Tale of Two Cities Lecture Notes

WHAT'S THE STORY?

Why did Charles Dickens write the novel you're reading/reviewing? What in your analysis of literary techniques led you to this conclusion? (Make sure to include textual support illustrating Dickens' use of at least three techniques we've studied/discussed this year.)

St. Crispin Notes

Lit Terms III

exposition
expressionism
fable
fallacy
falling action
farce
figurative language
flashback
foil
folk tale
foreshadowing
free verse
genre
gothic tale
hyperbole
imagery
implication
incongruity
inference
irony

Dickens & Great Expectations Notes

ALL THAT DAVID COPPERFIELD KIND OF CRAP

Like anybody else I always thought that David Copperfield was the one and only, famous magician or illusionist or whatever else he did.. Apparently it is also the title of a novel by Charles Dickens.

The first line of J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye is this:

"If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth." 

"Now that you've read some Dickens, what do you think Salinger means by "all that David Copperfield kind of crap"?  (If it helps, look up David Copperfield and compare with what you already know about Great Expectations.)  What distinguishes Dickens' style, and what statement is Salinger trying to make by distancing his protagonist from Dickens?

Lit Terms II

circumlocution: a roundabout, indirect or lengthy way of expressing something; periphrases

classicism: the aesthetic principles or qualities regarded as characteristic of ancient Greece and Rome; objectivity, formality, balance, simplicity, restraint, etc .., generally contrasted with

romanticism. Knowledge of the art and literature of ancient Greece and Rome, classical scholarship

cliche: an expression or idea that has been trite, overused by society

climax: the final, culminating element or event in a series; highest point, as of interest, excitement, etc ..

colloquialism: colloquial style, quality or usage (informal speech)

comedy: a drama or narrative with a happy ending or non tragic theme

conflict: to be antagonistic, incompatible, or contradictory; be in opposition, clash

connotation: the act or process of connoting (to suggest or convey in addition to the explicit or denoted meaning

contrast: a striking difference between things being compared

denotation: the direct, explicit meaning or reference of a word or term

denouement: the outcome, solution, unraveling or clarification of a plot in a drama, story, etc ..

dialect: any form of speech considered as deviating from a real or imagery standard speech

dialectics: art or practice of examining opinions or ideas logically, often by the method of question and answer as to determine the validity; logical argumentation

dichotomy: division into two parts, groups or classes especially when these are sharply distinguished or opposed. The phase of the moon or planet in which just half of its surface facing earth seems illuminated

diction: manner or expression in words; choice of words; wording

didactic: morally instructive or intending to be so; too much inclined to teach other; boringly pedantic or moralistic

dogmatic: like dogma; doctrinal; stating opinion in a positive or arrogant manner

elegy: a poem or song of lament and praise for the dead, as Shelly's "Adonais"; any poem, song, etc .. in a mournfully contemplative tone

epic: a long narrative poem in a dignified style about the deeds of a traditional or historical hero or heroes (Ex: Odyssey, Iliad)

epigram: a short poem with a witty or satirical point