My Personal Literary Theory Of Literature

Analyzing literature is one of the most important steps to understanding the author’s purpose for writing a novel. When students analyze literature or write an analytical essay, they often mistake it as summarizing the plot of the book. However, analyzing literature is more in depth than just summarizing because many key aspects go into finding the hidden messages of a book. When students summarize the plot of a book, they are often missing many literary devices, such as metaphors, foreshadowing, and imagery.

In the novel Stargirl a teenager in high school is very outgoing and a little “weird” to the other students at Micah High School. She has to face a big decision to become a conformist to the high school norms or be a nonconformist and be her unique self. She meets a boy Leo who will impact her decision heavily. The other students are very rude to her because they are, in away, scared of her because she isn’t “normal”. Archie a old man that students often went to for stories understood Stargirl and helped other to except her.

I have chosen to read Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. I have chosen this book based on my personal interest and interest in this specific genre, which is fiction, young adult literature, and children's literature. This book takes place at Mica Area High School in Arizona. Leo Borlock is your average eleventh grader, and he is the only one who accepts Stargirl for who she is. Sarah "Stargirl" Caraway is a unique tenth grader, and she is rejected by everybody in the school. She dances in the rain, plays the ukulele at lunch, and wears strange outfits. Stargirl had small bursts of popularity, but they've never lasted long. Soon after Leo accepts Stargirl, they began a relationship together. As the relationship

Throughout the novel Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, several topics across the novel contribute to the overall theme. From identity, conformity to bullying, the topics of Stargirl cover everything under the Mica sun. Conformity is touched after everyone in Mica Area High School is described as conformists, blending into one another. Identity is challenged by Stargirl as she breaks away from conformity. Bullying makes its debut after the kids at MAHS reject Stargirls quirky ways. Overall, the Stargirl novel puts a fresh take on the underlining theme most people aren’t true to themselves unless they are confident.

The book Stargirl, written by Jerry Spinelli, is about a girl named Stargirl Caraway. Stargirl recently enrolled in a new high school after being previously homeschooled. She was different from the other students in several ways. Stargirl wore different outfits and acted differently from the other kids. She plays her ukulele at lunch and she is nice to everyone despite not receiving the same treatment from the other kids. After amusing behavior at a football game, Stargirl becomes a cheerleader and is the most popular girl in school. However, Stargirl was cheering for the opposing team during basketball season, the student body turned on her. After some time during the school year, the student body accepted Stargirl for who she was after the dance. Throughout the story, Stargirl was treated too harshly by the other students from the first few months of school when everything about her was being judged and through her acceptance, eventual rejection, of her by the students.

Stargirl was another fantastic book Jerry Spinelli. He added interesting characters, such as, Leo the quiet and shy one, Stargirl unique and fun one, Dori Dilson Stargirl only friend, Archie the wise and elderly one, Kevin Leo’s friend that likes the stoplight, and Hillari Kimble the popular bratty one. This book takes place in MICA, Arizona. Now, in paragraph one I will discuss the plot of Stargirl. Next, I will talk about the theme in Stargirl. Finally, I will evaluate Jerry Spinelli`s job on the novel Stargirl.

(HOOK) The characters that are present in short stories can leave an imprint on one’s vision of literature for an eternity. (CI) These memorable characters have made an impact on the way I view literature, primarily because of the way that I have been able to relate to them. (GS1) One character is a powerful, but envious princess. (GS2) Another is an abandoned orphan who seeks for love and companionship through his honesty and openness. (GS3) A final character shows her aptitude for her passions, but often finds herself quarreling with those that are closest to her. (GS4) When I read the stories involving these characters, I see myself in their places. (GS5) I relate to a multitude of their traits and characteristics, whether they are positive or negative. (THESIS STATEMENT) I can best relate to the short story fictional characters of (I) the princess in Frank. R Stockton’s “The Lady, or the Tiger?”, (II) Jerry in Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’s “A Mother in Mannville”, and (III) Waverly Jong in Amy Tan’s “Rules of the Game.”

Our group established 5 criterions to state what makes great literature. Our first criterion was “A great book must contain a message that applies to not only those who have experienced situations in the book, but provide perspective to those who have not.” A message that can be understood by numerous groups of people is vital to a great piece of literature. Our second criterion is that in order to teach a lesson it must expose a fault in human nature or in society. Our society is just as flawed as humanity is. Acknowledging these flaws is the first step in overcoming the trials of society and man. Our third criterion is centered around the craftsmanship of the literary work. This can apply to a groundbreaking new approach to narration. Or even complex characters and a unique and individual style (Faulkner.) In summary, the 3rd criterion tries to move past just the message itself, and to focus on

How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines by Thomas C. Foster is a book that explains there is more to literature than just a few words on a paper or a few pages in a book. Thomas Foster’s book portrays a relatable message to a wide based audience. This book is relatable for two reasons, the way it is written and the examples it uses. The book is written in a conversational manner, as if the reader was in a group discussion about books and writing. As for the examples, they are informative, descriptive, relative, and entertaining.

In How to Read Literature Like a Professor, author Thomas C. Foster extensively teaches literary conventions that teach a reader how to read between the lines. The main goal of this guide is to help a reader read to a level such as a professor, which entails being able to read analytically. Throughout Foster's literary guide, he sets out essential elements of literature that aid in the ability to read analytically. How to Read Literature Like a Professor focuses on not only external influences, but also in text elements such as structure, themes, and setting. Throughout Foster's guide there are many valuable keys to reading, some of the most prominent in literature being biblical reference, character quests, and character baptism. Chapters

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.

Literature is an essential part of the center of a person’s life. It provides a certain assurance and “feeds the soul” of one. Whether it be a book, TV, or even an advertisement, literature exists everywhere. A person is able to develop many skills by studying literature, and expand the horizon of their learning. An immeasurable amount of insight and knowledge can be gained from the study of literature which contributes in providing readers with an understanding of the past, and a philosophical assimilation of the moral behind a writing piece.

When comparing two classic pieces of literature like The Scarlet Letter and A Lesson Before Dying readers should not just take each book at face value and analyze plots and characters, but rather give a more in depth look into what the author writes between the lines. In both of these selected novels parallels can be seen during a cross-text analysis. Example will include, the role of woman, the influence and expectation of the community, and the intention and perceived ‘success’ of the penal system. These topics force the reader to dig deeper into each text and get that better understanding of what the author is trying to portray in “between the lines” so to speak.

Thomas Foster’s How to Read Literature Like a Professor begins with an introduction that provides a framework for the next five chapters. The author explains that any story can fit into a general, archetypical theme, and he spends the first five chapters of his book speaking on these critically prevalent themes.

Throughout my two years during high school, I have learned a fairly good amount about analyzing literature. Although I am not fully confident about it, I do know the basics of analyzing literature and it is not just straightforward. Analyzing literature is not just about summarizing the text, it’s more than that. Out of the many ways of analyzing I learned to take each element of the story and looking at it “beneath the story.”