LITERATURE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interpreting Literature

Learn how to respond to a work of literature by interpreting selected phrases, sentences or passages and applying the information to personal life.

How to Interpret Literature
Basically, you have been interpreting literature since you started school. You read a story with your teacher and then discussed what the story was about. It is no different now--only a little more in-depth.

  • Interpreting a work of literature can be as simple as: Where did the puppy go?
  • Or, it can be slightly more complicated: What was his motivation for going there?
  • Or, it take on greater, more universal meaning: What statement is the author making about having the puppy walk onto that beach, when he was not allowed by law?

When reading a passage, it is helpful to reach into your own experiences and draw conclusions based on that. It is also helpful to discuss a piece to see the conclusions of others. Reading/knowing/learning a little bit about the historical context in which a piece of literature is based can help you to understand where the author is coming from.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Sunshine State Standards 6-8

Language Arts/Literature

Standard 2: The student responds critically to fiction, nonfiction, poetry and drama (LA.E.2.3).

Objective 2: Responds to a work of literature by interpreting selected phrases, sentences, or passages and applying the information to personal life.

Amusement Park Activity

Plot of a Show- Go to show. Does it have a plot? If so, it is a story. Identify the elements of plot.

  • Beauty and Beast show
  • Fanstasmic
  • Raider's of the Lost Arc.
  • The Lion King
  • It's Tough to be a Bug
  • Rolie Polie Olie
  • The Country Bear Jamboree
  • Honey, I shrunk the Audence.

 
Did You Know?

When you see an animated
movie, it takes you about 90
minutes. However, the movies
take a very long time to make.
At Pixar, the studio that created
Toystory, they complete about
3.5 minutes of animation a
week.

Vocabulary

Theme - The underlying meaning
of a literary work.

Timelessness - To be as relevant
today as it was yesterday.

Universal Theme - A theme that we
can all relate to--no matter when or
where we live.

Links

Literary Terms - A site
written and maintained by
Dr. Mary Ellen Van Camp
that includes plot and other
elements of fiction.

Literature: Constructing Plot
This educational website, from
Annenberg's Learner.org. includes
information on plot.