Week Four Class Notes10/4-10/8

Chapter Eight: Allusion

• Allusion: a reference to something in history or previous literature
• Ex: The title of the poem “Out, Out--” alludes to a passage in Macbeth where Shakespeare expresses feelings of cruelty and meaninglessness towards life.
• Allusions “reinforce the emotion or the ideas of one’s own work with the emotion or ideas of another work or occasion” (853).
• Poets are always in danger of not being fully understood; all readers may not understand all of the allusions used in a piece
• Readers should try to increase their literary and cultural repertoire in order to fully understand more allusions

This site gives some examples of allusions. It will help you as a reader better pick out allusions in text! http://www.worsleyschool.net/socialarts/allusion/page

Chapter Nine: Meaning and Idea

• “The meaning of a poem is the experience it expresses- nothing less” (865).
• Total Meaning: the experience a poem communicates from its prose meaning
• Prose Meaning: the key element of a prose paraphrase that makes it mean what it means
• Prose meaning can be anything: “…a story, a description, a statement of emotion, a presentation of human character, or some combination of these” (865).
• The value of a poem is not based on the validity of the idea, but rather on the experience of the poem itself
• When reading poetry, be receptive to all kinds of experiences; it will better your reading experience
• “Loveliest of Trees” presents the idea that life is worth taking the time to appreciate.
• “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening” illustrates the conflict of the narrator; though the narrator wants to observe the beauty around him, he feels that he has larger responsibilities that must be taken care of first.

This link is to an excellent “essay” written by Professor of English Huck Gutman (University of Vermont). It gives examples and guidelines on how to find the meanings in poems.
http://www.uvm.edu/~sgutman/Reading_poems_I.html

This is an online course series from Yale University’s English Department. It highlights critical approaches and ways to study literature. I though it looked interesting!
http://oyc.yale.edu/english/introduction-to-theory-of-literature/content/class-sessions

AP Literature MC Questions:

• 50-55 Questions (based on reading comprehension and interpretive ability)
• 4 separate passages (2 prose, 2 poetry) with 10-15 questions each
• 60 minutes to complete this part of the test
• Strategy: “quickly decide which passage will be easiest for you to read and answer questions about and start there”
• Annotate and underline like your life depends on it, but keep them concise, short, and neat
• You are not looking for symbols, figures of speech…etc unless a question specifically asks for it
• DO notice: titles, main ideas, patterns of organization, significant action
• Keep a running paraphrase; if necessary, slow down and reread a bit
• The power of elimination is great and good.
• If any part of an answer is wrong, the whole answer is wrong
• Eliminate answers that are too broad, are too narrow, are true but don’t answer the question, are restatements of the question, or the opposite of the real answer
• Lastly, TRUST YOUR GUT.
• Read. Think. Discuss.
• Review Terms.
• Practice makes perfect!

Free Response Questions

• Essay questions count as 55% of composite scores; three questions
• One analyzes a piece of poetry, one that requires you to analyze a piece of prose, and one that require you to choose a work and analyze it in the context of the question asked (What is the meaning of the poem and what are the ways that the author supports it?)
• Begin with the easiest essay
• Read (the prompt)
• Analyze (your goals)
• Plan (a response)
• Write (your essay)
• Analyze (its effectiveness) *see “Tap Ice”
• Revise (content, structure, and usage)

 Closed Readings

• Skim once, and then go back and do a thorough reading (limit second reading to 5 min.)
• Let the prompt guide your annotations
• Pay attention to: title, narrative stance, significant (diction, imagery, details, language, syntax), and patterns of organization
• Do not summarize!
• You can discuss opposition as well as support

 The Open Prompt

• Critical Theory: make a statement about how a given element of literature sometimes functions and it asks how it is true of a piece you have already read
• Content: “theme” focused; ask how the theme is developed

 *See “General Tips” portion of handout
How to prepare?

• Review Book Notes
• Reread two works (Hamlet and Invisible Man?)
• Practice!!!