Question

identifying primary or secondary sources

1. is the cambridge companion to the victorian novel a primary or secondary source?
2. is jane eyre by charlotte brontë a primary or secondary source?
3. is \ode to a nightingale\ by john keats a primary or secondary source?
4. is a journal article about 19th - century literature a primary or secondary source?
5. what clues help you tell the difference between primary and secondary sources?

Explanation:

• Question 8: A companion (like The Cambridge Companion to the Victorian Novel) analyzes and interprets primary sources (Victorian novels). So, it is a secondary source.
• Question 9: Jane Eyre is an original literary work (a novel). Original literary creations are primary sources.
• Question 10: “Ode to a Nightingale” is an original poem. Original literary works (poems, novels, plays etc.) are primary sources.
• Question 11: A journal - article that analyzes 19th - century literature (which are primary sources) is a secondary source as it interprets and comments on the primary material.
• Question 12: Clues to distinguish between primary and secondary sources:
• Primary sources: Are original materials. For literature, it could be the actual text of a novel, poem, play etc. created during the time period in question. In history, it could be diaries, letters, original documents. In science, it could be original research data.
• Secondary sources: Interpret, analyze, or comment on primary sources. For example, literary criticism (like the Cambridge Companion), historical analyses (books or articles that discuss historical events using primary documents as evidence), and scientific review articles (that summarize and analyze multiple original research studies).

Answer:

1. Secondary source
2. Primary source
3. Primary source
4. Secondary source
5. Primary sources are original materials (e.g., original literary works, diaries, research data). Secondary sources interpret/analyze primary sources (e.g., literary criticism, historical analyses, review articles).