Here's why:
* Creates immediacy: The present tense draws the reader into the story and makes them feel like they are experiencing the events as they happen.
* Timeless quality: Using the present tense suggests that the story is happening now, regardless of when it was written or set.
* Common practice: This is a standard convention in literary analysis and discussions.
Examples:
* Instead of: "Hamlet killed Polonius."
* You would say: "Hamlet kills Polonius."
* Instead of: "The narrator described the setting."
* You would say: "The narrator describes the setting."
Exceptions:
* Past tense for historical context: If you are discussing the author's life, writing process, or the historical context of the work, you might use the past tense.
* To differentiate between events: If you are comparing events from different parts of the story, you might use the past tense to clarify the chronology.
Ultimately, the tense you choose depends on the context and the effect you want to achieve. However, the literary present tense is generally the best choice for describing events within a work of literature.