Introduction to literary terms

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

What's the plan?

• Read your book in class.
• Literary terms
• Claim a time slot for your oral exam

Goals

• You are (almost) halfway your book.
• You can use literary terms to discuss a book.
• You know when you have your oral exam.

Read your book 

(25 minutes)

How to read and talk about 

a novel

 

round characters are complex and change throughout the story

flat characters are one dimensional (stereotypes)

Or three levels:

Inner conflict: doubts and fears

Personal conflict: with other people

Extra-personal conflict: with the world

Example of essay assignment

“Consider how the two different authors of your books approach the theme of good versus evil." 

This sentence asks you to compare two authors, but it also asks how they approached the point of comparison (i.e. ‘good vs evil’). In other words, you will need to make an evaluative or analytical argument about those approaches.

Discuss in pairs your book:

• What kind(s) of conflict can you find in (scenes of) the book?
• What is the setting of your book? (when?, where?)
• Point of view (who is telling the story?)
• What is an important theme in your book? 
• What is the structure of the book?
• Have you come across special symbols?
• What is the resemblance between your two books?

Homework

• Rewrite your first four paragraphs of your essay, use the feedback & examples.
• Tomorrow: Write a conclusion for your essay.

Start thinking about the differences and similarities between your two novels.

Goals today

• You are (almost) halfway your book.
• You can use literary terms to discuss a book.
• You know when you have your oral exam.