Reading Between the Lines: Essential Background-Reading Blueprint for English Honours Students

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 1. Immerse yourself in texts from different periods, genres, and cultures to build a broad literary foundation. Include poetry, drama, fiction, and non-fiction to understand how form and context interact.



2. Engage with each text by annotating margins, underlining key passages, and jotting down questions. Pause after every chapter or section to summarize themes and motifs in your own words.



3. Maintain a Reading Journal; Create two sections in your journal:

  • Notes & Observations: Record quotes, unfamiliar terms, and personal reflections.
  • Thematic Threads: Track recurring symbols, character arcs, and historical references across multiple works.

4. Before diving into a primary text, read introductory essays, author biographies, and historical overviews. This background knowledge helps you interpret subtleties and socio-cultural allusions.


5. Set aside dedicated time slots each week solely for background reading. Consistency prevents last-minute cramming and allows for deeper reflection.



6. Discussing background texts with peers can uncover new perspectives. When different views are presented, you get contextual insights on history, theory, or authorial background.

Group Discussions do help!


Recommended Background-Reading Resources

Title

Author / Editor

Purpose

How to Read Literature Like a Professor

Thomas C. Foster

Guides analytical reading through familiar patterns

An Introduction to Literary Theory

Terry Eagleton

Surveys major critical theories from formalism to postcolonialism

The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms

Ross C. Murfin & Supryia M. Ray

Defines key terms and concepts for essays and exams

The Norton Anthology of English Literature

M. H. Abrams (General Editor)

Comprehensive anthology covering British and American texts

Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction

Jonathan Culler

Concise overview of contemporary theoretical approaches

English Literary Criticism: An Introductory History

Julian Wolfreys

Historical survey of criticism from Renaissance to modern

A Companion to Modernist Literature and Culture

David Bradshaw & Kevin J. H. Dettmar

Contextual essays on modernist movements and key authors




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