Literature and Culture II Presentation 2, Fall 2023

(Weeks 16 and 17)

1. You are required to include a Cultural/Historical Context for your short story**

Understanding particular contexts can sometimes be essential to fully appreciating a work of

fiction. One of the things we will continue to do this semester is to look at cultural and historical
contexts. Because we come from different places and have different backgrounds, we may
communicate and understand particular texts very differently. How does the work connect to, or
exist in the larger cultural and/or historical tradition around it? What might people from different
backgrounds have difficulty understanding? Would overcoming these barriers to understanding
be essential to appreciating the work as a whole, or just parts of it? In this presentation, you are
to establish clear, definite links between a particular culture and/or a region’s particular
history and the content of the story. Keep in mind that perhaps the story you chose to
present doesn’t require intimate knowledge of another culture or another country’s
history, but having some background in those areas would just simply help the reader
appreciate the work more. And that’s just fine. You can point out such nuances in your
presentation to satisfy this requirement.

**OPTIONAL: INSTEAD of the above, you may put the story into context by comparing and
contrasting it to other works that came before or after it. Literature often builds on/responds
to other works of literature. Consider the similarities (and differences) between “Interpreter of
Maladies” and “Araby,” for example. They are very different stories, written in very different
times, and yet they could be interpreted as very similar thematically. In other cases, similar
devices, such as Symbol, Figurative Language, Narrative techniques may be employed, but do
very different things for different stories (are perhaps vehicles for very different themes, for
example).

2. You are required to Articulate and Support at least Two possible Important Themes of
the short story

For this requirement, I want you to clearly articulate at least two specific, possible themes of
your short story and to use at least two of these elements of fiction will have reviewed in class
(Plot/Narration and Point of View/Character/Setting/Symbol and Figurative Language) for
support. Remember that themes are the essential meanings of a work. There is usually more than
one important theme in any given short story, and if you don’t think there is another major theme
in your story, you are welcome to point out any possible subthemes that may be present. Of
course, you can additionally support your themes using context or in any other number of ways.
As long as you are including at least one of the above units somewhere in your analysis. In this
requirement, I want you to be able to show that you more fully comprehend the piece and all of
its dimensions. Again, as far as finding more than one possible theme, it may help to consider
that one theme may be more prominent than another. And/or that perhaps the author intended
alternative, even conflicting, interpretations. Be sure to be specific (there’s a difference between
a “topic,” which is more general, and a “theme”).
Additional support (which is not required) could be found in the author’s voice/style
(diction/syntax) and you could consider how the story embraces or departs from traditional
expectations. I’m looking for thoughtfulness, originality, precision, and, as mentioned, the
strength of your support. (Please note that you should not try to cover all of the above areas
regarding your support. Different areas will be more or less relevant to different works or
different themes.)

3. Other Important Reminders/Procedures:

A. You are to complete this presentation in groups of 2 to 4 students. Keep in mind

that literature is both personal and communal and that you benefit from discussing
the work with others.
B. Presentations are to be 10 to 15 minutes long. I may allow them to run longer
depending on the day. But I will always give you a 2 minute warning when your
time is running out. (A longer presentation does not at all guarantee a higher
grade. I grade solely on the content/quality of the presentation.)
C. You do not have to use power point or other special effects during your
presentation, though I recommend it if it makes the content of your presentation
clearer and/or more interesting. I also recommend that you choose the best
speaker(s) to present. Everyone in your group can, of course, talk, but if clarity
becomes an issue, your grade will probably suffer.
D. Be sure to announce your short story the class before your presentation so that
everyone can read the material. Please provide a link if it is difficult to find.
E. There is a 12 page limit to the short story you will present. I’m flexible, so if it runs
a little over the limit and you still want to use it, ask me about it.
F. Materials. I have provided links containing the table of contents for both The
Norton Anthology of World Literature, Volume F and The Norton Introduction to
Literature, Eleventh Edition (Tenth and Twelfth Editions are ok to use as well),
below. Any short story in those books is ok to use. Any work from an author in
those texts is ok to use (even if the work isn’t included in the book). However, if
neither of those are found within those books, you must ask me permission to use
the work for your presentation.
http://media.wwnorton.com/cms/contents/NLIT11P_Print_TOC.pdf

http://media.wwnorton.com/cms/contents/NAWOL_VolF.pdf

4. Important advice:
a. Keep both your summary of the story and your author bio shorter (unless the author’s
personal life helps you to establish context, has something relevant to do with the work
itself).
b. When talking about, for example, the characters, don’t just simply tell us what they did
in the story—that’s just more summary. Try to establish their role regarding the bigger
picture (like, for example, the theme).
c. Be sure that your presentations are long enough. Choose stories that you can discuss at
length (because multiple interpretations are possible, or because of the story’s
complexity/scope etc).
d. Make more of an effort to show us how context directly relates to the content, and
perhaps even the theme. And in all cases try to show how the parts are connected to the
whole.
e. In some past presentations, the themes were too general. Remember that themes should
be significantly more specific than a topic (like love or trust or innocence). Theme is an
opportunity for you to show that you more fully comprehend the work.
f. Show how the details you discuss relate to the work as a whole (or the theme—theme is
really something you can organize a presentation around).
e. Follow the instructions carefully—there are to be no poems, plays or novels, for example.

5. Do not plagiarize. Of course it is very easy to find information on the internet. But
copying other people’s work is as unacceptable in this class as it is anywhere else. Using a
couple of sources is ok, as long as you cite them. However, the majority of the presentation
should be about your thoughts regarding the work, not someone else’s. Remember, this
isn’t nearly as much about find the “right answer” as it is about making thoughtful
observations and insights about a work and being able to support your thoughts with the
content of the story.

Good Luck!