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Animals in Literature. Various Perspectives Regarding Animals and Animals’ Portrayal in Literature

Title: Animals in Literature. Various Perspectives Regarding Animals and Animals’ Portrayal in Literature

Project Report , 2020 , 9 Pages , Grade: 1,3

Autor:in: Stefanie Gerrits (Author)

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature
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Animals in Literature was a course about various perspectives regarding animals and animals’ portrayal in literature. Multiple topics were being discussed such as anthropomorphism, animals as food, animal voices or animals in correlation to sexism and racism. Our primary texts were "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad and "Animal Farm" by George Orwell. These texts were the foundation for different discussions. Those rose my awareness for the importance
animals have in literature, however, this course additionally showed how rarely readers pay attention to it.

In "Heart of Darkness", we analyzed how animals are being used to represent racist thoughts, for instance, while using adjectives that usually describe animal behavior, to characterize actions and sounds of dark-skinned people. Some examples applied in "Heart of Darkness" are 'crawling', 'on all fours' or 'creeping'. Another discussion displayed how people or classes are being suppressed or highly regarded using words connotated to different values of diverse animals.

"Animal Farm", on the other hand, is an accurate representation of human behavior. Especially, character traits that are often considered to be animalistic behavior proved to be human behavior as well. One debatable theme was whether authors are able to express animal’s thoughts and feelings due to the reason that they can only make assumptions influenced by behavior they know from animals surrounding them. Furthermore, we examined various historical aspects, for example how animals were regarded and treated as food over time and how people’s behavior to their value
changed.

A theme which occurred in both Novellas was how certain species symbolize social classes. Some species, such as lions or wolves, represent higher class as a result of aesthetic, power and strength, and intelligence. To the contrary, farm animals such as chicken, donkeys, cows, or pig, are portrayed as lower class because they are generally regarded as dirty and unaesthetic. Their objectification as being products and barely being regarded as living and feeling creatures have been transferred into literature as well, representing farm animals as a prototypical class without influence, danger or intelligence.

Excerpt


Inhaltsverzeichnis

  • 1. Introduction
  • 12. Animals in Literature
    • 2.1 Extinction
    • 2.2 Symbolism of Serpents in Literature
    • 2.3 \"I'll work harder.\" – Diary Entries

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte

Dieses Portfolio befasst sich mit der Analyse der Verwendung von Tieren in der Literatur und demonstriert das kritische Denken, das während des Semesters erworben wurde. Die Arbeit basiert auf der Lektüre von "Heart of Darkness" von Joseph Conrad und "Animal Farm" von George Orwell und beleuchtet verschiedene Perspektiven auf das Verhältnis von Mensch und Tier in der Literatur.

  • Anthropomorphismus in der Literatur
  • Tiere als Nahrungsmittel und ihre symbolische Bedeutung
  • Die Darstellung von Tieren in Bezug auf Sexismus und Rassismus
  • Die Rolle von Tieren in der Geschichte und ihre Bedeutung in der Kultur
  • Die Analyse von Tiermetaphern und -symbolen in literarischen Werken

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel

1. Introduction

Die Einleitung führt in die Thematik des Portfolios ein und beschreibt die behandelten Kurse sowie die zugrundeliegenden Texte "Heart of Darkness" und "Animal Farm". Sie beleuchtet die Bedeutung von Tieren in der Literatur und die unterschiedlichen Perspektiven auf ihre Darstellung.

2.1 Extinction

Dieses Kapitel präsentiert ein Gedicht, das die Ausrottung von Tierarten in der Zukunft thematisiert. Es beleuchtet die Perspektiven der Tiere und ihre Erfahrungen mit dem Verlust von Lebensraum und der Bedrohung durch den Klimawandel.

2.2 Symbolism of Serpents in Literature

Dieses Kapitel analysiert die symbolische Bedeutung von Schlangen in der Literatur und untersucht ihre vielschichtigen Bedeutungen. Es beleuchtet sowohl negative Aspekte wie Täuschung und Zerstörung als auch positive Aspekte wie Heilung, Transformation und Unsterblichkeit.

2.3 \"I'll work harder.\" – Diary Entries

Dieses Kapitel besteht aus Tagebucheinträgen, die die Gedanken und Gefühle eines Tieres während einer Revolution schildern. Es zeigt die Herausforderungen und Chancen, die sich für die Tiere während des Umbruchs ergeben.

Schlüsselwörter

Die Schlüsselwörter dieser Arbeit umfassen: Anthropomorphismus, Tiermetaphern, Symbolismus, Tierschutz, Literaturanalyse, "Heart of Darkness", "Animal Farm", Extinction, Schlangen, Revolution, Tagebuch, Tiere als Nahrungsmittel, Rassismus, Sexismus.

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Details

Title
Animals in Literature. Various Perspectives Regarding Animals and Animals’ Portrayal in Literature
College
University of Trier  (Universität)
Course
Animals in Literature
Grade
1,3
Author
Stefanie Gerrits (Author)
Publication Year
2020
Pages
9
Catalog Number
V1252940
ISBN (PDF)
9783346693969
Language
German
Tags
animal farm heart of darkness george owell joseph conrad extinction serpents
Product Safety
GRIN Publishing GmbH
Quote paper
Stefanie Gerrits (Author), 2020, Animals in Literature. Various Perspectives Regarding Animals and Animals’ Portrayal in Literature, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1252940
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