Major Works Data Sheet

1. Major Works Data Sheet How do I do this?

2. First Box • MLA Book Citation • Author. • Title. • Place of publication: • Date of publication. • Example: Tan, Amy. The Bonesetter’s Daughter. New York: Putnam, 2001. *This info. Goes above the first box on page 1*

3. First Box (continued) Genre A division or type of literature. Literature is commonly divided into three major genres: • Poetry • Prose • Drama

4. Genre - Poetry • Language in its most condensed form. • Words are chosen and arranged to create a certain effect. • Poetry uses a variety of sound devices, imagery, and figurative language to express emotions and ideas.

5. Genre – Poetry (continued) • Concrete Poetry • Dramatic Poetry • Epic Poetry - a long narrative poem about the adventures of gods or a hero. Epics address universal concerns such as good and evil, life and death, sin and redemption, or other serious subjects. • Lyric Poetry

6. Genre - Prose • The ordinary form of written language. • Most writing that is not poetry or drama is considered prose. • One of the major forms of literature, prose occurs in two forms: fiction and non-fiction.

7. Genre - Prose – Fiction • Novel – a long work of fiction grouped by time period, subject/themes, or techniques used • Adventure – An exciting undertaking involving risk and physical danger. The fast-paced plot focuses on the actions of the protagonist within the setting • Robinsonade – simply described as a “desert island story”. The protagonist survives by his wits and the qualities of his cultural upbringing which also enable him to prevail in conflicts with fellow castaways.

8. Genre - Prose – Fiction – Novel • Allegory – A figurative work in which a surface narrative carries a secondary, symbolic or metaphorical meaning. • Bildungsroman – A novel of personal development in which the protagonist is initiated into adulthood through knowledge, experience, or both, often by a process of disillusionment.

9. Genre - Prose – Fiction – Novel (cont.) • Quest or Journey – The story of someone who undergoes great tests of character to become the embodiment of the values of his or her society. The protagonist sets off on an actual journey, encountering danger and intrigue, adventures that form him or her into the person that he or she is meant to be. • Regional – A novel faithful to a particular geographic region and its people, including behavior, customs, speech, and history.

10. Genre - Prose – Fiction – Novel (cont.) • Social Realism – Literature that realistically depicts the life, struggles, and urban environment of the lower classes in the 20th century, and focuses on subjects of social and political concern, such as poverty and deprivation.

11. Genre - Prose – Fiction (continued) • Short story- a brief work of fiction that can usually be read in one sitting. In most, the story has one main conflict that involves the characters, keeps the story moving, and keeps it interesting.

12. Genre - Prose – Fiction (continued) • Fable – a brief tale told to illustrate a moral or teach a lesson. • Myth – a fictional tale, originally with religious significance that explains the actions of gods or heroes, or the causes of natural phenomena. • Legend – a widely told story about the past, one that may or may not have foundation in fact

13. Genre - Prose - Nonfiction Prose writing that presents and explains ideas or that tells about real people, places, objects, or events. • Narrative Nonfiction – tells a true story that includes a real setting, all the elements of plot, actual people, and a point of view. It may also have a theme. And it is often told in chronological order.

14. Genre - Prose – Nonfiction(continued) • Autobiography – a form of nonfiction in which a person tells his or her own life story • Memoir – a form of autobiographical writing in which a person recalls significant events in his or her life. Memoirs often include writers’ feelings and opinions giving the reader insight. • Biography – a form of nonfiction in which a writer tells the life story of another person

15. Genre - Prose – Nonfiction(continued) • Essay – a brief composition on a single subject that usually presents the personal views of an author. • Expository – used to explain something • Narrative – tells a story • Persuasive – used to convince • Critical – evaluates • Personal – expresses viewpoints by reflecting

16. Genre - Prose – Nonfiction(continued) • Speech – a talk or public address. The purpose of a speech may be to entertain, explain, persuade, or inspire, or it may be any combination of these aims.

17. Characteristics of Genre • What is it about this piece of literature that makes it fit the particular genre you have indicated?

18. Biographical information about the author • This is where you will need to do a little research about your author. • Focus your entry on information that helped shape the author. • Do not cut and paste from the Internet.

19. Historical information about the period of publication • Again you will need to do some research – this time about what was happening in the world at the time the book was published. • Focus your entries on what was going on in the world that may have influenced the author to write this particular book. • If you have access to PHCC online databases, use them!!

20. Plot Summary (two sentences to explain each) ***PAGE NUMBERS!!! • Exposition/Background • Narrative Hook/Initial Conflict • Rising Action • Climax/Point of no return of MAIN conflict • Falling Action • Conclusion

21. Author’s Style! • Tone, Style, and Syntax go “hand in hand.” • When you give your example, you must explain how your example demonstrates the author’s style. • Include page numbers!!!

22. Memorable Quotes • If you could only pick ten lines from the book that tells your reader everything he needs to know, what ten lines would they be? • Identify the speaker of each quote as well as to whom they were speaking. • Where did you find each one? (page #) • Significance: Why were each of these lines the most important in the book?

23. Characters • Make them three dimensional • State full name • Explain role in story – be specific • Adjectives – again make vivid, specific choices • Significance- why did the author put them in the book? • Page numbers to support each of your adjectives!

24. Setting • When and where did this book take place? • What is the cultural background of this story? • What do you think the author had in mind when she/he chose this setting? • Include page numbers!!!

25. Symbols A symbol stands for something else. Literary symbolism combines the literal and the abstract. The American flag is a symbol of the United States and its democratic ideals. The dove symbolizes peace. • Identify at least three symbols in this work. • Explain the meaning and significance of each of these symbols. • Identify the page numbers where these symbols are found

26. Significance of opening scene • Why did the author choose to start the book this particular way out of all the ways he/she could have started it? • Significance = • Meaning • Implication • Consequence • Worth • Connotation This is NOT simply a summary of the beginning. You need page numbers- Don’t assume it is only the first page.

27. Significance of closing scene • Why did the author choose to end the book this way out of all the possible ways to end it? • Significance = • Meaning • Implication • Consequence • Worth • Connotation This is NOT simply a summary of the ending. You need page numbers- Don’t assume it is only the last page.

28. AP Prompts! • You should identify as many years as possible that could be used with this novel. • Feel free to search the Internet for AP prompts which reference the work.

29. Themes • Remember a theme is an observation about life or human nature that the writer shares with a reader • State it as a complete sentence including both a subject/topic AND your opinion about that subject. • Theme itself does not include plot details, but the discussion of the theme must include them.

30. Possible Themes (continued) Identify a topic in the novel such as maturity, friendship, love, desire, self-worth, thankfulness, superstitions, etc. then explain what the author was trying to communicate about that topic. • For example: Loyalty, affection, and conscience are far more important than wealth and social position. • You MUST include multiple page numbers and multiple themes to receive full credit!