24 parts on 6 videodiscs, each part is 30 minutes long. Closed-captioned. Hosted by Fran Dorn.
Contents:
1. First sight: an introduction to literature -- 2. Ways of seeing: responding to literature -- 3. A personal view: the art of the essay -- 4. Reflected worlds: the elements of short fiction -- 5. The story's blueprint: plot and structure in short fiction -- 6. Telling their tales: character in short fiction -- 7. In that time and place: setting and character in short fiction -- 8. The author's voice: tone and style in short fiction -- 9. Suggested meanings: symbolism and allegory in short fiction -- 10. The sum of its parts: theme in short fiction -- 11. The sacred words: the elements of poetry --12. A sense of place: setting and character in poetry --13. Tools of the trade: words and images in poetry -- 14. Seeing anew: rhetorical figures in poetry -- 15. An echo to the sense: prosody and form in poetry -- 16. Distant voices: myth, symbolism, and allusion in poetry -- 17. Artful resonance: theme in poetry -- 18. Playing the part: character and actors in drama -- 19. Patterns of action: plot and conflict drama -- 20. Perspectives on illusion: setting and staging in drama -- 21. The vision quest: myth and symbolism in drama -- 22. A frame for meaning: theme in drama. 23. Casting long shadows: the power of literature -- 24. Continuing vision: the uses of literature.
Summary:
Examines three major genres of literature, short fiction, poetry and drama, and discusses literary elements such as character, plot, symbolism, and voice.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.