Who else wants to be able to analyse written and visual media? This expert guide will meet the needs of all students that are studying in the field of lit/film studies, as an introduction. This book will help students write better essays, speak with more authority in tutorials and seminars and prepare for examinations and assessments with more confidence.
Product details
Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: Studymates Ltd; 2nd edition
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-1842851401
Product Dimensions: 21.5 x 1.1 x 15.5 cm
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Contents
Part One: Literature and Literary Genres
1 Introduction: What is Literature?
2 Fiction
The Short story
The Novel
3 Poetry and Verse
Regular, blank and free verse.
The sonnet, the ballard, the villanelle.
The ode, the epic, the elergy.
The Dramatic Monologue.
4 Drama and Theatre
Tragedy.
Comedy.
The Theatre of the Absurd.
5 Film
The Composition of the Shot
The Use of the Camera
Editing
Part Two: Studying Literature
6 Studying the Sequence of Events
The sequential plot
The non-sequential plot
The archetypal plot
The plot twist
Plot and Irony
7 Observing the Characters
Dynamic Characters
Static Characters
Stereotypical Characters
Character and irony
Character and satire
8 The Influence of the Narrator
The Omniscient Narrator
The limited Omniscient Narrator
First person major character as narrator
First person minor character as narrator
The Objective Narrator
9 The Influence of Setting
Setting and plot
Setting and Symbolism
Setting and irony
Setting and metaphor
10 Getting the Message
Family
Love
War
Nature
Death
Faith
Time
11 The Effect of Metaphor
Metaphor and Character
Metaphor and Theme
Metaphor and symbolism
12 The Effect of Imagery
Imagery and plot
Imagery and character
Imagery and setting
Imagery and theme
13 Analysing Symbols
Objects as symbols
Natural Symbols
Religious Symbols
Characters as symbols
14 Listening to the Tone
Sorrow
Resignation
Irony
Triumph
15 The Reader’s Point of View
The influence of gender
The influence of culture
The influence of age
The influence of politics.
Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Clear and worthwhile
Reviewed in the United States
Handy little thing for someone just diving into English Lit; I wish I had read something of the sort it when I switched to that major. Note that it is designed for students in the UK, discussing some of the texts they are likely to study. But American students should find it worthwhile if nothing better is within easy reach.
5.0 out of 5 stars ‘Understanding Literature’ by Derek Soles
By J. E. Taylor
Format: Paperback
I found this book to be a clear, concise and comprehensive guide to the study of literature, especially when read in conjunction with another volume in the ‘Studymates’ series, namely: ‘Studying Poetry’ by Richard Cochrane. A very useful feature is the inclusion of a list of web sites for literature students.
Although this book is targeted at A level students of English literature it would also provide a very valuable introduction to literary studies and literary criticism for those undergraduates embarking on the study of the literature of any language with no previous training in literary studies.
