ENGLISH LITERATURE

I. INTRODUCTION

TYPES OF LITERATURE

• POETRY
Poetry is a type of writing that focuses on sound. Poems are made up of lines and groups of lines called
stanzas. The way the syllables and words are arranged creates a rhythm called a meter, although some
poems don't follow a regular meter.
EX: "If" by Rudyard Kipling: a poem with meter, while "The Waste Land" by T.S. Eliot doesn't have a
regular meter. Other types of poems include sonnets and epic poems like "The Iliad" by Homer.
• PROSE
Prose is any written text that isn't poetry. It includes novels, short stories, biographies, memoirs,
diaries, and journals. Prose is written in sentences and paragraphs, focusing on plot and characters.
EX: "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville.
• DRAMA
Drama is literature written to be performed, typically in the form of a play. Plays mainly consist of
dialogue and some stage directions.
EX: The play "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare.
1. Literary elements

• POETRY
A foot is a group of syllables in a line of poetry, with a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.

• Iamb: one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed (sounds natural): relax, unfair, To be
• Spondee: two stressed syllables (used for emphasis): well-loved, blood boil, There goes
• Trochee: one stressed syllable followed by one unstressed (has a sing-song rhythm): hoping,
darkness, Go now
• Anapest: two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed (used in longer poems): incomplete,
misinformed, On the way
• Dactyl: one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed (used in classical texts for a pulse):
marmalade, criminal, Under the

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

• Simile (so sánh): a comparison of two things using like or as, often to make it more vivid: "her
eyes were like two dark pools"
• Metaphor (ẩn dụ): the use of one thing to describe another, without using like or as: "love is a
battlefield"
 • Personification (nhân hóa): giving human characteristics to animals, objects, or natural
processes: "the river shrugged its shoulders"
• Onomatopoeia (tượng thanh): the use of words that imitate the sounds they describe: "a buzzing
bee"
• Hyperbole (nói quá): an exaggerated statement to make a point or for humorous effect: "my
backpack is a million pounds"
• Irony (trớ trêu): an outcome that is the opposite of what was expected, often humorously: "I've lost
my patience, which is making me more patient!"
• Alliteration (ám chỉ): the repetition of the same sounds at the beginning of words or in a stressed
syllable: "the sleepy sailor sailed the seven seas"
• Assonance (đồng âm): the repetition of vowel (sự lặp lại của các nguyên âm) sounds in nearby
words: "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog"
• Pun (chơi chữ): a joke that takes advantage of words with similar or double meanings: "our business
is a family affair - we have no family members involved"
• Oxymoron (trái ngược): a combination of contradictory words or concepts: "jumbo shrimp"
• Imagery (hình ảnh): the use of descriptive language to create mental images for the reader: "the
leaves rustled in the breeze"

LITERARY ELEMENTS
• Plot: Sequence of events in a story.
• Setting: Time and place where a story occurs.
• Characters: Individuals who participate in the action.
• Theme: Central idea or message of a literary work.
• Conflict: Struggle between opposing forces.

LITERARY TECHNIQUES
• Irony: A contrast between expectation and reality.
• Verbal Irony: Saying the opposite of what is meant.
• Situational Irony: Outcome is opposite of what is expected.
• Dramatic Irony: Audience knows something the characters do not.
• Symbolism: Using symbols to signify ideas and qualities.
• Foreshadowing: Hinting at future events.
• Imagery: Descriptive language that appeals to the senses.

II. LITERARY WORK

• WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
- Birth/Death: April 23, 1564 – April 23, 1616
- Life Story: Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Married Anne Hathaway and had three children.
Moved to London and became a successful playwright and poet. Member of the Lord Chamberlain's Men
(later the King's Men).
- Notable Works: "Hamlet," "Romeo and Juliet," "Macbeth," "Sonnet 18"

SONNET 18 (SHAKESPEARE)
 • Setting: Undefined; focuses on the beauty of the beloved.
• Plot: Speaker compares the beloved to a summer's day, ultimately claiming that their beauty will live
forever through the poem.
• Summary: A poem praising the eternal beauty of the beloved, asserting that their beauty will be
immortalized in the verse.

• Literary elements:
− Theme: The enduring nature of beauty and the power of poetry to immortalize it.
− Structure: The sonnet follows the typical Shakespearean sonnet structure with 14 lines, divided into
three quatrains and a final rhymed couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABABCDCDEFEFGG.

• Figurative Language: (phép tu từ)

- Metaphor (ẩn dụ): The beloved is compared to a summer’s day ("Shall I compare thee to a summer's
day?").
- Personification (nhân hóa): Death is given human attributes ("Nor shall Death brag thou wanderest in
his shade").
- Hyperbole (cường điệu): Exaggerating the beloved’s beauty by stating it will last forever.

• Literary Techniques:
- Imagery: Vivid descriptions of summer ("Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May").
- Symbolism: Summer’s day symbolizes the beloved’s beauty.
- Volta: The shift in tone or argument between the third quatrain and the couplet, emphasizing the power
of the poem to preserve the beloved’s beauty.

HAMLET: (SHAKESPEARE)

• Setting: Denmark, primarily Elsinore Castle.

• Plot: Prince Hamlet seeks revenge against his uncle Claudius, who has murdered Hamlet's father,
taken the throne, and married Hamlet's mother. Themes of madness, revenge, and mortality.
• Summary: A tragedy about Prince Hamlet avenging his father's murder, exploring themes of
revenge, madness, and mortality.

• Literary Elements:
- Theme: Revenge, mortality, madness, corruption, and the complexity of action.
- Setting: Denmark, primarily Elsinore Castle.
- Plot: The story follows Prince Hamlet's quest to avenge his father’s murder.

• Figurative Language:
- Metaphor: "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" – the corruption in Denmark.
- Simile: "Frailty, thy name is woman" – comparing women's frailty to weakness.
- Alliteration(ám chỉ): "To be, or not to be, that is the question."

• Literary Techniques:
- Dramatic Irony: The audience knows more about the characters’ situations than they do themselves (e.g.,
Hamlet's feigned madness).
- Soliloquies: Hamlet’s soliloquies reveal his inner thoughts and conflicts ("To be or not to be").
- Foreshadowing: The ghost’s appearance foreshadows the tragic events to come.

• DANIEL DEFOE
- Birth/Death: 1660 – April 24, 1731
- Life Story: Born in London, England. Worked as a merchant, journalist, and spy. Imprisoned for his
political writings. Best known for "Robinson Crusoe," considered one of the earliest novels in English
literature.
- Notable Works: "Robinson Crusoe," "Moll Flanders"

ROBINSON CRUSOE (DEFOE)

• Setting: A deserted island off the coast of Venezuela.
• Plot: Robinson Crusoe survives a shipwreck and lives on the island for 28 years, using his
resourcefulness to survive. Themes of survival, self-reliance, and human resilience.
• Literary Elements:
- Theme: Survival, self-reliance, and human resilience.
- Setting: A deserted island off the coast of Venezuela.
- Plot: Robinson Crusoe survives a shipwreck and lives on the island for 28 years, using his resourcefulness
to survive.

• Figurative Language:
- Metaphor: The island as a microcosm of society. (Hòn đảo như một mô hình thu nhỏ của xã hội.)
- Symbolism: The footprint represents human presence and Crusoe's fear of the unknown.
- Personification: The description of nature and the island as if they have human characteristics.

• Literary Techniques:
- First-Person Narrative( Tường thuật ngôi thứ nhất): Provides an intimate look into Crusoe’s thoughts
and feelings.
- Realism: Detailed descriptions of Crusoe’s survival techniques and daily life.
- Foreshadowing: Early adventures foreshadow Crusoe’s resilience and resourcefulness on the island.
 • JANE AUSTEN
- Birth/Death: December 16, 1775 – July 18, 1817
- Life Story: Born in Steventon, Hampshire, England. Never married. Lived a relatively quiet life in the
countryside. Known for her keen observations of social manners and the role of women in society.
- Notable Works: "Pride and Prejudice," "Sense and Sensibility," "Emma"

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (AUSTEN)

• Setting: Rural England in the early 19th century.
• Plot: Elizabeth Bennet navigates societal expectations and personal prejudices, ultimately falling in
love with Mr. Darcy. Themes of marriage, social class, and individual growth.
• Literary Elements:
- Theme: Love and marriage, social class, and individual growth.
- Setting: Rural England in the early 19th century.
- Plot: Elizabeth Bennet navigates societal expectations and personal prejudices, ultimately falling in love
with Mr. Darcy. (Elizabeth Bennet điều hướng những kỳ vọng xã hội và định kiến cá nhân, cuối cùng yêu
ông Darcy.)

• Figurative Language:
- Irony: Used extensively to critique societal norms (Được sử dụng rộng rãi để phê phán các chuẩn mực xã
hội)
→ ("It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be
in want of a wife").
- Satire: Criticism of social class and marriage practices. (Phê bình tầng lớp xã hội và thực hành hôn nhân.)
- Symbolism: Pemberley represents Darcy’s true character and the potential for happiness.

• Literary Techniques:
- Free Indirect Speech: Blurs the lines between Elizabeth’s thoughts and the narrator’s voice.
- Irony: Characters often speak or act in ways opposite to their true intentions or feelings.
- Characterization: Detailed descriptions and interactions reveal the complexities of characters like
Elizabeth and Darcy.

• CHARLES DICKENS
- Birth/Death: February 7, 1812 – June 9, 1870
- Life Story: Born in Portsmouth, England. Experienced poverty in childhood, worked in a blacking
factory. Became a prolific and popular novelist, noted for his vivid characters and depictions of social issues.
- Notable Works: "Great Expectations," "A Christmas Carol," "Oliver Twist"
 GREAT EXPECTATIONS (DICKENS)
• Setting: Early 19th-century England, including rural areas and London.
• Plot: Pip, an orphan, comes into a fortune from a mysterious benefactor. He moves to London,
aiming to become a gentleman, but learns valuable life lessons about loyalty and integrity. Themes of
social class, ambition, and redemption.

• Literary Elements:
- Theme: Social class, ambition, personal growth, and redemption.
- Setting: Early 19th-century England, including rural areas and London.
- Plot: Pip, an orphan, rises to wealth, deserts his true friends, and learns the true value of loyalty and
affection. (Pip, một đứa trẻ mồ côi, trở nên giàu có, bỏ rơi những người bạn thực sự của mình và học được
giá trị thực sự của lòng trung thành và tình cảm.)

• Figurative Language:
- Metaphor: Satis House represents decay and the stagnation of the upper class.( Satis House đại diện cho
sự suy tàn và trì trệ của tầng lớp thượng lưu)
- Symbolism: The mists on the marshes symbolize uncertainty and moral ambiguity. (Sương mù trên đầm
lầy tượng trưng cho sự không chắc chắn và mơ hồ về đạo đức)
- Personification: Descriptions of settings, like the wind howling, to create a mood.

• Literary Techniques:
- First-Person Narrative( Tường thuật ngôi thứ nhất): Provides an introspective view of Pip’s
development.( cái nhìn nội tâm về sự phát triển của Pip.)
- Realism: Depicts social issues and class struggles in a detailed, believable manner.
- Gothic Elements: Dark, eerie settings and mysterious circumstances enhance the narrative (e.g., Satis
House). (Bối cảnh tối tăm, kỳ lạ và hoàn cảnh bí ẩn làm tăng thêm kịch tính cho câu chuyện)

PARAGRAPH WRITING
• Write a paragraph analyzing the character of Robinson Crusoe and his story
In my opinion, the character of Robinson Crusoe and his story are particularly compelling, especially the
moment when he finds a footprint on the beach. This discovery marks a significant turning point in the novel
and in Crusoe's life. Until then, he had grown accustomed to his solitary existence, relying on his
resourcefulness to survive. The footprint, however, shakes his sense of security and brings a rush of fear and
curiosity. It symbolizes both the unknown and the potential for danger, but also the possibility of human
contact. This moment reveals Crusoe's vulnerability and the deep-seated human need for companionship. It
shows how isolation can profoundly affect a person and how the idea of another human presence can stir a
complex mix of emotions. This part of the story underscores themes of survival, fear, and the longing for
connection, making Crusoe's character more relatable and his journey more poignant.
Content Covered: Introduction, Sonnet 18, Hamlet, Robinson Crusoe, Pride and Prejudice, Great
Expectations

EXAM FORMAT:

Part 1: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) - 30 Questions (3 points each)*

1. Who is the author of Sonnet 18?
- A) Charles Dickens
- B) William Shakespeare
- C) Jane Austen
- D) Daniel Defoe

2. What literary form is Sonnet 18? (Sonnet 18 là hình thức văn học nào)
- A) Novel
- B) Play
- C) Sonnet
- D) Epic

3. In Hamlet, who is murdered by Claudius?

- A) Ophelia
- B) King Hamlet (Hamlet's father)
- C) Polonius
- D) Laertes

4. Where does Robinson Crusoe spend 28 years of his life?

- A) Desert island
- B) London
- C) Paris
- D) Africa

5. Who is the protagonist in Pride and Prejudice?

- A) Mr. Collins
 - B) Elizabeth Bennet
- C) Mr. Darcy
- D) Lady Catherine de Bourgh

6. Which social class does Pip aspire to join in Great Expectations?

- A) Upper class
- B) Middle class
- C) Working class
- D) Merchant class

Part 2: Gap-Filling Questions - 10 Questions (2 points each)*

1) Complete the following quote from Sonnet 18: "Shall I compare thee to a ________ day?"
Answer: summer
2) In Hamlet, Prince Hamlet famously contemplates "To be, or not to be: that is the ________."
Answer: question
3) Robinson Crusoe's survival on the island demonstrates his ________ and resourcefulness.
Answer: resilience
4) Pride and Prejudice critiques societal norms and expectations related to ________.
Answer: marriage
5) In Great Expectations, Pip is influenced by his interactions with ________.
Answer: Estella

• Write a paragraph analyzing the theme of love and marriage in both Pride and Prejudice and
Sonnet 18. How do these works explore the concept of love and its portrayal in different forms?

In both Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare, love and marriage are
central themes explored through different literary forms. Pride and Prejudice examines the social
expectations and personal prejudices that shape romantic relationships in early 19th-century England.
Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy’s evolving relationship challenges societal norms and explores the
complexities of love beyond initial impressions. In contrast, Sonnet 18, a Shakespearean sonnet,
immortalizes the beloved's beauty and the enduring nature of love through poetic language and imagery.
Despite the different forms – novel and sonnet – both works highlight love’s transformative power and the
enduring quest for genuine connection amidst societal constraints.