English 104 Introduction to Prose Genres Dr. Kate Scheel Introduction to Prose Genres Prose: a direct, unadorned form of language, written or spoken, in ordinary usage. It differs from poetry or verse in that it is not restricted in rhythm, measure or rhyme (Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms). Genre: a kind, literary type or class (Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms) explore seven pieces of non-fiction work Span almost 300 years diverse forms: pamphlet, lecture, letter, new journalism, essay, book, film shared theme: Writing for Social Change look at similarities and differences in how authors persuade their audience For each work, we will ask the following questions: who is the audience? what is the message? what is the form of the message?, why? what is the writing style? 1
English 104 Group Presentation Evaluation First Essay Assignment Name Jane Diligent Joe Sloth Ben Brain Task Research topic Work on content Work on content Rank (1 5) 4 1 5 Comments conscientious Missed most meetings Good organizer, great ideas An author who writes for social change must consider not only the message that they wish to communicate, but also the audience to whom the message is directed, the form the message will take and the style in which the message will be rendered. Considering either Three Guineas or On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, make an argument as to whether you think Virginia Woolf or Henry David Thoreau made a successful case or not. Some questions that you may wish to consider as you formulate your argument are: did the author convince you of their perspective? Do you think that they would have convinced their audience at the time of writing? Why or why not? Jonathan Swift b. 1667 Dublin, Ireland d. 1745 Known as propagandist Devoted to the Establishment (the Church of England and the Monarchy) Writes simply and clearly in order to develop understanding in audience Use of irony, satire Known for Gulliver s Travels 2
Social and political situation 1642 Civil War, theatres closed 1649 Charles I executed by Puritans 1649-1660 Interregnum military dictatorship led by Oliver Cromwell 1660 Charles II restored to the English monarchy Period known as the Restoration 1660-1700 Antagonism to Puritanism; Anglican Book of Common Prayeris imposed on all congregations Non-conformists jailed (Puritans emigrate to North America ) Anyone in civil and military position required to be Anglican - Puritans and Catholics officially excluded from running the country Charles II hid his Catholic sympathies; received Catholic rites at death Tension between king and Parliament Dissolute court No legitimate heir period of civil and religious uncertainty 1665 outbreak of bubonic plague; 70,000 people died in London 1666 great fire of London large population homeless England defeats Holland at sea 1685 James II takes throne (brother of Charles II), but openly Catholic Rebellion against James; defeated 1688 James exiled in favour of Protestants Mary and William of Orange; the Bloodless Revolution 1689 power of Crown limited; freedom of worship to Dissenters Two parliamentary parties develop: Whigs and Tories Whigs = noblemen and businessmen Tories = conservative country squires and the clergy Meanwhile, James uses French and Irish to try and regain throne; fails and flees to France Those devoted to James seek to put his son (the Pretender) on throne Supporters known as Jacobites met in secret 1702-1714 Queen Anne; 17 children, all of whom died 1714-1727 George I on throne; 54 year old German who spoke no English, no interest in government 1727-1760 George II little interest in government or England Prime Minister Robert Walpole influential Writers found post- Queen Anne era empty of patronage; relied on publishers for payment Period of skepticism, curiosity, emphasis on the rational Sir Isaac Newton makes his discoveries about gravity in 1687; Robert Boyle began his experiments on gases that led to the Universal Gas Law in 1662 1690 philosopher John Locke writes Essay Concerning Human Understanding 3
Literature favours simplicity, clarity, wit; tends to be critical of society Satire and drama are popular Readers are women of the upper classes and people of middle class Popular magazines and newspapers The Tatler (1709) and Spectator (1711) Swift born to English parents in Dublin both parents die at his birth; left with no estate raised, reluctantly, by uncle studied at Trinity College, Dublin Poor student and left school became secretary to Sir William Temple, in England found work tedious as Temple s secretary, Swift came to attention of King William II 1695 - King influenced Swift s appointment as parish priest in Ireland Swift soon returned to work for Temple 1699 Temple died, Swift returned to Ireland Writing articles and pamphlets on political and religious questions 1710 abandons Whigs for Tories 1713 appt. Dean of St. Patrick s, Dublin 1714 death of Queen Anne, Tories discredited Swift lost his political position Continues to write Turned his attention to the church 1724 - A Modest Proposal Takes up the plight of Irish and becomes national hero 1726 pub. Gulliver s Travels 1745 death 4
Some Important Literary Terms Proper words in proper places, make the true definition of a style (Swift, Letter 9 January 1720) Irony Verbal irony - where what is said is the opposite of what is meant; contrasts reality with appearances; provides commentary, may be used to mock or scorn, to draw attention to inequities or hypocrisies Situational irony, in which events that occur are very different from what is expected Parody imitation with the intention to ridicule Satire censure or ridicule deviations from a norm; often mingles laughter and anger; utilizes irony and wit Satire is a glass wherein beholders do generally discover everybody s face but their own, which is the chief reason for that kind of reception it meets in the world, and that so very few are offended with it (Swift, The Battle of the Books) The second half of the 17 th century seen as high point in use of satire; writers sought to preserve existing culture by pointing out examples of deviation from it. 5