{"product_id":"2940014878463","title":"HOW TO STUDY LITERATURE: a guide to the intensive study of literary masterpieces","description":"PREFACE\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis book is intended to aid in the study of literature. It is generally conceded that the best method is to take up certain literary masterpieces. But how shall a masterpiece be studied? A play of Shakespeare's is before the class. The text-book is provided with an introduction and notes. The introduction gives the date and the sources of the play; the notes explain difficult words and allusions. It is easy to assign lessons on this basis, and very easy to set examinations on it. Yet a class may know introduction and notes thoroughly, and still be far from appreciating or even understanding the play as a piece of literature. For the introduction deals with facts of literary history; the notes with philology, grammar, and manners and customs of the time. This information is valuable, it is indispensable, but it is, after all, only a means to an end, and that end is the appreciation and enjoyment of a literary masterpiece.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe aim of this manual is to facilitate the systematic, careful, and appreciative study of literature as literature. It concentrates attention upon the text itself, not upon editorial explanation or comment. It furnishes means by which the student may ascertain for himself the chief characteristics of the book studied. It acquaints him with the fundamental principles of literary construction, and asks him to decide for himself how far these principles have been observed. Not to present ready-made opinions for his acceptance, but to teach him to see for himself and to judge for himself is the aim throughout.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFurther, each book is treated as a type, a representative of a class, so that the study of a few books may open the way to the appreciation of many. The suggestions for comparative study, the collateral reading recommended, all have this object in view, that through the medium of a few volumes the student may gain an outlook upon the world of literature.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOutlines are given for the study of six literary types: in poetry, the epic, lyric, and drama; in prose, fiction, the essay, and the oration. These classes include practically all the books prescribed for the college entrance examinations and those studied in the first years of college work. In most secondary schools the study of literature is pursued for several years, three or four classics being taken up each year. This manual is not intended to supplant any of the texts used, but to supplement them, to be used with them as a guide.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe lists of critical terms given are intended to aid the student to say exactly what he means. It is often the case that a beginner feels the beauty or power of a masterpiece as fully as an older reader, but, lacking words to express himself, he falls back upon a general term like \" fine,\" which may mean any one of twenty things. Yet if the terms are at hand, he can select the one he wants; he understands the meaning of the words, but they are not a part of his working vocabulary. To supply this lack, carefully selected lists of the commoner critical terms have been provided.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is not intended that the outlines shall be followed rigidly in every detail. With a certain poem noted for the beauty and variety of its imagery, that section of the outline will be emphasized, the one on character study, perhaps, abridged. On the other hand, if a class is already able to distinguish the figures of speech, and the poem studied is not noteworthy in this respect, that section of the outline may be omitted. This is, perhaps, only saying that this book does not pretend to take the place of the intelligent teacher.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eB. A. H., MlLLERSVILLE, PA.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e***\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAn excerpt from:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePART I\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOUTLINE FOR THE STUDY OF NARRATIVE POETRY\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e(See Specimen Study, Part II)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI. Mastery of Subject-matter\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe first step in the study of a literary work of any kind is to gain an idea of it as a whole. This can best be done by a single rapid reading, at a sitting, if possible. Do not stop to look up words nor to refer to the notes; you can understand enough of the work to gain a general idea of it. This done, the book should be read a second time, more carefully, in connection with the notes. These notes are not to be memorized; they are intended merely to help one to understand the text. After the work has been read in this way, take up the questions in the outline and answer them, with reference to the text when necessary. This mastery of subject-matter, the comprehension of the work as a whole, must precede any study of parts or of particular characteristics.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eII. Classification\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe chief classes of narrative poetry are: \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e(a) The Epic, a long poem treating a heroic theme in a dignified style, as Paradise Lost.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e(b) The Metrical Romance, a long story in verse, less lofty in theme and style than the Epic; often a love story. Examples: Tennyson's Princess; Scott's Marmion....","brand":"OGB","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47146172285168,"sku":"2940014878463","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940014878463_p0.jpg?v=1763616529","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940014878463","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}