Interpretation of a Text

Interpretation of a Text

1) Speak of the author in brief.

a) the facts of his/her biography relevant to his/her creative activities

b) the epoch (social and historical background)

c) the literary trend he/she belongs to

d) the main literary pieces (works) and the peculiarities of his/her style

2) Give a summary of the extract (story) under consideration (the gist, the content of the story in a nutshell). You should give a narration in a few pages/sentences of several days, months or years of existence without details of action or speech. It must be ¼ of the original text.

3) State the problem raised by the author

4) Formulate the subject and the theme of the extract (story) under consideration

5) Give a general definition of the text under study:

· a 1^st person narration

· a 3^rd person narration

· a narration interlaced with descriptive passages and dialogues of personages

· a narration broken by digressions (philosophical, psychological, lyrical, etc.)

· an account of events interwoven with a humorous (ironical, satirical) portrayal of society or the personage, etc.

6) Define the prevailing mood (tone, slant, atmosphere) of the extract. It may be dry, unemotional, emotional, vivid, bright, tense, dramatic, pathetic, tragic, humorous, ironical, satirical, sarcastic, etc. It may change throughout the text. These changes are to be accounted for. Also examples from the text should be given to show how the author creates this or that kind of atmosphere, what words and stylistic devices help him to do it.

7) The composition of the story. Divide the text logically into complete parts and entitle them. If possible choose the key-sentence (word) in each part that reveals its essence. The compositional pattern of a complete story (chapter, episode) may be as follows:

1. the exposition (introduction)

2. the development of the action (an account of events)

3. the climax (the culminating point)

4. the denouement (the outcome of the story)

or

1. the beginning

2. the core

3. the ending

8) The main idea (message) of the text. i.e. what the author wanted to tell the reader by this extract, the underlying thoughts and ideas of the author. You should formulate it laconically.

9) Your evaluation of the text under analysis. It may logically continue the previous item of the plan. You should express your attitude to the message of the text and other ideas conveyed by the author and state whether these ideas are important and urgent. Stylistic and compositional peculiarities of the text are also to be dwelt upon here.

Follow the formula-matter form. It implies that firstly you should dwell upon the content of the part and secondly comment upon the language means (expressional means and stylistic devices) employed by the author to achieve desired effect, to render his/her thoughts and feelings.

The last two items of the plan are of paramount importance. Everything must be well thought-out and substantially proved.

NB: Sum up your own observations and draw conclusions. Point out the author’s means which make up the essential properties of his individual style.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-04