The Handy Literature Answer Book
eBook - ePub

The Handy Literature Answer Book

An Engaging Guide to Unraveling Symbols, Signs and Meanings in Great Works

  1. 496 pages
  2. English
  3. ePUB (mobile friendly)
  4. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub

The Handy Literature Answer Book

An Engaging Guide to Unraveling Symbols, Signs and Meanings in Great Works

About this book

Get the most out of reading with this an engaging and fun guide to the deeper meanings in great works of literature!

From the epic of Gilgamesh to Aristotle and Cicero, and from Shakespeare and the King James Bible to Wuthering Heights, War and Peace, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and the Nobel-winning lyrics of Bob Dylan, the world of literature is an integral part of our lives. Great literature can shape and form thoughts and opinions as well as influence politics and predict the future. Reading can truly enrich our lives, but it can sometimes be daunting to get the most out of a great work of literature.

The Handy Literature Answer Book: Understand and Enjoy Meanings, Symbolism, and Signs in Great Works is an engaging, easy-to-read look at literature basics such as themes, symbols, context, and other literary devices. Different literary forms, including novels, poems, plays, short stories, memoirs, and literary nonfiction are analyzed. Hundreds of important stories and great works are used as illustrative examples. Learn about the five basic questions for any work of literature, including "What is the significance of a title?" "What is conflict?" "What is character development?" "What is point of view?" "How does a setting affect a story?" "What are the different schools of literary criticism?" and many more.

Bringing the most out of the reading experience, The Handy Literature Answer Book deciphers and analyzes stories, novels, and verses through insightful in-depth answers to nearly 400 common questions. You will also read about such fascinating tidbits as …

  • What are the key components of literature?
  • How is reading literature different from other kinds of reading?
  • Why is artful reading so hard?
  • What do poems do?
  • How should a poem be read for its comparisons—metaphors and similes?
  • What, according to Poe, should be the method of the short story writer?
  • How do you recognize the difference between story and plot in a short story?
  • How can you recognize a symbol?
  • What are the defining characteristics of the novel?
  • How did the novel evolve from a popular literary entertainment to the modern novel?
  • What is the difference between drama and theater?
  • What is the best way to understand and appreciate Shakespearean drama?
  • What approaches should you take in reading an essay?
  • What are characteristics of a memoir?

    This handy primer from two highly regarded experts also includes a glossary of essential literary terms, a timeline, a helpful bibliography, and an extensive index, adding to its usefulness. Making reading more enriching, rewarding, and enjoyable, The Handy Literature Answer Book is a wonderful, eye-opening read!

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    Yes, you can access The Handy Literature Answer Book by Daniel S. Burt,Deborah G. Felder in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Literature & Literary Criticism History & Theory. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

    Table of contents

    1. Front Cover
    2. Title Page
    3. Table of Contents
    4. Photo Sources
    5. Acknowledgments
    6. Introduction
    7. What is Literature and How to Read It
    8. Why Read Literature & How Not to Read It
    9. How to Read Poetry
    10. How to Read Short Stories
    11. How to Read the Novel
    12. How to Read Drama
    13. Critical Approaches to Literature
    14. Glossary of Essential Literary Terms
    15. Listing of Selecte Dessential Poems, Stories, Novels, and Dramas
    16. Further Reading
    17. Index
    18. About the Author
    19. Also from Visible Ink Press
    20. Copyright