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    21st Century Literature (Week 5)

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    delrosariorenalyn016
    Module of 21st Century Literature for Week 5 (Grade 11)

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    21st Century Literature (Week 5)

    Uploaded by

    delrosariorenalyn016
    2 views12 pages
    Module of 21st Century Literature for Week 5 (Grade 11)

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    21st Century Literature (Week 5) ppt

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    Module of 21st Century Literature for Week 5 (Grade 11)

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    2 views12 pages

    21st Century Literature (Week 5)

    Uploaded by

    delrosariorenalyn016
    Module of 21st Century Literature for Week 5 (Grade 11)

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    of 12

    Literary Reading through a

    Biographical Context
    • There are 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.
    Biography
    - comes from the Greek words
    bios, which means life, and graphia, which
    means writing;
    - a detailed account or narrative
    of a person written by someone else
    Autobiography
    - although it is also a narrative
    of a person, this is written instead by the
    person himself or herself.
    1. Defining the Key Terms:

    •Literary Reading: This involves interpreting


    and analyzing literature, focusing on elements
    such as themes, characters, and narrative
    structures.
    • Biographical Context: This refers to
    the background of the author,
    including their life experiences,
    personal beliefs, historical period, and
    social environment, and how these
    factors influence their writing.
    2. The Role of Biographical Context
    in Literary Analysis
    Author’s Life and Experiences:
    Understanding the author’s personal
    experiences can provide insights into their
    work.
    For example, knowing that an author lived
    through a war can add depth to their
    depiction of conflict in a story.
    •Historical and Cultural Influences: The time period and
    cultural environment in which an author wrote can shape their
    perspectives and themes.
    For instance, reading a novel from the post-colonial era might
    offer a richer understanding of the themes of identity and
    power dynamics.

    •Personal Beliefs and Values: An author’s philosophical or


    ideological beliefs can influence their writing style and thematic
    focus. Knowing about an author's political stance or religious
    views might explain the presence of certain themes or
    character motivations in their work.
    3. Enhancing Text’s Meaning
    Example of Biographical Influence: Consider the case
    of Virginia Woolf and her work “Mrs. Dalloway.” Woolf’s
    own struggles with mental health and her experiences
    with societal expectations for women enrich the reader’s
    understanding of the novel’s exploration of mental illness
    and social constraints.
    Historical Context: Reading about the Harlem
    Renaissance can deepen the appreciation of works by
    Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston, as the
    historical struggle for racial equality and artistic
    expression is central to their themes and literary style.
    4. Enriching the Reader’s
    Understanding:
    Interpreting Symbolism and Themes: Knowing about
    an author’s background can help decode symbols and
    themes that might otherwise be opaque.
    For example, knowing about Franz Kafka’s struggles with
    his family and societal pressures can illuminate the themes
    of alienation and existential dread in his works.
    Character Development: Biographical context helps in
    understanding character motivations and behaviors. For
    instance, understanding the personal challenges faced by
    F. Scott Fitzgerald during the Jazz Age adds layers to the
    characters in “The Great Gatsby.”
    5. Practical Application:
    •Researching Author Background: Students can research authors’ lives,
    historical periods, and cultural contexts to gain a more nuanced understanding
    of literary texts. This involves exploring biographies, historical accounts, and literary
    critiques.

    •Connecting Themes: Encourage students to draw connections between


    the author’s experiences and the themes within their works.

    For example, how does knowing about an author’s personal conflicts


    enhance the interpretation of a character’s struggles in the text?

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