Tenses
and Literature
Present Tense:
·
Action in Literature:
Ex: Mrs. Mallard is described as having a heart
condition in the exposition.
Ex: We learn of her initial unwillingness to
accept the joy that is creeping toward her:
“[S]he [waits] for it, fearfully. [. . .] [S]he [strives] to beat it
back against her will [. . .]” (Chopin 119).
·
The act/product
of writing
Ex: In “Story,” Kate Chopin suggests that the
mutual obligations inherent in relationships may cause the participants to
prefer the freedom of loneliness.
Past Tense:
·
Mention of things
that happened before the story started
Ex: Louise Mallard admits that there were times that she had loved her husband; however, more frequently,
she had not. Now, she is excited by the
prospect of a life all her own.
·
Reference to the
actual life of the author
Ex: Chopin did not enjoy recognition during her
life. Only after she died did people
appreciate her work.