interpreting and analyzing literature
TRANSCRIPT
INTERPRETATION
“Escape literature is that written purely for entertainment—to help us pass the time agreeably.
Interpretive literature is written to broaden and deepen and sharpen our awareness of life.
Interpretive literature enables us to move beyondbeyond the text and consider its implications as human beings who live in the world today.
Interpretive literature answers the question “I read the book----so what?!”
Escape Escape literatureliterature takes us away from the real world: it enables us temporarily to forget our troubles.
Interpretive Interpretive literatureliterature takes us through the imagination, deeper into the real world: it enables us to understand our troubles.
Escape literature has pleasure as its only object.
Interpretive literature has as its object pleasure plusplus understanding.”
Shows what it means to be a human
being in the world.
Helps us to understand our world.
Helps us to understand ourselves
Presents an insight into the nature of our
existence
Insights into our culture or history
Interpretive Literature has Interpretive Literature has a BROADER a BROADER SIGNIFICANCE:SIGNIFICANCE:
IInterpreting nterpreting andand AnalyzingAnalyzing LiteratureLiterature
The process of discovering meaning through the examination of details and parts
Interpretation:Looking at a work’s
details to decide on its meaning
How can we How can we Interpret?Interpret?1. Get the facts straight2.2. Connect the work with Connect the work with
yourselfyourself3. Develop ideas as you read4.4. Write as you readWrite as you read5.5. Get ideas from other peopleGet ideas from other people6.6. Analyze the workAnalyze the work
How can we How can we Interpret?Interpret?
Get the facts straightConnect the work with yourselfConnect the work with yourself
Develop ideas as you readWrite as you readWrite as you read
Get ideas from other peopleGet ideas from other peopleAnalyze the workAnalyze the work
How can we How can we Interpret?Interpret?
Get the facts straightConnect the work with yourselfConnect the work with yourself
Develop ideas as you readWrite as you readWrite as you read
Get ideas from other peopleGet ideas from other peopleAnalyze the workAnalyze the work
How can we How can we Interpret?Interpret? Get the facts straight
Connect the work Connect the work with yourselfwith yourself
Develop ideas as you read
Write as you readWrite as you readGet ideas from other Get ideas from other
peoplepeopleAnalyze the workAnalyze the work
How can we How can we Interpret?Interpret?
Getting the facts straightIn order to come up with believable
interpretations about a work, you have to understand what is in it—the “facts”
Example: Do you know the meanings of words found in the writing? Do you know allusions to the Bible or mythology? Do you understand universal patterns or symbols used?
READ SLOWLY and REREAD
Connect the work with Connect the work with yourselfyourself
The most important meanings of literature will be your own.
Interpretations by scholars should be important because they represent a cultural heritage.
Relate the work to your life in some way in order for it to live for you.
How can you connect the piece How can you connect the piece to yourself, especially if it is not to yourself, especially if it is not
interesting to you?interesting to you? How are the characters or event similar to things in your own life?
How might people you know react to this work? Would it shock them? Scare them? Anger them?
What new things does the work bring up for you?
How does this work challenge your beliefs? How does this work give you pleasure? What is upsetting or unpleasant about it?
Develop ideas as Develop ideas as you readyou readMost of you generate ideas as you read
automatically. In fact, you cannot read at all without making SOME interpretation.
As you read, ask yourself questions about what the details you encounter may mean.
Example: Why is the character acting like that? Why does the author use this symbol? How does this relate to the title of the work?
Write as you readWrite as you readMake a copy of the work, if it is in your
anthology. Then, circle important passages, underline key words, make notes in the margins, etc.
Your notations will help to lead you to the important parts of the work– and to synthesize your thoughts about it.
You may opt to keep a journal or notebook with your reflections, summaries, descriptions, quotations, facts about characters, etc.
Get ideas from other Get ideas from other peoplepeople Sometimes it helps to know what other people
think about it. Other people’s ideas give us a place to begin.
You can use the library, form a discussion group, internet, friends, teachers, and other people may know something about the topic.
The opportunity to exchange ideas is a valuable and beneficial experience to understanding literature.
Analyze the workAnalyze the workANALYSIS means breaking something down
into its parts in order to examine the relationship among them.
This is a necessary strategy for generating and communicating interpretation.
Analyzing literature helps you to see how each part contributes to the entire work. You can then become better aware of how authors use the elements to signal meaning.
Interpret this!Interpret this!
What are the facts?What are the facts?1. Two people
2. Movie on the screen
3. Headphones on the man in sunglasses
4. Noise coming out of the box attached to headphones
Connect the work to Connect the work to yourselfyourself
Maybe the man is bored with the cheesy movie?
Maybe he is overworked and trying to catch up on homework?
Maybe he has on 3-D glasses and is listening to the movie in another language?
Analysis…How do the How do the
headphones, headphones, talking box, talking box, and glasses and glasses relate to the relate to the picture as a picture as a whole?whole?
Have you
figured out the
picture yet?
Movies for
people with
disabilities
Interpret this!Interpret this!#1
Interpret this!Interpret this!
#2
Interpret this!Interpret this!
#3
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#6
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#7
Interpret this!Interpret this!
#8 Hmm
Interpret this!Interpret this!
#9 Ahh
Interpret this!Interpret this!
#10 Uh huh