What tense do I use when writing about literature?: Difference between revisions

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When reading a piece of literature, the event is happening in present time, regardless of when the literature or art was created.
When reading a piece of literature, the event is happening in present time, regardless of when the literature was created. This may seem unnatural since, as in the following examples, Milton wrote (performed this action) in the past, both in the sense of authorship and readership. Literature, however, exist in the present, and the actions of that work do as well when writing about them or referring to them.


When writing about literature always use the present tense.  
When writing about literature always use the present tense.  
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At times you may need to use both the present and the past tense when writing about literature.
At times you may need to use both the present and the past tense when writing about literature.
     Ex.  Milton's second edition of ''Paradise Lost'' was written in 1674 and is English heroic verse without rhyme.<ref>Milton, John. ''Paradise Lost'', The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume 1, Ninth Edition, New York, WW Norton & Company, 2012 p. 1945</ref>
     Ex.  Milton's second edition of ''Paradise Lost'' was written in 1674 and is English heroic verse without rhyme.<ref>Milton, John. ''Paradise Lost'', The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume 1, Ninth Edition, New York, WW Norton & Company, 2012 p. 1945</ref>
{{reflist}}


 
Using present tense when writing about literature might seem counter-intuitive, since Milton ''did'' these things in the past, both in the sense of authorship and readership; however, literature, like any work of art, exists in the present, and the actions of that work do as well when writing about them or refer to them.
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== References ==
== References ==
1.  
1. Milton, John. ''Paradise Lost''. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Vol. 1, Ninth Edition. New York, W. W. Northon & Company. 2012. p. 1945.
 
[[Composition FAQ]]
[[Composition FAQ]]
[[Category:Composition|Literature]][[Category:Literature|writing]]
[[Category:Composition|Literature]][[Category:Literature|writing]]

Revision as of 02:34, 12 July 2013

When reading a piece of literature, the event is happening in present time, regardless of when the literature was created. This may seem unnatural since, as in the following examples, Milton wrote (performed this action) in the past, both in the sense of authorship and readership. Literature, however, exist in the present, and the actions of that work do as well when writing about them or referring to them.

When writing about literature always use the present tense. 

    Ex.  In Paradise Lost Milton creates a luxurious Garden of Eden.

When you are writing about an historical event such as the creation of a piece of literature, use the past tense. 

    Ex.  Milton wrote during the 17th century.

At times you may need to use both the present and the past tense when writing about literature. 

    Ex.  Milton's second edition of Paradise Lost was written in 1674 and is English heroic verse without rhyme.[1]

References

1. Milton, John. Paradise Lost. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Vol. 1, Ninth Edition. New York, W. W. Northon & Company. 2012. p. 1945.

Composition FAQ

  1. ↑ Milton, John. Paradise Lost, The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume 1, Ninth Edition, New York, WW Norton & Company, 2012 p. 1945
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