LITERARY THEORY LITERATURE CIRCLES

What are literature circles?

Literature circles are reading, study, and discussion groups organized into groupings of students reading a variety of novels.

They have become popular because of the research done by Harvey Daniels (a teacher- turned professor- turned literacy education researcher).

Many of you have been involved in literature circles at some point in your academic career.

What is literary theory?

Literary theory is the method used to interpret any given work of literature. The different theories provide us with “lenses” which ultimately reveal important aspects of the literary work.

Why do we have to analyze the novels?

Talking about our connections to literature enhances our enjoyment of it

Talking about literature involves the search for meaning which increases our understanding of bot the literature and ourselves

Because Socrates said so: "The life which is unexamined is not worth living."

To further explain …

Literary theory helps us to understand what is important about the text

– Its structure: how the writing was put together

– Its context: social, economic, historical

– Its content: what it says– Its literary devices: how the text

manipulates the reader

And there's more …

Literary theory helps us to understand the relationship between authors, readers, and texts

The act of literary criticism ultimately enhances the enjoyment of our reading of the literary work

YOU'RE GOING TO STUDY FOUR THEORIES

1. Feminism- Focuses on the relationships between genders

2. Marxism- Focuses on the relationships between socio-economic classes

3. Historical- Focuses on the time period and cultural climate when the novel was written

4. Reader Response- Focuses on the reader’s interaction with and response to the text they are reading

Literary Theory…

What does this literary work mean?

Different approaches, or lenses (the WAY we see something), help us to discover rich and deeper meaning

Each lens has its strengths and weaknesses

Each lens is valuable Try to become a pluralist rather than an

inflexible supporter of one

YOUR TASK You will be assigned a literature circle Each circle will receive a folder detailing

the roles and assignments Delegate a role to each group member Follow the folder’s directions (read the

directions out loud with each other Questions? Ask your own group

members, then ask another group, then ask me if your question has not been answered.

Weekly Breakdown

Friday: Individual journal work for your roleTuesday: Finish up Individual workWednesday: Come together as a group, check each other’s work, complete group folder workThursday: Complete Deeper Understanding assignment and Group Evaluations.