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Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Literary Criticism and Interpretation
What Is Interpretation?
In general, to interpret something is to make it personally meaningful. Our brain takes raw data from the senses and makes
it meaningful by relating it to our previous experiences. When we read or hear a sentence, we put the words together into a
meaningful whole, rather than just noting their separate dictionary definitions. Most everyday language is fairly straightforward
and requires little interpretation. Because literature presents us with more than one possible meaning, interpreting literature
requires more care and attention.
Fiction/Non-Fiction Activities
Introduction:
Enable the children to identify the difference between fiction and non-fiction. First present the children
with a blank poster and explain that together you are going to come up with the differences between
fiction and non-fiction.
Key Questions:
1. What does the word fiction/non-fiction mean? What is the difference between these?
2. Can you think of some TV shows that are fictional/non-fictional?
3. Name as many sources of non-fiction as you can.
(For older students, you could ask them to order these beginning with the most accurate).
4. Do you prefer reading fiction/non-fiction?
Overview of differences
Fiction Non-fiction
Age appropriateness: 8+
Introduction:
Explain to the children that they are going to be asked to come up with as many non-fiction sources
as they can. Encourage the children to think of sources which they might see being used daily in their
homes.
Development:
The children are given three minutes and are asked to write down as many non-fiction sources as
they can in this time.
Conclusion:
The children report back their ideas to the rest of the class – children are encouraged to add to their
own lists if they hadn’t thought of some ideas.
Differentiation:
For older children, ask them which sources would be the most accurate and why. Any children over 8
years could be asked to use a Venn diagram to sort the sources.
That's fiction!
Approximate time: 8 minutes
Introduction:
Explain activity to the children – explain that they are each going to take a turn to call out a fact. This
fact has to be true or false – if it is true the children say “That’s non-fiction” and if it is false they
say “That’s fiction”.
Development:
The children call out facts one by one and these facts are either true or false. If the fact is true, the
other children called out “That’s non-fiction”, while if it false they call out "That’s fiction”.
Other examples: I can fly, I have wings, We are in a park, We are in the library, I am very tall,
Elephants are very big, Caterpillars turn into butterflies, etc.
TV guide – Fiction or Non-fiction
Approximate time: 15 minutes
Age appropriateness: 8+
Introduction:
To begin this activity the children are invited to call out their favourite TV shows and state whether
they are fiction or non-fiction.
Development:
In groups of three the children are given a simple TV guide to look at together. The children work
together to decide which TV shows are fictional and which are non-fictional.
Conclusion:
The children compare their answers with other groups.
Differentiation:
More detailed TV guides for older children.
Activity:
Each group of children is given ten books and are asked to sort these into two piles – fiction and non-
fiction