What Is Literary Appreciation & Grammar: Fill & Download for Free

“Literary appreciation” is simply that - learning to appreciate (respect and enjoy) literature. Much of literature is too long, too complex, or has too much archaic language for most people to read and enjoy (e.g., the works of Homer and of Shakespeare, and books like Moby Dick, and Les Miserables). Simpler literature too has a lot of artistry that most people miss, like complex characters, descriptions of people and scenes, dialogue, rhythm, etc. Another aspect of literary appreciation is that of poetry. What makes T.S. Elliot a great poet, and my sister a bad poet? :-) You can enjoy poetry much, much more if you can understand what the author has done, and why he/she did it.So literary appreciation, like art appreciation, teaches students what to look for in literature, and helps them - well, appreciate - literature. This will lead to them understanding what they read much better, and to enjoy it much more than reading what you might have thought was just a drab old book.I am pretty certain that by “Literature Appreciation Skills,” your curriculum means the same thing as what most people would call literary appreciation - that it just means learning the skills needed to appreciate literature.I hope that helps!!

Aha, this is the million-dollar question of literature. Before we answer this question, we should figure out what in the hell literary fiction is.The enigma that is literary fiction.For a term that gets tossed around so often, literary fiction is startlingly ill-defined and misunderstood.Wikipedia defines literary fiction as "critically acclaimed works that are claimed to have literary merit."'[1] This definition is somewhat circular and unsatisfying. Too many questions arise. Which critics matter the most? How do we measure literary merit? How much acclaim is necessary? Is acclaim the only factor?Sue Halpern, a frequent contributor to New York Book Reviewer and author of multiple books, says that the distinction between literary fiction and commercial fiction is questionable at best. She concedes, however, that "literary fiction does stand out for its allegiance to language."[2][3] The mention of language and emphasis on language give us more of an direction in our dissection of literary merit. However, direction doesn't mean that we get to our destination.Other critics and authors propose that literary fiction as a genre of its own. Samuel R. Delany considers literary fiction as works focusing on "subject, the self, [and psychology]." This definition is obtuse at best, meaningless at worse. Others argue that classic literature, realism and postmodern fiction, should be set aside as literary fiction.[1]Since critics, scholars of literature, and even authors, aren't getting anywhere, I propose that we come up with our own definition (the horror!).One common thread I see in the debate is the sense that literary fiction is serious stuff. It's not for intellectual sissies! It's heavy stuff! Only ones with big brains may apply!Seriousness requires study. You don't see hordes of scholars poring over John Grisham because his themes are more straightforward and blunt. In The Great Gatsby, allegories and allusions run rampant, delighting English teachers everywhere (and making teenage students groan).The seriousness of literary fiction pervades the works. The subject tends to be heavy and philosophical. The language more complex and nuanced. The metaphors subtle and meaningful. And so on.In short, literary fiction is serious shit.[4]Literary fiction is considered to be better because it's harder to digest and appreciate.If we accept the premise that literary fiction is "serious stuff requiring study," that means that it's hard to appreciate. It means that an average Joe or Jane can't pick a literary fiction book off the shelves and immediately grasp the depths of meaning within the pages (or is even capable of enjoying the book).Literary fiction is like wine. The high-grade stuff has subtle undertones that only a fine (and trained) palate can detect and appreciate. Most people won't be able to tell the difference between an good table wine and the best wine in the world--they're too untrained and ignorant. A $16 bottle of decent wine, however, will be able to satisfy most people with its straightforward and pleasant taste.Literary fiction is full of nuances and metaphors requiring research and knowledge to appreciate. There's a reason why Shakespeare, James Joyce, and Borges have college courses devoted to their works. You have to learn how to appreciate their stuff. Most of us aren't born with understanding of Shakespeare's Early Modern English.Commercial fiction, on the other hand, can be enjoyed by most people. It doesn't take a degree in English literature or history to get a kick out of The Help, or A Song of Ice and Fire.Now, I'm not suggesting that commercial fiction is lacking in nuance and fine language. Rather, that those elements aren't requirements, or even the focus, of the works. The writers (and readers) seem to care more about making reading an enjoyable experience, rather than something you must ruminate about.There is a deep sense in our society that things that are more difficult are better. That's why climbing Mount Everest is "better" than traversing that high hill near your house. It's harder, it takes more effort, and you feel more accomplished. I find this premise dubious, but we'll run with it.At the end of the day, what separates literary fiction from commercial fiction is precisely what makes it more vaunted: its difficulty.[5]Now, your next question may be: should you care? Depends on what you want to get out of reading. If you just want a good time, read whatever you want. If you want to truly appreciate a multilayered and complex piece of work, shoot for the stars! But please don't put the rest of us down, sometimes girls (and boys) just want to have fun._______[1]: Literary fiction[2]: NYRB Lit: An E-Original Series That’s Aiming To Redefine Literary Fiction[3]: Literary fiction – in a class of its own?[4]: To a large degree, this is self-perpetuating. Once you consider something literary fiction, you'll find themes and allusions that you may ignore in a more popular piece of work.[5]: I'm not trying to suggest that this is a perfect definition of literary fiction. In fact, I think a definition of this nebulous thing is impossible since it's kind of a figment of our imagination. Rather, this definition highlights the specious nature of this...whatever it is.

Criticism has acquired a negative connotation. Try thinking of it as Appreciation rather than Criticism. The nature of Appreciation is to value the various aspects of literature and the related arts. The English sonnet is different from the Petrarchan sonnet. You should appreciate the beauty of each type of sonnet, recognising that each has its own, different beauty."La lune ne garde aucune rancune.""A thing of beauty is a joy forever.""Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram."Three different lines with three different meanings in three different languages. Each is beautiful in its own way. This, to me, is literary appreciation.