Story Circle

by, for, and about women

Learning to Use Literary Elements by Studying Toni Morrison’s novel, Beloved

Len Leatherwood

Instructor: Len Leatherwood

Maximum Enrollment: 10

Class Term: 01/25/2021 - 03/10/2021

Tuition/Fees

SCN Member: $192.00

Non-Member: $240.00

We are not accepting any more enrollments for Len's class; the class has started.

Class synopsis

Have you been planning on reading Toni Morrison’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Beloved, but just have never gotten around to it? Or have you already read it but would love some guidance on how Morrison uses literary elements such as theme, irony, symbol, metaphor, etc. to bring both heft and depth to her work? Well, if that’s the case, then this is the class for you. We will read Morrison’s novel, analyze some of the numerous literary elements she uses, and then you can practice consciously including literary elements in your own work so you can add more power to your writing.

Class description

This class will focus on literary elements and how Nobel Laureate in Literature Toni Morrison uses them to enhance her fiction. This information can be applied to fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. The class will also allow students to submit weekly pieces of no longer than 1000 words, in which they can purposively use literary elements to enhance the power in their own work. In addition, we will have a weekly Zoom meeting, where we will dissect passages in Beloved to see exactly how Morrison makes use of these elements.

Class goals

1)Gain a greater understanding of how literary elements can bolster writing, using Morrison’s book Beloved as a learning tool.
2)Learn exactly what literary elements are so they can become less mysterious and more useful in one’s writing.
3)Practice how to incorporate literary elements in one’s own writing.
4)Read and discuss an important literary work in a supportive environment.

Class communication method

Zoom along with an online group site.

Class outline

We will use the 2004 Vintage International edition of Beloved, which can be found on Amazon.

  1. Week 1:pp. 1-52, answer provided questions, participate in Zoom meeting, write and submit a short piece (no longer than 1000 words) using at least one literary element.
  2. Week 2:pp. 53-100, answer provided questions, participate in Zoom meeting, write and submit a short piece (no longer than 1000 words) using at least one literary element.
  3. Week 3:101-156, answer provided questions, participate in Zoom meeting, write and submit a short piece (no longer than 1000 words) using at least one literary element.
  4. Week 4:157-195 End Book I, answer provided questions, participate in Zoom meeting, write and submit a short piece (no longer than 1000 words) using at least one literary element.
  5. Week 5:199-256, answer provided questions, participate in Zoom meeting, write and submit a short piece (no longer than 1000 words) using at least one literary element.
  6. Week 6: 257-324 (67 pages), answer provided questions, participate in Zoom meeting, write and submit a short piece (no longer than 1000 words) using at least one literary element.

Class time commitment

3-5 hours per week

Instructor bio

Helen (Len) Leatherwood has been teaching writing privately to students in Beverly Hills for the past twenty years. She has received 3 national teaching awards from the Scholastic Artists and Writers Awards, the oldest and most prestigious writing contest for youth in the U.S, as well as 11 Western Regional teaching awards. She is a published writer with numerous pieces in literary journals. She is a Pushcart nominee in fiction. Her work also appears in A Cup of Comfort Cookbook, currently available on Amazon. Her blog, 20 Minutes a Day, can be found at lenleatherwood.wordpress.com.