A/P Philip Holden (email: ellhpj@nus.edu.sg)
[ Introduction and Description | Schedule and Readings | Assessment and Policies | Related Resources ]In the next three weeks, we will be looking the three genres into which the study of Literature has traditionally been divided—prose fiction (including novels and short stories), drama, and poetry. Note that some of the writers we read in the course of our studies will challenge this division, and some will suggest that other forms of cultural production, such as film, television, and the internet, should be studied as Literature. For now, however, we are more concerned with discovering or reminding ourselves about what the study of Literature involves.
This week, we will begin by looking at prose fiction, here represented by two short stories. Prose fiction is certainly the most popular of the traditional genres, and is perhaps the most approachable. I’ve chosen two stories, one by the British-born and US-educated Jhumpa Lahiri, and one by Singaporean Alfian Sa’at. Read them first for enjoyment. When you’ve done this, read the short articles by David Lodge, the web-based article by George Landow, and my own notes of "Aristotle on Plot". Note that while both Lodge and Landow discuss novels, their insights can be applied to short stories, if we think of the latter as miniature novels. We'll be using Landow's overall categorisation of elements of fiction, and use the Lodge and my own summary of Aristotle to flesh out the brief introduction he supplies.
Armed with some of the insights from the articles, re-read the two short stories and try to become aware of how they work on you as a reader, using such techniques as duration, point of view, characterization, structure, and setting. You may wish to also think about how the way in which the story “manipulates” the reader through these devices reflects upon what you would identify as its theme.
The final item of reading, Robert Eaglestone’s “Critical Attitudes,” aims to reinforce some of the issues we have discussed in the first week of class. Eaglestone’s discussion of how we read critically, and whether we concentrate upon “intrinsic” or “extrinsic” factors (or both) will be important in both Unit 1 and Unit 2 of the module, but we will not discuss it in detail in class, and if you have limited time you may wish to confine yourself to the other readings.
Alfian bin Sa’at, “Winners.” Corridor. Singapore:
SNP, 1999. 63-74.
Lahiri, Jumpha. “ Mrs. Sen’s.” Interpreter of Maladies.
New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1999. 111-135.
Lodge, David “Duration.” The Art of Fiction. New
York: Viking, 1993. 186-188
--. “Point of View.” The Art of Fiction. New York:
Viking, 1993. 25-29.
--. “Introducing a Character.” The Art of Fiction.
New York: Viking, 1993. 66-69.
Landow, George. “How to Read a Novel -- Some Places to Begin” from the Victorian Web.
Holden, Philip. "Aristotle on Plot" from the University Scholars Programme Website.
Eaglestone, Robert. “Critical Attitudes.” Doing English: A Guide for Literature Students. 2nd Edition. London: Routledge, 2002. 37-44. [Optional]
Post a reply to ONE of these questions on the IVLE site at any time before 6 a.m. on the day of our class meeting.
1. Choose any aspect of the essays by Lodge and Landow ( concerning duration, point of view, characterization, structure, or setting) which you feel needs clarification or further discussion. Try to paraphrase what you understand to help your classmates, and then indicate what needs further discussion or clarification.
2. Which of the two stories ("Winners" or "Mrs. Sen's") do you prefer? Justify your answer.
3. Alfian’s short story is set in Singapore, while Lahiri’s is set in the USA. How do you think familiarity with the social context of a story changes the way you read it and enjoy it?
Last updated: 29 July, 2003