LITERARY APPRECIATION

I. IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

Idiom – is an expression peculiar to a language. It is usually has more than one meaning that is not gained from the meaning of its words taken separately. It is usually found in the daily speech of people rather than in formal composition.

For example:

To shed crocodile tears, for example, does not mean “tears falling from the eye of a crocodile” or shed tears in the form of crocodiles.” It means,“ to pretend to be sad over the loss or death of something or someone.”

These are the various interesting activities to help the student gain mastery over the idiomatic expressions:

a) Picture Talk – the literal meaning of an idiomatic expression is interpreted in picture or other nongraphics. Then the expression is used in several sentences in its figurative meaning. The student gives his own sentence using the idiom.

b) Context Clues –an idiomatic expression is used in various situations. From these the students gain the meaning.

c) Games –a list of idiomatic expressions may be written on paper and distributed to a group. (Group 1) Their meanings can be written on other slips of paper and given to another group (Group 2). Group 1 members take turns calling out their idiomatic expressions. Those of Group 2 look at their own meaning slips. After all expressions have been called out, Group 2 people look their partners.

d) Writing –after learning about set of idiomatic expressions, the students can be made to write a dialog, a description, or a narration of an event using as many of the expressions as they can.

II. CREATIVE WORDSWords from Myths

Myths are a very rich source of English words. Loan Words

These are foreign expressions often used with their literal meaning.

III. GIVING TITLESTitle –a word or phrase that gives the general idea of what the passage or selection is about. A well chosen title indicates the field of composition.

The following are the qualities of a good title:1) Brevity –short titles are instantly recognizable and jump of the page. It is being concise.2) Appropriateness

Imaginative titles should be reserved for imaginative subjects. When matters of fact are to be presented, avoid vague, general or fanciful titles.

3) AttractivenessA title that is attractive stimulates people to read further. In the case of stories, a suggestive title, one that provokes curiosity.

IV. SENSING CHARACTER TRAITS

Trait –it is from the Latin tractus, meaning “to drag”, refers to a feature or a quality which characterizes person or a thing or things.

In narratives, characterization is revealed in various ways:1. By the author who describes the character as in following example:

The old man was selfish and arrogant, imposing his will on the family whom he ruled with an iron hand.

2. By the character who reveals himself through his speech and actions as in the following statements:

“Don’t you dare accuse me!” screamed the well-dressed girl with a hand raised strike the saleslady. “Millionaire’s don’t steal.”

3. By other characters in the story who reveal through their speech and actions what they think of a character. In the following passage the character of Doris is suggested:

“We better keep quite now,” warned Marie in a terse voice. “The slightest whisper of our innocent adventure can grow into a heinous crime if Doris ever hears of it.”

V. NARRATIVESNarrative –it comes from the Latin narrare, ‘to account’ and can be defined as “a story or an account of an event, factual or imaginary.” A factual story may be an account of a personal experience or that of others. On the other hand, an imaginative narrative originated from the writer’s mind. The writer invents his plot, setting and characters but makes the reader feel that these are real. It is possible however, that he draws inspiration from reality.

Narrative literature may be in the form of prose or poetry. Prose narratives include folktales (e.g., legends, fables, myths) short stories, novels, biographies, histories, news reports, and travel books. Narrative poetry includes epics, metrical, romances, ballads, dramatic narratives, and plays.

Each of these types of writing has a different purpose as well as special problems and techniques; but certain characteristics are common to them all:

1. A careful choice and sequencing of details. This refers to the careful selection of relevant and meaningful details. In writing

the biography of a well-known personality, for instance, the biographer will select only those details or incidents that help to reveal the character of the man.

2. A sense of reality. All creative narrations must have a semblance or reality and truth. Good fiction presents an honest picture of people and happenings. In Villa’s “The Son of Rizal,” the story revolves around a man who claims to be the son of Rizal. Later, we learn that the man is a megalomaniac, a man with a sick mind.

3. A sense of movement.Something must happen in the story. There is conflict, action and movement toward a climax or a goal or an illumination of character.

4. A well-defined point of view.It is sometimes called the “focus of narration”, the point of view is related to the question Who tells the story? Four points of view are used in fiction:

a) First person –this is the point of view where a character in the narrative tells his own story.

b) First-person observer –here, a character other than the hero or heroine tells the story.

c) Third person –here, what happens is told in an objective manner as in a dream; the writer or character comments on the incidents.

d) Omniscient author –when the writer tells his own story, makes his own comments, and freely enters the minds of the characters.

Short Story –a brief, imaginative narrative unfolding a single predominating incident and a single preeminent character. (Esenwain) it is marked by a unity of action, setting and theme

Basic elements of Short Story

1. Setting- refers to anything in the story that fixes the time and place of its action. The scenes described help supply the atmosphere needed for the story.

2. Characters- are the individuals who influence the events and are in turn, influenced by them. They become involved in a conflict, either internal or external. The conflict is internal or psychological when the opposing forces are within the character who has to make an important decision. The conflict is external when the main character has to fight another person, or a group (social); or against nature (physical) such as fight for survival against the flood. Communication characters is revealed through dialog.

3. Plot- called the framework of the story and it consists of the related events which move from a conflict, progress to a crisis –the moment of fateful decision –and finally to a denouement or result, where the complication is resolved and ends happily or tragically.

4. Theme –refers to the underlying idea, the general truth, or the particular view or observation of life which the story is intended to convey.

Reported by : GROUP 2 – BSED2CAlvarado, Jhunna MaeBintad, Irene JoyDespi, LeizelEnricho, AndreaGallego, Shiela MaeGuarin, Camille JoyGuernela, JonilObas, Joan MaeQuilantang, Arlyn