How to interpret a literary text.ppt

1、美国文学（一） American Literature I,Methodology: New Criticism, mainly; with other approaches,How to write a comment an essay on poetry? Step I: finding out who is speaking. Knowledge about who the poet is and when and where s/he wrote can sometimes provide useful information which will help you understan

2、d what is being said. All literature is written in a social, cultural and historical context, and understanding this context can add greatly to your understand and interpretation of the poem.,The Rose FamilyRobert Frost The rose is a rose, And was always a rose. But the theory now goes That the appl

3、es a rose, And the pear is, and sos The plum, I suppose. The dear only know What will next prove a rose. You, of course, are a rose But were always a rose.,The Road Not Taken Two roads diverged in a yellow wood And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one a

4、s far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that, the passing there Had worn them really about the same,And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had tro

5、dden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.,S

6、tep II : finding out when and where is the poem set. Knowledge about the setting of a poem helps to learn the indication of the mood or atmosphere that the poem is trying to convey, as well as help your understanding of the poems message. Step III: finding out what are the form and structure of the

7、poem? Knowledge about the form and structure of the poem helps to learn about how a poet decides to write a poem, s/he also chooses a specific form that they think will best convey their ideas. Poetry encompasses many modes: narrative, dramatic, satiric, polemic, didactic, erotic, lyrical/personal e

8、tc.,Step IV: finding out what is the subject matter of the poem. The poet is trying to say something through his poem. S/he chooses the speaker, setting and form to convey the theme or central idea. There are no limits to the subjects poets choose to write about: it could be about events, actions, t

9、houghts, memories, arguments, polemic, and so on.,Step V: finding out how does the imagery contribute to the poems meaning. Figurative language and imagery are a part of everyday speech, but they are often highlighted and emphasized in poetry. Words are not confined to their literal meanings and are

10、 used to create sensory associations, visual and aural. They are also a source of connotations that they have accumulated as their meanings have altered. Imagery is used to discuss one thing through an indirect reference to something else, and can add multiple layers of meaning to a poem.,Step VII:

11、finding out what does the tone contribute to the success of the poem. The knowledge about the tone of the poem helps to learn the attitude of the speaker towards the subject matter, and which is closely linked to the feeling and mood that informs the poem. The tone is not static and may alter as the

12、 poem develops and more ideas are introduced. Understanding the tone of a poem is an integral component in comprehending its overall message. Factors such as diction, rhythm, speaker, setting and imagery can inform the tone of the poem.,Step VIII: finding out what is the message of the poem. The things that happen in the poem - the actions, scenes or events - constitute the subject matter, but the theme is portrayed through the central message of the poem. It can be rather ab