The article by Hatice Ezberk “The Function of Fantasy as a subversive Genre in Literature” examines the idea of how fantastic literature can bring out an emphasis on how the world transforms through the writers eyes. As fantasy literature grows it can become unclear as to what social norms the literature is trying to juxtapose. Ezberk argues that trying to categorize fantasy literature is a rebellious act as the subgenre’s become too specific and can at times deceive the reader by delivering functions it is not meant to deliver. Ezberk argues through other works by establishing that the concept of realism is not valid in fantasy literature as it becomes too vague. Instead fantasy literature takes the reader away from a world they know and into a world where it is heart desire to be. The concept of subversive literature is that it gives a reader encouragement to think creatively while reading and to …show more content…
They envision themselves as the characters who can cross boundaries where in reality they would be forbidden to do so. (Mori 29) Most individuals who are bound by societies norms and rules look to literature, as this helps them cope with their inner desire of trying to be someone other then who they are. “They express their rejection of female compliance and self-sacrifice by fantasizing themselves as lawbreakers, sexual aggressors or sadists, and thereby transform their self-image” (Mori 37) As the literature progresses the reader finds themselves engrossed into a novel where the character has many different roles which enable the reader to step into this secondary world with ore then just one adventure in
Through characterisation, the author is able to express the main idea of disempowerment and also allowing us as readers to feel discontented and upset towards the main character.
Characters play a major role in ensuring that the novels can be read and comprehended. However, the success of a novel is dependent on the quality of characterization and whether they will attract the
It is unrealistic that a teenage boy could survive upwards of 200 days in the middle of the Pacific Ocean alongside a 450-pound tiger. But literature does not reflect ordinary life, therefore it is important in the study of literature to separate the two, because literature is not about being practical or realistic, it is about being imaginative. The unreality of Life of Pi allows the Hero’s Journey archetype to be easily identifiable, for example, as literature provides the extremes of scenarios, stretching the capacity of the imagination to the very heights and depths of what the human mind can conceive. Literature provides us with an experience that reality cannot, because in reality, the imagination is limited to what is physically possible, but in literature, the imagination is able to be free. Through understanding the conventions of literature, the individual, in studying more complex works, is able to appreciate the use of the imagination to reach beyond what reality offers us and is able to refine his sensibilities as he recognizes the partition between life and literature.
Another big point in Prose’s essay is the assignments associated with high school literature. She argues that teachers make students write around the books and not about the books they read. “No wonder students are rarely asked to consider what was actually written by these hopeless racists and sociopaths. Instead, they’re told to write around the book, or, better yet, write their own books,” (430). The assignments that teachers give these days are nto about the book or the story itself. They usually ask the student to rewrite the ending, or ask what the student would do if they were in the same situation as the character. Prose argues that high school students are seen as having the same experience as some of the characters they read about, such as Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby. “And is it any wonder that
Every character that travels down a path, that encounters obstacles on their journey, that makes sacrificial decisions faces each of these components as they undertake a life-altering quest. Often times the hero ventures out to save someone or solve a problem, but in fact, their true journey is a search for self-knowledge. Through every obstacle and road-block along the way, the character discovers more about themselves and their true identity. Though they may have journeyed across great lands to accomplish their mission, the thing they were searching for was inside of them all along; the journey and challenges only helped to reveal their real character. As explained in Thomas C. Foster’s literary criticism, How to Read Literature Like a Professor,
Beautiful imagery laced amidst a wondrous storyline, accompanied by memorable and lovable characters are all elements pertaining to enjoyable works of fiction. Tales that keep one up late into the night forever reading just “one more page” forever propelling the intrinsic imagination for a novel enthusiast. Yet, at times there are deeper meanings hidden between the lines. Symbols, analogies, and latent parallels all connecting to real life events and situations being portrayed by the author. Using literary theory can bring a more profound understanding of the reading material at hand, as well as unique insight as to what the author was feeling or intending to portray at the time of writing.
readers and their interpretations. This way, this character can either be seen as a man who is
you analyze how the novelist reveals the values of the character and the nature of the character’s
Even when people do not realize it, everyone is always learning from other people. Characters in stories all have a variety of different personalities. One character from the stories desires to be daring and fearless, while the other character is both both of those qualities. Since one character desires to be something that he is not, he puts his imagination to the test and makes his own perfect scenarios.
For example, Guy Montag’s sense of curiosity develops when he meets Clarisse McClelan. The knowledge she has about life and the mature nature she has intrigues Montag. His curiosity shines through even more when he first meets the woman who is willing to be burned with her books. He starts to wonder if there may be something worth reading in books if it had that strong of an impact to a reader. He ponders the thought that the chief may be wrong about books being “horrible” and “useless.”
The result of these characteristics give each story suspense and mystery, leaving the readers wondering what each character will do next and what further action will take place. Characters hold a primary role in determining the outcome of a story, which is the reasoning behind the many similarities and differences among literary characters. Also, a clear example is the similar plots with two completely different outcomes. Once the audience understands a character, they are capable of building on their existing knowledge to foreshadow events or understand the text more logically, which is evident when reading these
Not only do the roles of the characters compel a reader, they also illustrate the
One of the main hobbies enjoyed by society today is reading. Classic works of literature and new pop culture novels are the basis of much of the discussion used in everyday life, and man is delving deeper into the novels known and loved. Dedicated readers are contemplating the purpose of this phrase in this chapter, why this word is used here, and what theme best expresses the author’s main idea. Probably the most popular theme in literature today is the use of duality. Duality in literature is expressed through the characters, their imaginations, and the situations they experience. A great author utilizes duality to illustrate a compelling story that captures the audience. Three works that use duality to progress
Literature is an imitation of societal values and is thus a reflection of the human experience of a time period. Written works emphasize the elements of culture, by means of characters, particular events, setting and theme, specific to the time period in which it was composed. Furthermore, literature mirrors the troubles or hardships of society and projects the core values that define said society. Thus, as culture has changed over time, literature has remained a critical facet in representing time periods of the past. Essentially, the culture of a time period is manifested through writing in the projection of society’s values, symbolism of the center of community and literature itself.
With the new reader/writer roles also comes a change in the idea of what literature actually represents. Bolters states that literature is traditionally viewed as merely a reflection of the author’s world. The new participatory role of the reader therefore changes what the reading represents because the written work becomes its own independent world, constantly moving and changing depending on what path the reader wants to take (Bolter 169).