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

Latest revision as of 17:34, 7 November 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. Literature, however, exists in the present tense because it is considered to be eternally in action. This is called the Literary Present. Past tense may be used when writing in reference to historical information about the literature. In special situations, both present and past tense may be used.

When writing about literature always use the present tense. This could include your opinion or the opinions of others in reference to the literature, or a description of fictional events in the literature.

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

When writing about an historical event such as the creation of a piece of literature, giving background information leading into the literature, or information about the author, use the past tense.

    Ex.  Milton wrote during the 17th century.

At times both the past and the present tense may be needed when writing about literature.

    Ex.  Milton wrote his second edition of Paradise Lost in 1674, and it utilizes English heroic verse without rhyme.

References

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

http://revelle.ucsd.edu/humanities/writing-info/literary-present.html. UC San Diego. "The Literary Present". Revelle College. Retrieved July, 2013.

http://www.iolani.honolulu.hi.us/Keables/KeablesGuide/PartFive/WritingaboutLiterature.htm#6. Iolani School. "Writing About Literature". The Keables Guide. Retrieved July, 2013.

http://www.hamilton.edu/writing/writing-resources/verb-tense. Brown, Zach, and Sharon Williams. "Verb Tense". Hamilton College Writing Center. Retrieved July, 2013.

http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/539.htm. Walden University. "Verb Tense". Online Writing Center. May, 17, 2011.

http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/litpres.html. Dawson, Melanie, and Joe Essid. "Verbs: Past Tense? Present?". University of Richmond Writing Center. 2010.

Composition FAQ

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-When writing about literature, or any piece of art, always use the present tense. For example, the following is in past tense:
+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. Literature, however, exists in the present tense because it is considered to be eternally in action. This is called the [http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/litpres.html Literary Present]. Past tense may be used when writing in reference to historical information about the literature. In special situations, both present and past tense may be used.
-: On his odyssey, Odysseus outsmarted the cyclops, slept with Circe, journeyed into the underworld, and still managed to kill all the suitors.
-Write about the literature as if it is still alive, something that presently exists:
+When writing about literature always use the present tense. This could include your opinion or the opinions of others in reference to the literature, or a description of fictional events in the literature.
+    Ex.  In ''Paradise Lost'' Milton creates a luxurious Garden of Eden.
+When writing about an historical event such as the creation of a piece of literature, giving background information leading into the literature, or information about the author, use the past tense.
+    Ex.  Milton wrote during the 17th century.
+At times both the past and the present tense may be needed when writing about literature.
+    Ex.  Milton wrote his second edition of ''Paradise Lost'' in 1674, and it utilizes English heroic verse without rhyme.
+----
+== References ==
+Milton, John. ''Paradise Lost''. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Vol. 1, Ninth Edition. New York, W. W. Norton & Company. 2012. p. 1945.
+http://revelle.ucsd.edu/humanities/writing-info/literary-present.html. UC San Diego. "The Literary Present". Revelle College. Retrieved July, 2013.
+http://www.iolani.honolulu.hi.us/Keables/KeablesGuide/PartFive/WritingaboutLiterature.htm#6. Iolani School. "Writing About Literature". The Keables Guide. Retrieved July, 2013.
+http://www.hamilton.edu/writing/writing-resources/verb-tense. Brown, Zach, and Sharon Williams. "Verb Tense". Hamilton College Writing Center. Retrieved July, 2013.
+http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/539.htm. Walden University. "Verb Tense". Online Writing Center. May, 17, 2011.
+http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/litpres.html. Dawson, Melanie, and Joe Essid. "Verbs: Past Tense? Present?". University of Richmond Writing Center. 2010.
-: On his odyssey, Odysseus outsmarts the cyclops, sleeps with Circe, journeys into the underworld, and still manages to kill all the suitors.
-This might seem counter-intuitive, since Odysseus ''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 we write about them or refer to them.
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 [[Composition FAQ]]
-[[Category:Composition]][[Category:Literature]]
+[[Category:Composition|Literature]][[Category:Literature|writing]]