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Kevin Feijo Professor Susan Lago English 1500 5 May, 2014 Reading Comprehension in the Digital Age The digital age has taken the way we understands literature and transformed it in a revolutionary way. The internet can provide clarity and help define words, translate words, or even entire literary works; Sylvia Plath for example is a writer of great complexity and can be difficult to understand without the aid of another. The use of the technology has simplified the way we understand literature and has also opened the door of opportunity for more because of the availability of electronic books. E-book users also have the luxury of carrying an infinite number of literary works within their e-reader. In addition to things like e-books, the creation of internet forums has given all readers an endless outlet where they can state their interpretation of a work and view the interpretations and opinions of others, creating virtual book clubs of sorts. The digital age has an effect on communication, weaponry, medical equipment, and literature is no exception to the evolution into the digital age. The convenience technology provides for comprehension increases productivity by helping to save time. Imagine reading Theodore Roethkes My Papas Waltz and coming across the word countenance (Roethke 494), a word that you may not be able to conjugate based on its context alone; now imagine this happening in 1995 versus it happening it 2014. In 1995, one would have to find a dictionary, look for the word countenance, define it, and then continue to read. Now imagine performing the same task in 2014; one simply has to ask "Siri" to

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"define countenance," or type it into "Google," then return to the book, that may even be on the same device you have accessed Google from. With having to perform little to no extra work to define the word, thanks to technology, one can process literature faster. Also, rather than having to look for a synonym in a paper thesaurus, one can also use an internet thesaurus to find synonyms for words they do not quite understand or use it to increase their vocabulary. Again considering the word countenance (a persons facial expression), and one wanted a more general word to use; upon using an online thesaurus one is easily provided with dozens of other words to use. Words as simple as: demeanor, expression, or look. The speed at which both defining and finding new a word has greatly increased and has simplified the understanding of the English language and literature. The digital era has developed a revolutionary way of consolidating entire libraries into an object no longer than a composition notebook and no thicker than an index finger, which makes the portability and accessibility of a larger selection much easier. These devices, known as ereaders, service the purpose of more efficient reading. E-readers provide the convenience of being able to buy books online, carrying hundreds of books in one small device, and the clarity of looking up a word simply by highlighting it. E-readers offer the convenience of being connected to the internet which makes even the most challenging authors more easily understood. Authors like Sylvia Plath who uses a lot of metaphors throughout her poems. For example, when Plath writes Ghastly statue with one gray toe big as a Frisco seal (Plath). I believe that this quote means she was bowing to the large statue of her fathers image, however others might interpret this as the Plath describing her father as a large imposing image that was so big that he could stretch across from San Francisco to the Atlantic. The convince of having access to online interpretations and translations which break the literature down into its simplest

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form aids in comprehension and often when one understands and appreciates the work of a particular writer, he or she will continue to read their works. Some writers also like to add words from different languages in their stories and poems. Plath implements German and military words and phrases in her poem "Daddy" which are also difficult to understand without any prior knowledge of the German language. Because of the Internet I was able to decipher her phrase "panzer-man" (Plath). I discovered that a "panzer-man" was a tank driver, which I believe to be a description of her father's destructiveness as a Nazi. I also was able to translate several German words such as "Luftwaffe" (Plath) which means air force, or "ich" (Plath) which means "I". The internet provided a very easy way to translate theses German words, and provided clarity for not only Plath's difficult works but other writers as well. With the popularity of e-readers increasing, reading rates have increased as well. Since the most recent holiday season reading rates among adults have increased from 17% to 21% (Cecilia Kang). This technology is also credited with increasing the reading ability of children. E-readers are sparking people's interest in literature in all forms; from downloading books onto their personal computers, e-readers, or going to the bookstore technology has imparted the appreciation of literature to readers. With the endless library of convince e-readers provide, younger readers are becoming aware of, not just authors of recent times, but authors that established careers decades earlier. Authors such as Sylvia Plath and Theodore Roethke are both very articulate and mesmerizing writings that are still very well established authors can be brought up as suggestions for the user of an e-reader. E-reader will not only open the doors to Plath and Roethke, but to an endless number of other authors; and with all the different styles and stories there are in writing the e-reader will have an unlimited supply of stimulus.

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The digital age brought on texting, instant messaging, and social media and what one thing does one need in order to partake in these crazes? The answer is simple: the ability to read. In order for literature to be understood, it must be able to be read. With children being the most active users of these trends known as social media, it has positively affected their reading capabilities. This phenomenon is known as "e-literacy" (Ralph Raab). E-literacy is the idea that a child is subconsciously learning to read through the use of digital devices. It is true that most kids would rather tweet, update their Facebook status, or alter Wikipedia entries than sit down with a book, but if these activities are developing reading skills, then they should be promoted. School systems should promote e-literacy and encourage on its development by providing sophisticated literature. If an educator would use Sylvia Plath quotes that really grabs a students attention; such as If Ive killed one man, Ive killed two--The vampire who said he was you and drank my blood for a year, (Plath). This quote can become a hook into Plaths poem Daddy because of its mention of death and it brings up the growing craze of vampires. This quote my get a young students attention and led to them discovering more of Plaths works, thus capitalizing on e-literacy.

Coming up with an interpretation is a part of literature. An interpretation of literature is subjective to an individual's thoughts and the internet has become an outlet for people to voice those interpretations and view the interpretations' of others. For "My Papa Waltz" by Theodore Roethke, the text seems to come across as if a little boy is dancing with his drunk father, like when Roethke writes "The whiskey on your breath could make a small boy dizzy; but I hung on like death: Such waltzing was not easy" (Roethke 494). But upon a close reading of the poem, I interpreted as a boy being beaten by his father. "We romped until the pans slide from the kitchen shelf At every step you missed my right ear scraped a buckle" (Roethke 494) these sentences

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show the lack of elegance in their "dancing" and the wording also implies that they are moving more aggressively. Roethke also rhymes the words "breath" and "death", which I find to be his way of displaying the love he has for his father despite his actions. But upon scouring internet forums and reading the interpretations of others I found that the poem could be interpreted literally and may not have an underlining meaning; just a meaning that comes out upon reading the text. "My Papa Waltz" could just be about what the text provides which is that a man is drunkenly dancing with his son in a clumsy fashion while his wife sits in the corner and disproves of what is happening. The digital age has developed forums for discussions of interpretations. I find being able to compare and contrast different ideas of the same work can broaden my understanding of a work. Often when I am comparing my interpretation to others' I find support for my own ideas or discover a new way of looking at the work and develop different ideas and appreciation just by reading it from a different perspective.

The digital age has drastically changed the way people take in literature. The digital age has provided us with more access to literature and several different forums to discuss it. This digital era has not only redefined the way we understand literature but the way we understand everything. Nearly everything evolves with time - literature included.

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WORKS CITED

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Countenance. Thesaurus.com. Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition. Philip Lief Group 2009. http://thesaurus.com/browse/countenance (accessed: April 29, 2014).

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Funk, Robert. Coleman, Linda. McMahan, Elizabeth. Day, Susan X. Literature and the Writing Process. Pages 494 - 495. Boston. Pearson Longman Publishing. January 12th 2014 Kang, Cecilia. Survey Finds e-readers are Spurring Consumers of Books in all Formats The Washington Post. April 4th, 2012 Washington D.C. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/survey-finds-e-readers-arespurring-consumers-of-books-in-all-formats/2012/04/04/gIQAo1T8vS_story.html Plath, Sylvia. Sylvia Plath. Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2014. http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/daddy Raab, Ralph. Books and Literacy in the Dital Age American Libraries. July 13, 2010. Accessed January 28th 2014. http://www.americanlibrariesmagazine.org/article/booksand-literacy-digital-age Wood, Kerry M. Poetry Analysis: My Papas Waltz My Papas Waltz. April 26th, 2009. Accessed January 28th, 2014 http://www.mandys-pages.com/poetry/poetry-analysis/64poetry-analysis-my-papa-s-waltz

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