Literary Reading Through a Biographical Context PDF

Lesson 1 Literary Reading through a Biographical Context  explain the literary, biographical, linguistic, Learning 1 and sociocultural Competency contexts and discuss how they enhance the text’s meaning and...

Lesson 1 Literary Reading through a Biographical Context  explain the literary, biographical, linguistic, Learning 1 and sociocultural Competency contexts and discuss how they enhance the text’s meaning and enrich the reader’s understanding (EN12Lit-Ie-28)  Objectives identify the central theme of the literary text read; and analyze a literary text by examining biographical context. Essential Question How does looking through the eyes of the author help us better understand the text?  Vocabulary Words biography (noun) - a detailed 1 account or narrative of a person written by someone else I wonder if any author would write a belief system (noun) - the set of commemorative biography of Stan Lee? 3 mutually supportive beliefs that define a person’s or society’s outlook on life or reality autobiography (noun) - a It is crucial for a couple looking to 2 narrative of a person written by himself or herself marry that they share a similar belief system. Dennis Rodman revealed all his inner struggles in his autobiography, “Bad as I Wanna Be.”  Vocabulary Words jilt (verb) - ending a 4 confessional - (adjective) intimately autobiographical; 5 relationship with someone characterized by openness and self- suddenly or painfully. revelation Dana was definitely hurt when Ed Sheeran writes many her boyfriend jilted her. confessional songs about specific experiences he has had.  Learn about It! Reasons to read literature through the biographical context (Gioia and Kennedy 2007): Understanding the author’s life can help you understand his or her work thoroughly. Reading the author’s biography or autobiography helps you see how much his experiences shape his or her work directly and indirectly.  Learn about It! Biographical Strategies Research on what the author believes in and also what he or she does not. Analyze how the author’s belief system is reflected in his or her work. Look at the author’s other works and analyze if there is a pattern with regard to the theme that is indicative of his or her life and beliefs.  Learn about It! Reading Literature through a Biographical Context In what year was the text written and published? Is there anything significant that happened in the author’s life during this time? What were the circumstances that happened to the author before the writing of the text? Were there several drafts of the text? What can you say about the changes that the author made? What aspects do you think the author struggled with during  Learn about It! Reading Literature through a Biographical Context Are there characters and situations in the text that could be representative of or are similar to the ones in the author’s life? How will knowing about the author amplify your appreciation of the work?  Learn about It! Take note of the following before reading a text through a biographical context: You should not assume that all works are confessional, biographical, or even “true to life.” A literary text is according to the author’s perspective and will be heavily influenced by him or her, but it is not the only way of studying literature. Learn about It! Dreams Paul Laurence Dunbar Learn about It! Learn about It!  Learn about It! Guide Questions 1.What is the central theme of the poem? How is this used throughout the poem? 2.What does the poem say about its central theme or image? 3.How are these related to the author’s personal history and background? 4.What aspects of the author’s history can be seen in his written work?  Values Integration We have learned how an author’s life experiences and beliefs influence his or her writing. How can the knowledge of someone’s background affect the way we treat him or her as a person?  Let’s Do This! Read and analyze the short story, research on the author, and answer the questions that follow. The Tell-Tale Heart Edgar Allan Poe  Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849) Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19, 1809, in Boston. Poe’s father and mother, both professional actors, died before the poet was three years old, and John and Frances Allan raised him as a foster child in Richmond, Virginia. John Allan, a prosperous tobacco exporter, sent Poe to the best boarding schools and, later, to the University of Virginia, where Poe excelled academically. After less than one year of school, however, he was forced to leave the university when Allan refused to pay Poe’s gambling debts. Poe returned briefly to Richmond, but his relationship with Allan deteriorated. In 1827, Poe moved to Boston and enlisted in the United States Army. His first collection of poems, Tamerlane, and Other Poems (George Redway), was published that year. In 1829, he published a second collection entitled Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems (Hatch & Dunning). Neither volume received significant critical Poe began to sell short stories to magazines at around this time, and, in 1835, he became the editor of the Southern Literary Messenger in Richmond, where he moved with his aunt and cousin Virginia. In 1836, he married Virginia, who was thirteen years old at the time. Over the next ten years, Poe would edit a number of literary journals including the Burton’s Gentleman’s Magazine and Graham’s Magazine in Philadelphia and the Broadway Journal in New York City. It was during these years that he established himself as a poet, a short story writer, and an editor. He published some of his best-known stories and poems, including “The Fall of the House of Usher,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” and “The Raven.” After Virginia’s death from tuberculosis in 1847, Poe’s lifelong struggle with depression and alcoholism worsened. He returned briefly to Richmond in 1849 and then set out for an editing job in Philadelphia. For unknown reasons, he stopped in Baltimore. On  Guide Questions Instruction Answer this in 1 paragraph with 10-15 sentences How is Edgar Allan Poe’s background reflected in his writing? Criteria Score Content (The question is answered well. The answer provided is backed up with textual evidence and/or details about the author's biography.) 6 pts Organization (Logical progression of details/events; clear transitions between ideas.) 6 pts Language (spelling, mechanics, grammar, and word choice) 3 pts Score: /15