Literary Pairs: Thinking In Duality & Dichotomies

1. Literary Pairs: Thinking In Duality & Dichotomies

2. DUALISM / DUALITYoccurs all the time literature,comparing and contrasting creates focus • The quality or character of being twofold; • a dichotomy; • a division into two mutually exclusive or contradictory groups or entities; • something with seemingly contradictory qualities

3. Binariesbroadly deal with ideas, characters, settings Binary • An idea or set constituted of two similar parts, sides, or features Binary Opposites • An idea or set constituted of two opposite parts, sides, or features

4. Foildeals exclusively with characters • A character in a work whose behavior and values contrast with those of another character in order to highlight the distinctive temperament of that character

5. JuxtapositionUsually deals with tangible objects, images, or specific topics or scenes • A form of implied or obvious contrast created by placing two items side by side or close together, often done in order to compare/contrast the two, to show similarities or differences, or to highlight the distinctive features

6. Duality in Language Definitions & Meanings Connotation • The ideas associated with or suggested by a given word or phrase, as opposed to its literal meaning. A word’s connotations are the product of its common usage and emotional overtones, not of its simple definition. Denotation • The literal, dictionary meaning of a given word or phrase

7. Duality in Language Figures of speech Synecdoche • When you speak of part of something, but mean the whole • E.g. “all hands on deck,” “forty head of cattle,” “twenty eyes watched our every move” Metonymy • Language that uses a generality or loosely associated concept to stand for something specific • E.g. using the “crown” to mean the power of the British monarchy or the “Oval Office” to mean the position or function of the President of the US, “Hollywood” as the entire movie making industry, or “the pen is mightier than the sword” meaning education is stronger than military action

8. Figurative Language • Symbol = when something stands for something beyond itself • Metaphor = A comparison or analogy stated in such a way as to imply that one object is another one, figuratively speaking • Simile = An analogy or comparison implied by using an adverb such as like or as

9. Irony • Duality in language and meaning: saying one thing and meaning another • Verbal • a speaker makes a statement in which its actual meaning differs sharply from the meaning that the words ostensibly express; sarcasm • Situational • accidental events occur that seem oddly appropriate, such as the poetic justice of a pickpocket getting his own pocket picked. Also called cosmic irony. • both victim and audience are simultaneously aware of the situation, not the case in dramatic irony.

10. Dramatic Irony • involves a situation in a narrative in which the reader knows something about present/future circumstances that the character does not know. • The character acts in a way we recognize to be grossly inappropriate to the actual circumstances, or the character expects the opposite of what the reader knows that fate holds, or the character anticipates a particular outcome that unfolds itself in an unintentional way.

11. Comparing in Literature • To “compare” assumes an element of contrast • Authors use duality to create interest and to highlight their themes, so delving into these aspects adds the FUN to analysis! • When comparing, you always: • Start with a big connecting idea between two elements  you need a meaningful link • Find examples to “flesh out” this broad connecting idea • Use clear transitions to connect ideas • End with a “SO WHAT?” that states the importance of this connection

12. Types of Comparative EssaysBLOCK STRUCTURE • You introduce both texts & claim in your intro, • Write about ONE text entirely (w/ multiple paras.), • Then the OTHER text entirely, making consistent reference back to the 1st(w/ multiple paras.), • Conclude by fusing both texts and stating a “SO WHAT?” PROS= often students find format this easier CONS = students forget to make clear connections to both texts, or many of these essays end up as 2 disconnected essays in 1

13. Types of Comparative EssaysPARALLEL STRUCTURE • You introduce both texts & claim in your intro, • You write about each text in every paragraph • Or, write about each text in alternating paras., • Conclude by fusing both texts and stating a “SO WHAT?” PROS= often students have a more “balanced” essay this way and make clearer connections CONS= students forget to use wise, clear transitions and ideas become “choppy,” or they abuse their paragraphs by including too much in each

14. When in comes to TRANSITIONS… USE THEM!