Appunti di lavoro per le classi 5C e 5F . Corso di letteratura prof.ssa Patrizia Manzini

How to write a Literal Appreciation of a text.
1 Step :Reading for understanding
2 Step: Analysing a passage 
3: Writing an essay

1.Reading for understanding.
   a) Read the passage carefully to get the general 'sense'.
        Do not use a dictionary yet.

   b) Read it again thoroughly - still without a dictionary - paying attention to the GRAMMAR ,
        WORD ORDER,and PUNCTUATION.
        It is a mistake to concentrate only on the meaning of nouns and verbs,instead, while
        reading, ask yourself  the following questions: 
        - what is the subject of this clause? ( what is the object?)
        - which is the main verb in a complex sentence? (and which the subordinate?)
        - which nouns have been substituted by pronouns?
        - how have nouns been modified? (not only adverbs, but also modal auxiliaries like 
          'can','ought to', etc.)
    
        Recognise the importance of 'CONNECTORS' - for example but,while,and,whereas,
        although,etc.
        Recognise the relationship between a sentence and its predecessor:
        - explanation
        - expansion
        - continuation
        - contrast

    c) Read the passage again -this time with a dictionary. Look up:
        - words that you don't know
        - words that you think may have more than one meaning in the context.
        - words whose meaning you know, but which look 'odd' to you.
          N.B. DO NOT assume that the first meaning in the dictionary is the appropriate in the 
                  context of the passage.

    d) By now, you are in a position to state (stabilire) the writer' overall objective/aim.
         This may be one or more of the following:
          - to inform
          - to explain
          - to persuade
          - to evoke an emotional response/a mood
          - to create an 'atmosphere'
          - to ridicule
          - to describe a person ( characterisation)
          - to describe a place,thing,scene (description)
          - to describe an action (narrative)
          -etc.,etc.

+2. ANALYSING A PASSAGE

You now have a clear idea of what the writer is attempting.The big question is how
succesful he has been. Before answering this question, you should have in mind a framework
(struttura) upon which to base your judgement. For example:
    
 a) CHOICE OF WORDS :        for meaning  (denotation and connotation)
                                                  for the sound (alliteration,assonance and onomatopaeia)
                                                  in the length of words significant or their etymology.
        The choice of words indicates, interalia (nell'insieme), the writer's register:
                                                  dignified/colloquial
                                                  serious/mocking
                                                  prosaic/poetic
                                                  tense/smooth

   b) SENTENCE STRUCTURE :  word-order
                                                       tense and verb form
                                                       lenth of sentences
                                                       sequence of sentences
-
   c) INDIRECT DEVICES: -   imagery  (simile,personification,metaphor)
                                                an appeal to the reader's imagination
                                                why does the writer use an image? Is it effective?
                                                an image may be : fresh, original, clever, simple, etc......
                                                or it may be : cliched, artificial, hackneyed (frase fatta),etc....

                                               - allusion : an appeal to the reader's knowledge
                                                 an allusion may be very far removed from the topic of the 
                                                 passage why is it used? how appropriate is it?

 -symbol : an object that stands for something else -usually an
                                                    abstract idea  ( e.g. a lamb may be a symbol for Spring; 
                                                    Spring for Birth; etc.)
                                                 N.B. Do not look for symbols that the writer did not intend.
              
                                               - irony : the expression of one's meaning by saying the direct 
                                                 opposite 

                                               - understatement (espressione inadeguata) : saying less than
                                                  one means. (e.g. Beethoven's 9th is not a bad piece of music)
                                                   N.B. the opposite of understatement is the
                                                  hyperbole
                                                                              
    d) FORM : the shape of the passage as a whole : it's pattern (modello) of construction and 
                       development.
                       The interrelationship of A - C above :
                        (e.g. the repetition of word , structure, image , etc. (lietmotif)
                                 the harmony between words and image , between images and 
                                 sentences , etc. )

   Three comments :
   
   1. Do not summarise the passage.
   2. Do not simply list the stylistic devices - Evaluate them (valutateli).
   3. Do not give irrelevant opinions -( e.g. D.H.Lawrence is obsessed with sex.)

3. WRITING AN ESSAY

   A. General rules :
         1. Think before you write anything.
         2. Do not start your essay until you have made an essay-plan (see B below)
         3. Indent (fate rientrare all'inizio della riga) each paragraph.
         4. Each paragraph should be concerned with one topic or aspect of the essay-title.
             The' topical' sentence should be first. Your thought should move clearly forward.
         5. In 'appreciation'(critica) essays , brief but relevant quotations are essential.
         6. Don't be tedious.
         7. Rarely,if ever, use the first person:
              - this essay will examine/consider/analyse/discuss/ etc.
              -.....and......will be examined/discussed/etc.
              - it may be said/argued/suggested/etc.
              - it is evident/apparent/obvious/that....
         8. Leave a wide margin and double-space.
         9. Make your writing legible.( Belle copie, in my opinion, are a waste of time during the
             exams)

    B. Basic Essay Types :

1.	CRITICISM (Appreciation) - e.g. 'Assess( stabilite) how successful the writer has been in  creating an atmosphere of tenseness (tensione) and fear in this passage'.

                                  INTRODUCTION: Clarify the title(why fear and tenseness). Maybe
                                                                Summarise the nature of the passage briefly. Define
                                                                where essential.
                                                                State what the essay will do, and in what order.
                                  MAIN SECTION:  Write a paragraph on each aspect of style (e.g. choice
                                                                 of words) including good and bad points and
                                                                 quotations.
                                  CONCLUSIONS : The answer to the essay title.You may now give your 
                                                                opinion.

2.	COMPARATIVE :- e.g. 'What are the advantages and the disadvantages of    
                                      urbanisation'.

                                  INTRO : Set the problem into a specific context (e.g.Italy 1970s).
                                                 Define where necessary(e.g.urbanisation).
                                                 Isolate and specify the major (or most interesting) advantages 
                                                 and  disadvantages.
                                  MAIN SECTION : advantages a,b, c, 
                                                                 disadvantages a, b, c, 
                                  CONCLUSION : Synthesis and summing- up statement (maybe your 
                                                             opinion)

       3. PROBLEM : - e.g. 'What should Society do about pollution?'

                                   INTRO : Set the problem into context. Separate various aspects of 
                                                 pollution (e.g. Industrial,noise,vehicle,etc.). Enumerate
                                                 possible solutions. 
                                                  Define 'society'.
                                   MAIN SECTION : paragraph on each of 4 or 5 solutions, stating 
                                                                advantages and disadvantages of each one.
                                   CONCLUSION : rounding up (riunire) - perhaphs a brief restatement of
                                                                main section.
                                                                You may wish to isolate the most practicable and/or 
                                                                most efficient.
                                
ESSAY
INTRODUCTION : 50 words
MAIN PART : 3 paragraphs of 100 words each
CONCLUSION : 50 words
Example of Introduction :
e.g.'Consider how effective this passage (by Conrad) is'.
 The purpose of this essay is to evaluate (some of) the devices which the author uses in order to create an atmosphere of mystery and stillness.In the first paragraph the author's choice of words will be considered. An examination of the sentences-structure will follow and (the) other paragraphs will deal with....and ....... . Finally/At the end, a conclusion will be made of the total effect.
(60 words)
Example of conclusion :
- Successful (e.g.What is the intention/purpose of the writer?
- because  (e.g. if he uses symbols or images,are they appropriate or not?is it all in harmony?)
- summary of the points made in the main section .
The writer's purpose is to create an atmosphere of... . In order to reach his purpose the writer uses some stylistic devices - including images, personifications -and a peculiar choice of words. He is successful in his purpose.