Part 1 An Overall Guide to Appreciating Literature
1 What Is Literature?
1.1 Types of literature
1.2 Literature is language
1.3 Literature is fictional
1.4 Literature is true
1.5 Literature is aesthetic
2 Why Do We Read Literature?
2.1 To acquire knowledge and wisdom
2.2 To consolidate language competence
2.3 To read for pleasure
2.4 To improve understanding about life
2.5 To cultivate capacity of artistic appreciation
3 HOW to Learn Literary Texts?
3.1 Copying
3.2 paraphrase
3.3 Summary
3.4 Description
3.5 Analysis
4 How to Write About Literature?
4.1 Having something to say
4.2 Choosing a topic
4.3 Considering your audience
4.4 Collecting evidence
4.5 Developing argument
4.6 Writing die first draft
4.7 Revising
4.8 Documentation
4.9 The "Works Cited" page
4.10 Sample Essay 1
4.11 Sample Essay 2
5 How to Take Essay Tests?
5.1 Prepare thoroughly
5.2 Plan your answer wisely
5.3 Respond directly to the assignment
5.4 Add inserts when necessary
5.5 Write clear, simple, and correct prose
5.6 Be creative
5.7 Sample Test Essays
6 Major Critical Approaches
6.1 Formalistic criticism
6.2 Biographical criticism
6.3 Historical criticism
6.4 Psychological criticism
6.5 Sociological criticism
6.6 Feminist criticism
6.7 Reader-response criticism
6.8 Cultural studies criticism
6.9 Practical criticism
6.10 Some tips on applying critical approaches
7 Major Literary Schools
7.1 Classicism and neoclassicism
7.2 Romanticism
7.3 Realism
7.4 Naturalism
7.5 Modernism
7.6 Postmodernism
Part 2 A Guide to Appreciating English Poetry
1 Introduction
1.1 Nature of poetry
1.2 Various descriptions about poetry
1.3 Value of learning poetry
2 Scansion of Poetry
2.1 Rhythm
2.2 Meter and foot
2.3 Rhythmic patterns
2.4 Metrical mutations
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Part 3 A Guide to Appreciating English Drama
Part 4 A Guide to Appreciating English Fiction
Part 5 A Guide to Appreciating English Essays
Part 6 Short Glossary of Literary Terms
References