Writing

Write the reproduction “The Creative Impulse”.

ACT IT OUT

Two undergraduates talk about books.

Patric(ia), who majors in history, says (s)he can’t afford to read fiction, as (s)he is much too busy and (s)he doesn’t particularly care for it. Reading journals and books on history takes up all his/her time. Yet, (s)he doesn’t mind reading a detective story once in a while, just for relaxation.

Norma(n), who majors in psychology, is an avid reader. (S)he is fond of fiction, poetry, memoirs, yet dislikes crime stories.

HAVE YOUR SAY

1. Do you enjoy reading detective stories? Why or why not?

2. What is “good literature”? Is it always “solemn stuff”? Do you share J.B. Priestley’s view that good literature should be read away from the bedroom? Why or why not?

3. What books do you favour as bedbooks? Explain.

4. Tell the class about your favourite genre.

II

1. Learn the essential vocabulary which you may need to talk about your favourite authors and books.

Essential Vocabulary

to be used about books and authors

I. WRITER, AUTHOR, novelist, playwright, essayist, short-story writer, poet

e.g. Iris Murdoch is one of the best modern English novelists.

Author tends to be avoided in conversation about books

e.g. - Who is it by?

- It's by Allan Sillitoe.

ADJECTIVES USED OF WRITERS:

great good dull

famous amusing boring

talented interesting superficial

outstanding brilliant pretentious

promising original depressing

up-and-coming imaginative unoriginal

(‘on the way to success’) clever far-fetched

II. Adjectives applied to books

good interesting enjoyable entertaining fascinating brilliant unusual amusing funny (coll.) witty imaginative exciting moving gripping convincing true-to-life complex profound well-written easy to read (see below) very readable (see below) Although favourable comments, they imply limited literary value in most cases. The former is used about books to be read in a foreign language. e.g. Agatha Christie's very easy to read.

dull boring badly-written uninspiring slow-moving long-drawn-out (too) involved unoriginal superficial pretentious (‘claiming without justification great merit or importance’) unconvincing heavy-going (see below) depressing (see below) powerful (‘making a strong impression’) Heavy-going and depressing may be applied to good books. e.g. It’s heavy-going but interesting -How did you like the "Forsyte Saga"? - I found it rather heavy-going at first, but when I got into it I really enjoyed it. "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding is a brilliant novel although very depressing.

III. Aspects of a novel or a story

1. Subject, theme 5. Portrayal of human relationships

2. Plot 6. Ideas, views, attitudes

3. Setting 7. Style

4. Characters, characterization 8. Spirit, atmosphere, mood