Personal Reflection on the Meaning of Literature

Ashford ENG 125 Introduction to Literature (Documents and Forms)

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Week 1

Required Readings

a. Chapter One – Experiencing a Story, a Poem, a Play
b. Chapter Two – Responding to Literary Experiences
c. Chapter Three – Additional Selections for Reading and Reflection Chapter 3.1 – Short Stories Chapter 3.2 – Poetry
d. Chapter Sixteen – Literary Criticism: A Brief Overview

Discussions | Week 1 - DQ1 - Personal Reflection on the Meaning of Literature and Y - ENG 125 - ENG125 Introduction to Literature - AU |
Personal Reflection on the Meaning of Literature and Your Relationship to It.

Describe your personal relationship to literature and to reading. Begin by considering the meaning of literature. What does the term literature mean to you? What makes something literary in your own mind? If literature means different things to different people, who defines what is and what is not literature? Next, reflect on your relationship to reading and literature. What kind of reading engages/interests you? What about that writing draws you in? Do you find meaning in reading certain writing? If so, describe the satisfaction you draw from this process. Also consider how you read. Do you, for example, take notes or mark text as you read, or do you simply absorb the material on a page? | Week 1 - DQ2 - Examples of Key Literary Terms - ENG 125 - ENG125 Introduction to Literature - AU |
Examples of Key Literary Terms.

Review the key literary terms and concepts presented throughout Chapters One and Two. (See the end of each chapter for a glossary of terms.) Choose at least four of these terms to discuss in your post. Then, find examples of these concepts in the readings from this week. Explain how these examples demonstrate each literary concept as well as the effect which the given technique or form has on a reading of the respective text.

Assignments | Week 1 - Assignment - Reading Reflection - ENG 125 - ENG125 Introduction to Literature - AU |
a. Explain why the literary work captured your interest, using terms and concepts from the text to support your explanation.
b. Describe one of the analytical approaches outlined in Chapter 16, using details from the text to support your interpretations.
c. Evaluate the meaning of the selected literary work, using the analytical approach you described.

Your paper should be organized around a thesis statement about the selected literary work and the approach you are using to analyze the work. All sources must be properly cited. The paper must include a separate title and reference page, and be formatted to APA style.

The paper must be two to four pages in length (excluding the title and reference page), and formatted according to APA style. You must use at least two scholarly resources (at least one of which can be found in the Ashford Online Library) other than the textbook to support your claims and subclaims. Cite your resources in text and on the reference page.
Week 2
Required Readings

a. Chapter Four – The Short Story
b. Chapter Five – Short Story: Plot, Point of View, Tone
c. Chapter Six – Short Story: Setting and Character
d. Chapter Seven – Short Story: Theme and Symbolism
e. Chapter Eight – Readings for Exploration of Short Story Concepts and Forms Chapter 8.1 – An Example for Exploration of Plot, First-Person Point of View, and Ironic Tone Chapter 8.2 – An Example for Exploration of Plot, First-Person Point of View, and Ironic Tone Chapter 8.3 – An Example for Exploration of Theme and Symbolism

Discussions | Week 2 - DQ1 - Analyzing Point of View - ENG 125 - ENG125 Introduction to Literature - AU |
Analyzing Point of View.

Chapter Five discusses the importance of point of view in literature and, more specifically, in the short story. Choose one short story from the course text about which you have not yet written, and analyze it in terms of point of view. When writing your post, consider the following questions

a. How would you categorize the point of view [e.g., first-person, second-person (i.e., “you”), third-person limited, third-person omniscient]?
b. Is the point of view consistent throughout the story (told from the same perspective), or does it shift at any points in the narrative? (If so, make note of when and how those changes occur.)
c. How does point of view shape your reading of the work? In what ways does it contribute to or detract from your reading of the work?
d. How does point of view relate to the story’s themes or content? | Week 2 – DQ2 - Symbolism in the Short Story - ENG 125 - ENG125 Introduction to Literature - AU |
Symbolism in the Short Story.

Chapter Seven explores the role of symbols in conveying literary themes. Themes are abundant in literary works (though they are at some times more obvious than at others). Select one short story from the reading assignments (from either Week One or Week Two) to examine more closely in relation to symbolism. Consider the story’s overall theme(s) and use of images as well as how these two relate to one another. You may choose to explore one single recurring symbol, or you may discuss multiple symbols and how they relate to one another.

At the beginning of your post, identify (a) the literary work that you will analyze and (b) the theme(s) that is/are most relevant to the symbolism you will explore.

Assignments | Week 2 – Assignment - Theme and Narrative Elements - ENG 125 - ENG125 Introduction to Literature - AU |

a. Describe what the theme of the short story is, using Chapter Seven of the text as a reference.
b. Identify at least two of the literary elements in the short story that contribute to the theme (e.g., plot, point of view, tone, setting, character, symbolism, etc.), providing an example of each element.
c. Explain how the selected literary elements affect the narrative theme
Your paper should be organized around a thesis statement that focuses on how the literary elements contribute to the larger narrative theme.

The paper must be two to four pages in length (excluding the title and reference page), and formatted according to APA style. You must use at least two scholarly resources (at least one of which can be found in the Ashford Online Library) other than the textbook to support your claims and subclaims. Cite your resources in text and on the reference page.
Week 3

Required Readings

a. Chapter Eight – Readings for Exploration of Short Story Concepts and Forms Chapter 8.4 – Stories for Comparison Chapter 8.5 – A Common Human Dilemma Story Chapter 8.6 – A Coming-of-Age Story
b. Chapter Nine – What Is Poetry?
c. Chapter Ten – Identify the Poet’s Essential Tools
d. Chapter Eleven – Forms of Poetry

Discussions

Week 3 – DQ1 - The Short Story and Poem - ENG 125 - ENG125 Introduction to Literature - AU

The Short Story and Poem: A Comparison of Literary Forms.

Reflecting on this week’s literary readings, as well as your own reading experiences, identify at least one major similarity and one major difference between the forms of the short story and the poem. How do the differences between these literary forms affect how you read and respond to them? | Week 3 – DQ2 - Poetry and Performance - ENG 125 - ENG125 Introduction to Literature - AU |

Reading Response: Poetry and Performance.

Listen to We Real Cool and My Papa’s Waltz. These clips demonstrate the importance of performance, rhythm, and musicality in the poetic form.

Describe your listening experience of one or more of the poems. (If you prefer, you may find a recording of another poem from the course readings and describe your listening experience of it instead. If you choose this option, be sure to provide a link to the audio of the chosen poem.) How did hearing the text(s) recited aloud compare to a silent reading of it/them? Did the performance in any ways add to or detract from your experience of the text? Did the performance change your perception of the poem or its content in any ways? Explain how (or how not).

Assignments | Week 3 – Assignment - Final Paper Rough Draft - ENG 125 - ENG125 Introduction to Literature - AU |
Then, write a rough draft for your Final Paper, in which you compare and contrast two literary works from this course that share the same theme (using the “Themes & Corresponding Works” list in the Week Five Final Paper instructions, as a guide).
The paper should be organized around your thesis (argument), which is the main point of the entire essay. When developing a thesis for a comparative paper, consider how a comparison of the works provides deeper insight into the topic of your paper (i.e., think about why you have chosen to look at these particular works in relation to one another). In your analysis, consider the relationships among the following elements:

a. Content
b. Form (e.g., short story vs. poem)
c. Style
Assignment Requirements
a. Theme: Your paper must address one of the themes listed.
b. Length: Your draft should be six to ten double-spaced pages in length (excluding title and reference page)
c. Sources: Utilize at least six scholarly sources to support your thesis (including the course text and at least two sources from the Ashford Online Library).
d. APA: Your draft must be formatted to APA style. o Separate Title Page: Must include an original title o Separate Reference Page o Proper Citations: All sources must be properly cited, both within the text and in a separate reference page.
e. Elements of Academic Writing: All academic papers should include these elements. o Introduction with a thesis statement o Supporting paragraphs o Conclusion
Week 4

Required Readings

a. Chapter Thirteen – Drama: Introduction
b. Chapter Fourteen – Drama: Tragic Vision
2. To successfully complete this week’s written assignment, “Reading Response to a Poem,” read the following article found in EBSCO Host in the Ashford Online Library:
a. Tufts, C. (1998). Shakespeare’s conception of moral order in Macbeth. Renascence, 50(3), 168-182 (This critical essay offers students an example of interpreting and writing about drama. It also offers an opening for further discussion on Macbeth and on the tragedy as a genre.)
3. To successfully complete this week’s written assignment, “Reading Response to a Poem,” review the following chapters from the text, Journey into Literature:
a. Chapter Eight – Readings for Exploration of Short Story Concepts and Forms Chapter 8.4 – Stories for Comparison Chapter 8.5 – A Common Human Dilemma Story Chapter 8.6 – A Coming-of-Age Story
b. Chapter Nine – What Is Poetry?
c. Chapter Ten – Identify the Poet’s Essential Tools
d. Chapter Eleven – Forms of Poetry

Discussions |
Week 4 - DQ1 - The Dramatic Form and Riders to the Sea - ENG125 Introduction to Literature - AU |
The Dramatic Form and Riders to the Sea.

Chapter Thirteen discusses the major elements of drama and distinguishes the form from other genres like the short story and poetry. Using the play Riders to the Sea (Synge) as an example, discuss what elements and qualities make drama unique as a literary form. Support your ideas with textual evidence from Synge’s play. In your post, take into consideration how the literary themes of Riders to the Sea relate to the dramatic form. | Week 4 - DQ2 - Macbeth as Tragedy - ENG125 Introduction to Literature - AU |
Macbeth as Tragedy.

Shakespeare’s Macbeth is often considered one of literature’s greatest tragedies and is said to reveal much about human nature. Do you agree or disagree that the play conveys much about humanity or about the human experience? What, if anything, does the work suggest about human beings or society? Support your views with textual details and analysis.

In your response, address how Macbeth’s subject matter, themes, form, or other literary elements might (or might not) be characteristic of tragedy. How do tragic qualities of the play contribute (or not) to the story’s larger message(s)?

Assignments | Week 4 - Assignment - Reading Responses to a Poem - ENG125 Introduction to Literature - AU |
Reading Responses to a Poem.

Select one poem from this week’s assigned readings, and identify at least three elements in the poem that you found interesting or engaging (e.g., form, language, content, and/or other literary elements).

Then, assess how these elements affected your response to the poem, in its entirety. (e.g., Did these elements affect your opinions on (or reaction to) the content of the poem? Did they cause you to focus on one aspect of the poem over others?)
Week 5

Required Readings

a. Chapter Fifteen – Drama, Comedy and Social Commentary

Discussions | Week 5 – DQ1 - Comparing and Contrasting Literary Forms - ENG125 Introduction to Literature - AU |
Comparing and Contrasting Literary Forms.

Throughout this course we have explored the similarities and differences between the literary forms of the short story, the poem, and drama. For example, one major difference is that both poetry and drama frequently place a strong emphasis on performance before an audience that is physically present, while the short story is more commonly intended for individual reading.

With that said, it is important to remember that all literary works cannot always be easily classified into a single genre. Moreover, literary works which might be classified as belonging to one genre might possess many qualities more typical of other genres. For example, Shakespeare’s Macbeth is classified as drama, but in many respects takes the form of poetry. In other words, sometimes the differences between categories like drama, poetry, and the short story are not so easily defined. Often a short story might contain poetic or dramatic qualities, or a poem might include narrative and dramatic features. | Week 5 – DQ2 - Performance in Drama and Poetry - ENG125 Introduction to Literature - AU |
Performance in Drama and Poetry.

All literature involves some kind of performance which is intended for an audience. Sometimes, however, the performative quality of a work (i.e., the fact that it is being presented to an audience) is more obvious than at others. Drama and poetry, for example, tend to emphasize overt performance more than do short stories, which more often are read silently and in solitude.

How is the more direct performative aspect of drama and/or poetry reflected in these forms? (Consider for example, each genre’s uses of literary structure, language, technique, and style.) How do these literary elements affect your reading experience?

Final Paper | Week 5 – Final Paper - Symbolism of the Journey - ENG125 Introduction to Literature - AU |

Write an eight- to ten-page paper, in which you compare and contrast two literary works from this course that share the same theme (using the “Themes & Corresponding Works” list, below, as a guide).

The paper should be organized around your thesis (argument), which is the main point of the entire essay. When developing a thesis for a comparative paper, consider how a comparison of the works provides deeper insight into the topic of your paper (i.e., think about why you have chosen to look at these particular works in relation to one another). In your analysis, consider the relationships among the following elements: * Content * Form (e.g., short story vs. poem) * Style
Assignment Requirements * Topic: Must address one of the topics in the guidelines * Length: Your draft should be eight to ten double-spaced pages in length (excluding title and reference page) * Sources: Utilize at least six scholarly sources to support your thesis (including the course text and at least two sources from the Ashford Online Library). * APA: Your draft must be formatted to APA (6th edition) style. * Separate Title Page: Must include an original title * Separate Reference Page * Proper Citations: All sources must be properly cited, both within the text and in a separate reference page. * Elements of Academic Writing: All academic papers should include these elements. * Introduction with a thesis statement * Supporting paragraphs * Conclusion
Themes & Corresponding Works
Choose only two of the works within your selected theme.
Symbolism of the Journey * The Road Not Taken (Frost) * A Worn Path (Welty) * I Used to Live Here Once (Rhys)