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What tense do I use when writing about literature? (view source)

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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 content. Literature, however, exist in the present, and the actions of that work do as well when writing about them or referring to them. 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 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.




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At times both the past and the present tense may be needed when writing about literature.
At times both the past and the present tense may be needed when writing about literature.
     Ex.  Milton's second edition of ''Paradise Lost'', written in 1674, is an example of English heroic verse without rhyme.
     Ex.  Milton wrote his second edition of ''Paradise Lost'' in 1674, and it utilizes English heroic verse without rhyme.
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== References ==
== References ==
Milton, John. ''Paradise Lost''. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Vol. 1, Ninth Edition. New York, W. W. Norton & Company. 2012. p. 1945.  
Milton, John. ''Paradise Lost''. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Vol. 1, Ninth Edition. New York, W. W. Norton & Company. 2012. p. 1945.  
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http://www.hamilton.edu/writing/writing-resources/verb-tense. Brown, Zach, and Sharon Williams. "Verb Tense". Hamilton College Writing Center. 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://www.vanderbilt.edu/writing/resources/Literary%20present%20tense.pdf. Vanderbilt College of Arts and Science. "How (and Why) Do I Write in Literary Present Tense?". Writing Studio. Retrieved July, 2013.
http://www.grinnell.edu/files/downloads/ver_ck.pdf. Crim, Kevin, Judy Hunter, and Mathilda Liberman. "Grinnell College Writing Lab Guide to the Use of Verb Tense in Academic Writing". Grinnell College. p. 1-3. Retrieved July, 2013.


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