Study Exams Blog

Study.com English 103
  • Gavin Walton
  • August 13, 2024

Are you all set for getting yourself introduced to the realm of literature and scoring well in your Study.com English 103 : Analyzing and Interpreting Literature course? Thus, whether you want to understand literary classics or you just need those college credit hours, this is the course for you. The variety of lessons and the amount of information supplied to the student will not only teach the student how to analyze literature, but also make him or her enjoy it. 

We will take a closer look at poetry, prose, and dramatic literature in this course; Literary elements consist of different concepts studied in English literature and include the ability to read, explore, analyze, and write about such aspects as themes in Shakespeare’s sonnet or the narratives used in today’s short stories. By the end of it, you will be able to analyze texts and express yourself and ideas in a succinct manner. 

The best part? To this end, the construction of this course is purposely flexible and self-managed so as to adequately address the busy nature of most students’ schedules. Whether you are wearing your pajamas and exploring some of Shakespeare’s sonnets at midnight or you are having lunch at noon and working through a particular essay, the answer is that study.com makes it easy to have a track towards achieving the intended objectives. Are you prepared for this literary adventure? Come on and let’s wade into the deep end of literature and make it your new companion!

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What You'll Learn in Study.com English 103 📖

This course encompasses numerous literary aspects to guarantee that you have a clear view of what literature entails. You will discover what poetry, prose, and dramatic form entail while studying the manner in which such forms of literature can be analyzed and interpreted. Here’s a sneak peek of what you can expect:

Poetry

You are going to learn about the following types of poems; blank verse, free verse, and narrative poems. You will read the poetry of William Shakespeare, John Keats, and Walt Whitman and will be taught how to approach the texts in terms of language, meter, and topics.

Prose

After this, it refocuses to prose where short stories, novellas, and novels are looked into in detail. You will be able to distinguish the important components such as tone, mood, and setting and how they help in the development of the text’s meaning. You should prepare to dissect the literary creations of the selected authors, including Conrad and Orwell, with the emphasis on such aspects as characters’ creation and themes identified in the works.

Dramatic Literature

Drama also belongs to the field of literature but deals with performances in contrast with the narrative nature of other forms of literature. This you’ll do; you will engage in Sophocles and more up-to-date playwrights like Beckett. Learning the features of the drama genre which includes plot, lines, and staging among others will assist in comprehending the challenges of the literary work. The topics that are essential here are tragedy, comedy, and farce; these are concepts that you will be required to distinguish and compare.

To assess your understanding, you’ll be given quizzes and essays throughout the course of the class. These assignments are intended to help you review and consolidate the studied material as well as prepare for the final proctored exam. Just to remind you, each quiz is completed with 3 attempts so, you should use all of them to be ready to answer questions. The essays will engage you to utilize your analytical initiatives and write correctly about the literature that you are reading. 

Thus by the time you complete the course, you will be in good standing to sit for the final examination and get your college credits. Widely participate, read with the rest of the class, and utilize every resource that one gets in class!

Week-by-Week Study Guide for Excelling in Study.com English 103 📝

Understanding every aspect of English 103 is easier when you are well-prepared, thanks to a proper study plan. Here’s a week-by-week guide to help you stay on track and fully prepare for the final exam:

Week 1: Getting Started and Introduction to Literature

  • Watch the introductory videos: Familiarize yourself with the course layout and objectives.
  • Read the mandatory reading list: Start with the poems and short stories.
  • Take notes: Jot down initial thoughts and questions about the readings.
  • Quiz: Complete the first quiz to test your understanding.

Week 2: Basics of Writing Essays

  • Watch all lessons in Chapter 2: Focus on essay writing techniques.
  • Practice writing essays: Start with short essays based on the poems and stories you’ve read.
  • Revise your essays: Use the feedback to improve.
  • Quiz: Take the quiz to reinforce your learning.
  • Additional resource: How to Write an Essay

Week 3: Interpreting Literature

  • Watch all lessons in Chapter 3: Learn about inference, context clues, and visualization.
  • Apply these strategies: Use them while reading additional poems and prose.
  • Quiz: Complete the quiz to test your knowledge.
  • Additional resource: Reading Strategies

Week 4: Literary Terms

  • Watch all lessons in Chapter 4: Understand metaphors, synecdoche, irony, and other literary terms.
  • Create flashcards: Use Quizlet to make flashcards for literary terms.
  • Quiz: Test your understanding of the terms.
  • Additional resource: Literary Terms Flashcards

Week 5: Prose

  • Watch all lessons in Chapter 5: Focus on prose and its elements.
  • Analyze short stories and novels: Use the techniques learned.
  • Quiz: Reinforce your understanding through the quiz.
  • Additional resource: Elements of Prose

Week 6: Short Fiction

  • Watch all lessons in Chapter 6: Learn about the components and analysis of short stories.
  • Write short fiction analysis: Pick a short story and analyze its elements.
  • Quiz: Test your knowledge with the quiz.
  • Additional resource: Short Story Analysis

Week 7: Types of Poetry

  • Watch all lessons in Chapter 7: Study different forms of poetry.
  • Read and analyze poems: Focus on blank verse, free verse, and narrative poems.
  • Quiz: Complete the quiz to check your understanding.
  • Additional resource: Poetry Analysis

Week 8: Dramatic Literature

  • Watch all lessons in Chapter 8: Learn about drama, its history, and elements.
  • Read and analyze plays: Focus on tragedies, comedies, and farces.
  • Quiz: Take the quiz to reinforce learning.
  • Additional resource: Understanding Drama

Week 9: Review and Assignments

  • Review all chapters: Go over notes and flashcards.
  • Complete assignments: Write the analysis and comparative essays.
  • Revise essays: Use instructor feedback to improve.
  • Quiz: Take any remaining quizzes.
  • Additional resource: Essay Writing Tips

Week 10: Final Preparation

  • Take the practice test: Use it to gauge your readiness for the final exam.
  • Review weak areas: Focus on chapters and topics where you need more practice.
  • Final review session: Go over all materials one last time.
  • Prepare for the proctored exam: Make sure you have all allowed materials ready.
  • Additional resource: Exam Prep Guide

Stick to this study plan, and you’ll be well on your way to acing the Study.com English 103: Analyzing and Interpreting Literature final exam. Good luck, and happy studying!

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Best Free Resources for Studying📂

While the Study.com course provides a comprehensive foundation, additional free resources can be invaluable for reinforcing and expanding your understanding. Here are some excellent external resources to help you grasp the more challenging concepts:

YouTube Channels and Videos

CrashCourse Literature – Offers engaging and informative videos on various literary works and concepts.

TED-Ed – Features animated videos that explain literary devices and famous works of literature.

Learn English with Emma [engVid] – Provides helpful tips on writing essays and understanding literary terms.

Quizlet Flashcards

 

Interpreting Literature Flashcards – A set of flashcards to help you review key concepts.

  • Interpreting Literature Flashcards

Literary Terms Flashcards – Covers definitions and examples of important literary terms.

  • Literary Terms Flashcards

Poetry Terms Flashcards – Helps you understand different forms of poetry and their characteristics.

  • Poetry Terms Flashcards

Educational Websites

Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab) – Offers resources on writing, literary analysis, and citation guidelines.

  • Purdue OWL

SparkNotes – Provides summaries and analyses of literary works, along with study guides for various topics.

Literary Devices – A comprehensive site that explains literary terms and devices with examples.

By leveraging these resources, you can deepen your understanding and enhance your preparation for the Study.com English 103: Analyzing and Interpreting Literature course. These tools are especially useful for visual and interactive learners who benefit from different methods of studying.

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Crucial Areas to Study🔑

To excel in Study.com English 103: Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, you are required to have an in-depth understanding of its core concepts. Here are four critical topics to master, complete with explanations, comparisons, real-world examples to make them easier to understand:

  1. Metaphor vs. Simile
  • Metaphor: A direct comparison between two unrelated things, creating a strong, direct association.

Simile: A comparison using “like” or “as,” suggesting a similarity but less direct.

Aspect
Metaphor
Simile
Definition
A direct comparison between two unrelated things.
A comparison using "like" or "as".
Example
"Her hair was a forest of brambles."
"Her hair was like a forest of brambles."
Effect
Creates a strong, direct association.
Suggests a similarity, but less direct.
Usage
"Time is a thief."
"Time is like a thief."

Real-World Example: Think of a metaphor as calling someone a “shining star” to highlight their excellence. In contrast, using a simile, you might say they are “as bright as a star,” implying their excellence in a more gentle manner.

  1. Tone vs. Mood
  • Tone: The author’s attitude toward the subject, influencing how the reader interprets the text.

Mood: The feeling or atmosphere perceived by the reader, evoking an emotional response

Aspect
Tone
Mood
Definition
The author's attitude toward the subject.
The feeling or atmosphere perceived by the reader.
Example
Sarcastic, serious, humorous.
Joyful, gloomy, suspenseful.
Effect
Influences how the reader interprets the text.
Evokes an emotional response from the reader.
Usage
An author's word choice and style create tone.
The setting and imagery create mood.

Real-World Example: Imagine reading a mystery novel. The tone could be tense or ominous, while the mood might make you feel anxious or curious.

  1. Prose vs. Poetry
  • Prose: Written or spoken language in its ordinary form, more straightforward and detailed.
  • Poetry: Literary work with a rhythmic structure, using rhythm and rhyme to convey deeper meanings.
Aspect
Prose
Poetry
Definition
Written or spoken language in its ordinary form.
Literary work with a rhythmic structure.
Structure
Sentences and paragraphs.
Lines and stanzas.
Example
Novels, short stories, essays.
Sonnets, haikus, free verse.
Effect
More straightforward and detailed.
Uses rhythm and rhyme to convey deeper meanings

Real-World Example: Reading a novel like “Animal Farm” by George Orwell (prose) vs. reading a poem like “Ode to the Watermelon” by Pablo Neruda (poetry).

  1. Dramatic Irony vs. Situational Irony
  • Dramatic Irony: The audience knows something the characters do not, creating tension and engagement.
  • Situational Irony: When the opposite of what is expected occurs, often resulting in humor or surprise.
Aspect
Dramatic Irony
Situational Irony
Definition
The audience knows something the characters do not.
When the opposite of what is expected occurs.
Example
In "Romeo and Juliet," the audience knows Juliet is alive, but Romeo does not.
A fire station burns down.
Effect
Creates tension and engagement.
Often results in humor or surprise.
Usage
Used in plays and movies to keep the audience invested.
Found in everyday scenarios and stories.

Real-World Example: A family horror film in which the viewer is aware of the killer’s presence in his house while the characters are clueless (dramatic irony) versus a traffic policeman getting a ticket for speeding (situational irony).

This is important because these concepts, when focused on, will assist you in understanding the complexity of literature and analytical skills that are useful when writing quizzes, essays, and finally the examination.

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FAQs about English 103❓

  1. What should I focus on to pass the final exam?

Be sure to concentrate on aspects like; metamorphism, and simile, as well as the overall tone, mood of the works being read, and the differences between prose and poetry. Especially, concerning the list of mandatory readings, ensure you are capable of analyzing and interpreting the texts properly.

  1. How can I improve my essay writing skills?

Practice is key. A long course of writing was implemented in this software so one needs to abide by the following tips when writing the essays; out your essays, include clear thesis statements, and the essays have to be proofread. You can go online and watch Purdue OWL online and also educational videos on YouTube.

  1. How are the quizzes structured?

Each quiz consists of a total of three questions and of course the learner is allowed to take the quiz three times and only the highest score is taken into consideration. The quizzes are designed to check your understanding of the lessons and before you proceed to the next level, you’re supposed to score not less than 80%. These quizzes are best taken for you to get an idea of which more you need to learn.

  1. Can I retake the final exam if I’m not satisfied with my score?

Yes, you are allowed to take the proctored final examination twice in the case that one failed after a 3-day waiting period. Remember to go through the study guides and practice the tests several times before a particular attempt.

  1. If for some reason I don’t grasp a particular concept what should I do?

External Resources Use outside material from this list, CrashCourse Literature on YouTube, Quizlet for vocabulary and flashcards, and relevant websites such as SparkNotes and Purdue OWL. These can provide distinct views and reasoning that could help in simplifying what may seem to be puzzling to a lot of people.

  1. How do I manage my time effectively in this course?

Determine the study program according to the week-by-week plan discussed above. A detailed schedule should be set regarding time to spend on video watching, text reading, quizzes, and assignments. Still, consistency in the learning process helps one not to get off track and progress through the material confidently.

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Summary📄

Completing Study.com English 103: Analyzing and Interpreting Literature is a fulfilling process that will improve your comprehension, interpretation as well as writing skills with regard to literature. Thanks to the study of such notions as metaphors, tone, and dramatic irony, people will be able to see the depth of the works they read. 

Do not forget to adhere to the week-by-week schedule, supplement the proposed readings, and aim at enhancing your essay writing skills. The quizzes, assignments, and the final exam are set as a way of assessing your understanding and analytical skills; do each assignment with a lot of attentiveness. 

Read with an attitude of participation and even when stuck employ the help of a tutor or a classmate. The strategies discussed above, as long as you are dedicated to following them, will enable you not only to pass the final exam but also to get joy from the process of receiving knowledge about literature. Good luck with your literary travels, and best wishes on your studies.

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