While I know that often such in-depth reading is confined to the academic realm, this is not a necessary confinement. I truly understand that few things in life or in literature have just one interpretation or level of understanding, and it is therefore important to pay attention to all the details.
5. Apply literary terms and interpretive techniques to read, discuss, and write about literature.
Obviously as a teacher and as a student I have had a great deal of experience using literary techniques to discuss literature. I understand that literature interpretation is as independent discipline and like all fields has specific terminology with which one must be familiar in order to function. I am familiar with and understand a vast array of literary interpretive terms, such as onomatopoeia, metaphor, and deconstructionism. Moreover, I can use them in sentences to logically discuss literature. I know that using literary terms allows one to access areas of meaning and understand which would one would otherwise struggle to understand or express. Interpretive techniques are especially important when approaching literature, because they help to open up advanced fields of understanding and give one alternative guides to exploring the texts. These techniques, I have learned, are not only useful to those who want to write about literature for others (though they are very useful for that, and this use has helped me get through school and teach school) but also in personal exploration of literature.
6. Critique a variety of literature with regard to plot, theme, setting, character, metaphor/symbol.
I have very wide tastes in literature, and because of these wide tastes I have learned to critique a variety of literature styles. I know that in critiquing literature it is necessary to take genre into account because meaning is partly determined by context. Plot elements which would have a significance in one culture might have a different one in some other culture, and I understand how this may interact with the metaphor of the literature. I understand how to critique themes in many...
When dealing with
character I am able to separate literary conventions from real psychology and to comprehend how both interact to the metaphorical value of the story. I am particularly aware of the need for critique and understanding in terms of literary metaphor, because this is truly the key to understanding the differences and connections between genres.
7. Value thinking and language of others.
Despite
learning to develop my own voice in writing, I have also found that to live in a multicultural society and to have healthy relationships with others, it is necessary to value the thinking and language of others. I know that this is particularly important to my teaching career -- as Gorski and Covert explain in their essay on the working definition of
multiculturalism, "Teachers must be prepared to effectively facilitate learning for every individual student, no matter how culturally similar or different from her- or himself." I understand that language is a huge part of
identity and art, and I frequently watch foreign films in their native language and take into account the need to approach other
languages with
respect. I know as well that not all people think alike, and this is to be valued. When there is
diversity in thought there is potential for great learning experiences, and this is something I recognize. Though I have learned to critique many styles of literature I know the importance of accepting and valuing differences.
8. Explain various interpretations and meaning levels in reading selections.
See 4.
Bibliography
Gorski, Paul and Covert, Bob. "Defining Multicultural Education" Multicultural Pavilion: Working Definitions. http://edchange.org/multicultural/initial.html
The Parts of an
Argument." The Writing Center, University of Virginia Writing Program. http://www.engl.virginia.edu/writing/wctr/Parts.html
