agrees to be manipulated, in a way, and believe what the story is telling them. Just like getting lost in a movie- even though you know you're sitting on your couch in your pajamas. 

The nature of truth within a fictional story can take many roles and can be affected by many things:

·

· It can be influenced on a character level depending on the point of view (POV), or who is telling the story.

· This is where narrative style is important and whether or not we have a reliable narrator. Remember unreliable narrators often distort the truth. 

· It can be manipulated by the author and can reflect personal beliefs or the beliefs of a society.

· So many times fiction is a reflection what a culture or society is going through in that moment. Civil war, political strife, feast or famine are all reflected in the literature being written during that time. 

· Stories can definitely be influenced by the personal beliefs or internal struggles of the author, which can affect the truth or purpose of a text. 

· Authors can also intentionally mislead readers by warping reality. There is an example of this below. 

· It can depend on the genre.

· Is the story supposed to mirror reality?

· Is it fantasy fiction set in a mystical place where the reader's perception of "real" or "true" is completely dependent on the story?

· It can be a literary device: reality vs. illusion

· This is a method authors use to trick the reader into one reality while something completely different is actually happening. 

· Authors will give clues that the action of the story isn't really happening.

· An example of this would be Ambrose Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge". The story is told in three different sections:

· In the first section, a soldier is about to be executed.

· The second section is a long winded flash back.

· The third section is the solder's very detailed escape. For example, the protagonist is able to see the veins of leaves on trees on the shore while being carried away down a rapidly flowing river. However, the reality was that the soldier imagined his escape. These were his final thoughts. Bierce used the second section to completely distract us, the reader, so that when the "escape" began, we were on board and cheering him on with a distorted reality.

· Truth in fiction can even be affected by your own experiences and what you bring to the table as a reader.

·

· The purpose and message of some stories are interpreted differently depending on a reader's personal belief and life experiences.

Important notice for next week: Your annotated bibliographies are due.

Next week you will be turning in your annotated bibliography assignment. Remember that we practiced for this in Module 8. This assignment is for research that you are doing towards your final paper. Since research can get overwhelming at times, this is a really good method to stay organized. Researching literature is also a good way to learn how you personally conduct research. Considering that most college majors and many professions require some elements of research, it is something that is important to know and you can only get good at it through practice. 

A few things for your upcoming Annotated Bibliography assignment:

· It is important to know that research takes time. Do not wait until the last minute to start this project. Research is not something that can be done well when it is rushed. 

· Start thinking about your paper topic now and determine which text do you want to work with.

· Do a basic, general research (just "Google it") about your idea before you start doing scholarly research. You will need to know any terms that are specific to your topic. It will help you narrow your research. 

· Do that same basic general search on whatever text you are working with. I will always encourage you to read about the story so that you understand the story. However, you must still read the actual story. 

Review following documents (previously given in Module 8):

· Annotated Bibliography.pdf  Download Annotated Bibliography.pdf

· Annotated Bibliography.pptx  Download Annotated Bibliography.pptx

· Example Formatting for AnnBib.docx    Download Example Formatting for AnnBib.docx    

· Example Formatting for AnnBib.pdf    Download Example Formatting for AnnBib.pdf 

Go ahead to Module 12 and look at the assignment so that you are aware of the requirements and can get started!

,

After reading about the different critical approaches to literature, choose one of the stories that we have read this term and apply one of those approaches. Examples of a critical approach can be historical or cultural significance, feminism, gender studies, etc. In 250 words, discuss which approach you chose and support yourself. Be sure to include the following:

1. Title and author of the text. 2. Critical approach and a brief (2-3 sentence) definition.  3. Provide 2-3 specific examples from the text that support your choice.

· This could include:

· Author influence. Kate Chopin has often been studied with a feminist filter.

· Certain word choices.

· Specific character actions or beliefs.

· The purpose or message of the story. 

· Anything that made you think, "Oh! This could be feminism/historical context/cultural studies!"

4. Why did you choose this particular critical approach? Is it one that you are particularly interested in?

After writing your post, be sure to review and edit before clicking "Submit." 

Collepals.com Plagiarism Free Papers

Are you looking for custom essay writing service or even dissertation writing services? Just request for our write my paper service, and we'll match you with the best essay writer in your subject! With an exceptional team of professional academic experts in a wide range of subjects, we can guarantee you an unrivaled quality of custom-written papers.

Get ZERO PLAGIARISM, HUMAN WRITTEN ESSAYS

Why Hire Collepals.com writers to do your paper?

Quality- We are experienced and have access to ample research materials.

We write plagiarism Free Content

Confidential- We never share or sell your personal information to third parties.

Support-Chat with us today! We are always waiting to answer all your questions.