Understanding the Elements of Literature: Its forms, Techniques and Cultural Conventions

247 Pages·1981·22.015 MB·English

by  Richard Taylor (auth.)

UNDERSTANDING THE ELEMENTS
OF LITERATURE
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UNDERSTANDING
THE ELEMENTS
OF LITERATURE
ITS FORMS,
TECHNIQUES AND
CULTURAL CONVENTIONS
Richard Taylor
M
©Richard Taylor, 1981
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1981 978-0-333-26320-4
All rights reserved. No part of this publication
may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form
or by any means, without permission.
First published1981 by
THE MACMILLAN PRESS LTD
London and Basingstoke
Companies and representatives throughout the world
Typeset in Great Britain by
mb Graphic Services, Bovingdon, Hertfordshire
ISBN 978-0-333-26321-1 ISBN 978-1-349-16773-9 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-1-349-16773-9
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Contents
Preface IX
Acknowledgements XI
1. The Nature of Literature and its Historical Tradition 1
Literature as Presentation ofExperience 1
Surface Detail and Theme 3
Function ofL iterature 5
Dynamics ofContrast and Opposition 6
Distinguishing Characteristics of Literature 7
Comparison with Other Art Forms 9
Literary Composition and Relation to Life 12
Areas of Critical Judgement 13
Historical Perspectives 16
Antique Sources of Literary Tradition 18
The Historical Development of English Literature 20
The Medieval Period: 450-1500 22
The Renaissance: 1500-1660 23
The Neo-Classical Age: 1660-1798 25
The Romantic and Modernist Periods: 1798-1939 29
The Contemporary Age: 1939- 35
2. Narrative Fiction and the Printed Word 39
Defmition of Genre 39
Genre Divisions 40
Traditional Subdivisions 41
Aesthetic Elements ofNarrative Fiction 48
Action-the Ordering ofE vents 49
Form-Outward Shape ofC onstruction 60
Character 62
Setting 69
Point of View 72
Style-an Expressive Device 81
Conclusion 99
vii
Vlll Contents
3. Drama and the Theatre 101
Drama as Re-creation of Action 101
Characteristics ofD rama as a Performing Art 102
The Illusion ofR eality 103
Literary Text v. Production Technique 104
Traditional Subdivisions 106
Ritual Drama 107
History Plays 108
Classical Tragedy 109
Modern Tragedy and Tragi-Comedy 112
Comedy 113
Aesthetic Elements of Drama 116
Action-the Ordering ,ofE vents 116
Characterisation 120
Setting 125
Implicit/Explicit Point of View 134
Spoken Language-Realistic Dialects 136
Drama Illustrations 143
4. Poetry and the Music of Speech 151
Poetry as a Pattern of Sounds 151
The Form and Spirit ofP oetry 152
Primary Modes of Poetic Expression 153
Narrative Poetry 153
Dramatic Poetry 154
Satirical Poetry 156
Lyric Poetry 157
The Structuring of Poetry 163
Patterns ofL anguage 164
Figures ofS peech 165
The Rhythmic Resources a/English 187
Rhythm as a Structural Element 197
Metre and Rhythmic Variation 199
Sound Patterning 204
Demonstration Analysis 211
References 216
Index 220
Preface
There are any number of introductory texts for students of
literature in English, but none takes into consideration the fact
that every reader is not necessarily familiar with the conventions
of literary expression or the cultural attitudes and values from
which they spring. For many years the teaching of literature has
assumed that students had already read widely, responded
directly to what they had read, and that with limited guidance
they could deduce from their reading the principles of both
literary construction and critical analysis. Emphasis was usually
placed on the historical development of literature and courses
generally consisted of set texts arranged by period, genre or
theme. Literary education, however, has already spread from its
traditional base as an institution of the middle classes in the
mainstream of European and American society which establishes
and preserves that particular cultural identity. Now there is an
ever greater need to supply students from other backgrounds with
an outline or scheme of ideas which governs literature as well as
that which operates within it.
The most obvious conventions to be considered are those
which determine the way human experience is presented in
literature: the selection and ordering of characters and actions,
the form and nature of the literary work, the view or attitude
towards the experience to be expressed, and the style of language
suited to that expression. Most of these decisions are based on the
unspoken values of the culture concerned; their aspirations and
goals, their sense of right and wrong as well as the ideal of good
taste and beauty which obtains in that society. It is possible to
discuss these questions, one by one, as they pertain to literature in
English and so provide an understanding of the basic elements
which give form and meaning to works ofliterature.
lX
x Preface
Because novels, plays and poems are complete and complex
entities, it is not possible to arrange the basic concepts and
conventions in a strict order of increasing difficulty, and the
reader will fmd that many interconnections and echoes will be
encountered while reading through the following discussion.
Redefmitions, modifications and deeper understandings of earlier
points will be suggested throughout. The present work neces
sarily begins with general comments on the nature and cultural
function of literature as well as its historical tradition before
taking up the more technical elements of the three major literary
forms. As many specific examples as possible are included and
these have been drawn from a wide range of ethnic literatures in
English.
The material in the present volume is not meant as a textbook
to be studied and mastered for its own sake, but rather as a
general background of basic concepts and relationships which
should make the study of actual literary texts more meaningful.