Exploring Literature: Writing and Thinking About Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and the Essay

Web/Online Copy: Exploring Literature invites the reader to connect with works of literature in light of their own experiences and, ultimately, put those connections into writing.

With engaging selections, provocative themes, and comprehensive coverage of the writing process, Madden's anthology is sure to enthrall anyone interested in learning more about literature. Exploring Literature opens with five chapters dedicated to reading and writing about literature. An anthology follows, organized by five themes. Each thematic unit includes fiction, essays, poetry, and plays, as well as a case study to help the reader explore literature from various perspectives.

Exploring Literature: Writing and Arguing About Fiction, Drama, Poetry and the Essay, 5/e

 

Frank Madden

 

With engaging selections, provocative themes, and comprehensive coverage of the writing process, Exploring Literature combines practical writing instruction with a carefully selected anthology of classic and contemporary literature from around the world.  Critical thinking is woven into every facet of its writing apparatus while guiding you through the process of crafting personal responses into persuasive arguments.  Following five opening chapters dedicated to reading, writing, arguing, and researching about literature, theanthology is divided into five thematically-arranged sections that include contextual case studies, writing prompts, and sample student essays to help you approach literature with a critical eye and write thoughtful essays.  Exploring Literature assembles stimulating literature and structured advice to create a valuable guide that will not only help you to write   about literature, but to improve your writing and thinking processes in general.

 

WHAT’S NEW IN THIS EDITION

 

• A new one-page “Primer on Punctuation” with basic rules and examples for the comma, semi-colon, colon, and apostrophe as part of the section on proofreading–adjoining the Basic Rules for a Literary Essay.
• Two new 10-minute dramas: Galsworthy “The Sun” (Faith and Doubt); and Anton Chekhov, “Swan Song.”
• Added four new selections to the thematic section including Marjane Satrapi from “Persepolis”–a work of graphic nonfiction.
• Added a mini-theme to Culture and Identity Tennessee Williams The Glass Menagerie paired with/against a Christopher Durang parody For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls.
• Added two student essays.

 

 

“One of the greatest strengths of this book is the author’s tone and style. He is very down-to-earth and encouraging . . . you can tell that Madden is an experienced teacher because he anticipates common questions and problems . . . he bridges personal response to writing a critical essay quite well.”

Professor Daniel Schierenbeck - University of Central Missouri

 

“The writing coverage is this text’s strongest element. From the process-based writing at the outset to the prompts and questions at the end of each reading, the book gives instructors more than sufficient material to work with and gives students a very healthy, well-rounded set of tools and ideas to create critical essays.  The student essays are very good . .  grounded enough and real enough that students can connect with them and use them as guides.”

Professor Mark Sheffield Brown - Illinois Valley Community College