In Chapter 1 of Portable Literature, Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell introduce the basic concepts of literature. This chapter begins with a discussion of imaginative literature, defining it as a creative writing form that allows authors to express their experiences through realistic imagery and figurative language, surpassing linguistic boundaries. Imaginative literature contains various genres, including poetry, drama, and fiction. While it may vary across cultures, it consistently features exaggerated and hyperbolic language. Following this introduction, the authors delve into the various themes present in imaginative literature, highlighting their significance. Themes are the main ideas or motifs of the work, simply put, what the
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Themes vary from culture to culture, depending on the values and beliefs. Additionally, the term literary canon is described as a group of books and texts that have been agreed upon by a wide variety of scholars to be of prominent significance. In the past, most of the literary canons were by white men, but that has changed to include people of marginalized backgrounds and a variety of cultures. The authors reference the work, “All about Suicide”, by Luisa Valenzuela, an Argentinian writer whose work defied the standard to make a point. Furthermore, the chapter explains to readers how to interpret literary work to examine the possible meanings. It suggests that the reading is an interactive process, and the meaning is derived from both the text and the reader. To interpret, make assumptions and share your perspectives without being unreasonable and ignoring the facts. Moreover, the chapter includes information about evaluating literature. The authors briefly mention how evaluating is judging and differentiating it from interpreting which is to understand, as well as providing guidelines to further help readers
Themes vary from culture to culture, depending on the values and beliefs. Additionally, the term literary canon is described as a group of books and texts that have been agreed upon by a wide variety of scholars to be of prominent significance. In the past, most of the literary canons were by white men, but that has changed to include people of marginalized backgrounds and a variety of cultures. The authors reference the work, “All about Suicide”, by Luisa Valenzuela, an Argentinian writer whose work defied the standard to make a point. Furthermore, the chapter explains to readers how to interpret literary work to examine the possible meanings. It suggests that the reading is an interactive process, and the meaning is derived from both the text and the reader. To interpret, make assumptions and share your perspectives without being unreasonable and ignoring the facts. Moreover, the chapter includes information about evaluating literature. The authors briefly mention how evaluating is judging and differentiating it from interpreting which is to understand, as well as providing guidelines to further help readers