Literary Present Tense
www.vanderbilt.edu/writing
How (and Why) Do I Write in Literary Present
Tense?
• Literary works (fiction AND non-fiction),
paintings, films, and other artistic
creations are assumed to exist in an
eternal present.
– I can open to page 8 and Lennie is STILL holding
a dead mouse. He will be holding that mouse on
page 8 in 2 years and 4 weeks from now as well.
– When you write about writers or artists as they
express themselves in their work, use the present
tense.
The Basic Rule:
– You should use the past tense when
discussing historical events, and you
should use the literary present when
discussing artistic creations (books).
– The year the book was written = factual
– The day Lennie was shot = fictional
Steinbeck wrote Of Mice and Men in 1937
and shows that the American Dream is
allusive when George shoots Lennie.
1.) When commenting on what a
writer says, use the present tense.
• Dunn begins his work with a view
into the lives and motivations of the
very first settlers.
• Through this anecdote, Richter
illustrates common misconceptions
about native religion and shows why
missionary attempts were less than
successful.
2.) When describing an author’s
work, however, use the past
tense.
• Henry Fielding wrote in the
eighteenth century.
• Picasso produced a series of
sculptures.
3.) When you are writing about a certain
historical event use the past tense.
• Wiesel survived the Holocaust and
wrote Night to share the horrific events
he suffered through. In his novel, Wiesel
describes these experiences.
• Steinbeck, who lived throughout the
Great Depression, developed negative
feelings toward the “American Dream.”
Steinbeck explores the failure of the
“American Dream” in his novel.
4.)
When discussing events in a book or story,
always use the present tense, unless there is a shift
in the time frame within the world of the text.
• Evelyn then rips into the carefully
wrapped package and finds the
greatest gift she has ever received…
Evelyn is suffering from guilt as she
compares this present to the shoddy
gift that she bought* for her beau.
– “Bought” is in past tense because the
buying of the present occurred before the
described set of events.
Again, use present tense until there is a shift in
the time frame within the world of the text.
• George runs to the river knowing that he
will find Lennie there because he
explained that to Lennie early on.
• Elie feels incredible guilt because he
realizes that survival will be easier
without his father. Elie remembers Rabbi
Eliahou’s son and how he abandoned
his father, and Elie therefore prays to not
be like him.
NOTE on #4: The past event should be something
that happened a significant amount of time in the
past. Past shouldn’t be used for events that
happen in the same scene.
• WRONG: Lennie chokes Curley’s wife
because she invited him to touch her hair.
When he did she screamed and scared
Lennie.
• CHANGE TO: Curley’s wife invites Lennie
to touch her hair and screams when he
grabs it, scaring Lennie . Lennie therefore
chokes Curley’s wife out of fear.
5.) Sometimes a sentence must
employ both present and past tense.
• Wiesel wrote his novel to encourage
the reader to remember the past, as is
emphasized when he writes, “Never
shall I forget that night… Never shall I
forget those things, even were I
condemned to live as long as God
Himself.Never,” (42).
Remember:
• It is important to stay consistent.
– Moving between verb tenses can be confusing
for your reader.
• Sometimes a sentence must employ both
present and past tense.
• Examine your changes of tense very carefully and
make sure there is a logical reason for them.
• If you need to shift tense more than three times in a
single sentence, consider a couple of shorter
sentences to maintain reading ease.
INCORRECT
Steinbeck showed George’s concern
for Lennie when he described how
George ran to the river. George knew
that he would find Lennie there
because he explained that the river
bank was the meeting place if there
was any trouble.
CORRECT!
• Steinbeck shows George’s concern
for Lennie when he describes how
George runs to the river. George
knows that he will find Lennie there
because he explained that the river
bank is the meeting place if there is
any trouble.
INCORRECT
Wiesel described an instance of cruelty
where, “Idek was seized with one of his fits
of frenzy…He leapt on me, like a wild
animal, hitting me in the chest, on the head,
throwing me down and pulling me up again,
his blows growing more and more violent,
until I was covered with blood,” (60). Wiesel
wanted to show how cruel the kapos
behaved in the camp.
CORRECT!
Wiesel describes an instance of cruelty
where “Idek was seized with one of his fits
of frenzy…He leapt on me, like a wild
animal, hitting me in the chest, on the
head, throwing me down and pulling me
up again, his blows growing more and
more violent, until I was covered with
blood,” (60). Wiesel wants to show how
cruel the kapos behave in the camp.
INCORRECT
Steinbeck explained that the friendship
between George and Lennie was stronger
than it was before. George repected Lennie
now, even though in their past he played
tricks on him like telling him to jump in the
dangerous river.
CORRECT!
Steinbeck explains that the friendship
between George and Lennie is stronger
than it was before. George respects
Lennie now, *even though in their past he
played tricks on him like telling him to jump
in the dangerous river.
*OR even though in their past he played
tricks on him like when he told him to jump
in the dangerous river.