Part 3: Literature - Texts and Contexts
Overview & Learning Outcomes
In Part 3: Literature - Texts and Contexts, we look at literary texts in the contexts in which they were written and read.
"Students will be asked to consider not only the social issues inherent in a text (such as gender issues, political issues, conflicts between the individual and society), but also the ways in which the literary devices at work (such as narrative structure, elements of style) could be influencing the meaning of the text. Rounding out this holistic approach to a work is the student’s consideration of his or her own personal reading of a text" (ibo.org).
Throughout this part of the course, we will:
"Students will be asked to consider not only the social issues inherent in a text (such as gender issues, political issues, conflicts between the individual and society), but also the ways in which the literary devices at work (such as narrative structure, elements of style) could be influencing the meaning of the text. Rounding out this holistic approach to a work is the student’s consideration of his or her own personal reading of a text" (ibo.org).
Throughout this part of the course, we will:
- Consider the changing historical, cultural and social contexts in which particular texts are written and received.
- Demonstrate how the formal elements of the text, genre, and structure can not only be seen to influence meaning but can also be influenced by context.
- Understand the attitudes and values expressed by literary texts and their impact on readers.
Literary criticism
It is crucial to understand that literary works do not contain a fixed meaning but are open to interpretation.
In order to interpret a text and understand it, we can look at its context and analyze it through different lenses - referred to as modes or schools of literary criticism. Analyzing texts through various critical approaches gives us multiple ways in which to look at a single text; this multilateral approach forms layers of meaning and a deeper understanding of texts for readers.
The main modes of literary criticism which we will be addressing are:
Introduction to Literary Theory and Schools of Criticism - informative website from the Purdue Online Writing Lab
Introduction to Literary Criticism - Powerpoint below
In order to interpret a text and understand it, we can look at its context and analyze it through different lenses - referred to as modes or schools of literary criticism. Analyzing texts through various critical approaches gives us multiple ways in which to look at a single text; this multilateral approach forms layers of meaning and a deeper understanding of texts for readers.
The main modes of literary criticism which we will be addressing are:
- Formalist
- Biographical
- Historical/Cultural
- Psychological
- Mythological/Archetypal
- Gender
- Marxist
- Deconstructuralist
Introduction to Literary Theory and Schools of Criticism - informative website from the Purdue Online Writing Lab
Introduction to Literary Criticism - Powerpoint below
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Dead Man's Path by Chinua Achebe (for critical approaches activity)
Critical Approaches Worksheet (HL &SL) - to help you consider the Part 3 texts through various critical "lenses" |
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Part 3 Text Review Table - SL (Blank)
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Part 3 Text Review Table - HL (Blank)
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Things Fall Apart - Chinua Achebe
Published in 1958, set in the 1870s-90s in colonial Nigeria
Class Resources
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Video: A Brief history of European Colonization in Africa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pis5f085P3M |
docs.google.com/document/d/19eGhC_aM-xG0YJGI1LF78MMC-1zg5LiLerbUu8SraUQ/edit?usp=sharingColonialism in African - An overview (new york public library.org)
Colonial Exploration and Conquest in Africa - Read & answer questions listed throughout
The Practice and Legacy of Colonialism - understand the consequences
Pre-colonial Africa Map
The colonization of Africa Map
CLASSWORK:
Introductory Context Presentation Google Slides
Things Fall Apart Tracking Document
Elements of Style in TFA Google Doc
Colonial Exploration and Conquest in Africa - Read & answer questions listed throughout
The Practice and Legacy of Colonialism - understand the consequences
Pre-colonial Africa Map
The colonization of Africa Map
CLASSWORK:
Introductory Context Presentation Google Slides
Things Fall Apart Tracking Document
Elements of Style in TFA Google Doc
things_fall_apart_reading_guide.doc | |
File Size: | 61 kb |
File Type: | doc |
things_fall_apart_-_review_booklet.doc | |
File Size: | 120 kb |
File Type: | doc |
how_to_write_about_africa.pdf | |
File Size: | 40 kb |
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character_and_society_in_achebes_things_fall_apart_-_palmer_article.pdf | |
File Size: | 996 kb |
File Type: |
Author & Contextual Information |
Related Articles & Websites |
Nigeria facts - World Fact Book
Chinua Achebe biography (biography.com) Introduction to the text and its context (learner.org) Introduction to Igbo life and Culture More on Igbo life Even more on Igbo culture An interview with Chinua Achebe (The Art of Fiction from The Paris Review) An African Voice - an article about Achebe (theatlantic.com) |
"An Image of Africa" - Achebe on racism in Heart of Darkness
Igbo Traditional Religious Life and Philosophy Endangeredlanguages.com - explore and learn! Recovering Voices - lost languages (Smithsonian) |
A Doll's House - Henrik Ibsen
Written (circa) & first performed in 1879, in Norway (translated from Norwegian)
Video: Theatre in the 19th Century
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6Fb8nRz1Rk Video: The Victorian Era: An Introduction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgHGYyeYLlI |
Video: Modern Theatre and Realism
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrIsTzcq5O8 Video: Gender in 19th Century Britain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkJJFX8Qn90 |
Class resources
realism_notes.pdf | |
File Size: | 100 kb |
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dolls-houseamericanstagestudy-guide.pdf | |
File Size: | 1261 kb |
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a_dolls_house_booklet.docx | |
File Size: | 484 kb |
File Type: | docx |
gender_ideology_and_separate_spheres.docx | |
File Size: | 173 kb |
File Type: | docx |
gilman-the_yellow_wallpaper.doc | |
File Size: | 126 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Author & Contextual Information |
Related Articles & Websites |
Context readings for A Doll's House, Ibsen, and Realism - a variety of ideas and videos for understanding Ibsen and his work (read the last 2 articles: Enemy of the People & Ibsen and Realism)
Realism & A Doll's House Gender Roles in the 18th Century - first two sections Ideals of Womanhood in Victorian Britain (bbc.co.uk) Gender Roles in the 19th Century (British Library - bl.uk) The Ladies' Book of Etiquette and Manual of Politeness (online version; original published in 1860) Women and the Napoleonic Code The Weird World of Victorian Etiquette |
Gender & Sociology - good introduction to gender roles (boundless.com)
Why Women Still Can't Have It All (The Atlantic) The Thing All Women Do that You Don't Know (Huffington Post) The Everyday Sexism Project - anecdotes of everyday sexism Higher Unlearning - Men & Masculinity Expectations of Masculinity (The Good Men Project) Weinstein and the Economics of Consent (The Atlantic) |
Chronicle of a Death Foretold - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Published in 1981, in Colombia (translated from Spanish)
Class resources
Chronicle Introductory Presentation
Chronicle Resources - character chart, plot line, timeline, and questions
Violence in Chronicle - Prezi # 2
Chronicle Discussion Questions
Chronicle Detailed Study Questions
Chronicle Essay Q&A
Chronicle Resources - character chart, plot line, timeline, and questions
Violence in Chronicle - Prezi # 2
Chronicle Discussion Questions
Chronicle Detailed Study Questions
Chronicle Essay Q&A
Author & Contextual Information |
Related Articles & websites |
An Introduction to Magic Realism
The Origins of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Magic Realism (the Atlantic) The Art of Fiction - an interview with Gabriel Garcia Marquez (The Paris Review) A summary of Marquez's life and works after his death (New York Times article) Gabriel Garcia Marquez remembered Gabriel Garcia Marquez - a brief biography (Britannica) |
Direct, Cultural, and Structural Violence (whatonline.org)
Varieties of Violence overview (transcend.org) Colombia's Gender Problem (worldpolicy.org) Violence against women and machismo in Colombia (Colombia Reports) Is South America Moving Beyond Machismo? (Gallup.com) What is Diffusion of Responsibility? The Bystander Effect Surrealism in art Blood Fueds in Albania - video (NationalGeographic.com) |