College Composition / Unit 4 CMP 0092 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Literary Present
Captions available
The idea
When writing about a literary work, use the present tense for both the author's choices and the events in the work.
In practice
"The poet uses short lines, and the speakers celebrate their lives," even though the poem was written decades ago.
Where people slip
Switching to the past tense partway through a literary analysis is a common inconsistency.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Unlocks
- Nothing yet depends on this.
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for College Composition