Dia 1
Critical Worlds Looking at Literature using Critical
Theory1Determine your approachFor each possibility choose one of
the following:Strongly AgreeAgreeNeither agree nor
disagreeDisagreeStrongly Disagree2A. What determines us most as
humans is:Our wholenessOur emotionsOur languageOur political /
social environmentOur upbringing / childhoodOur social class /
genderB. You see a beautiful, ripe, red apple. You think, What a
perfect applethe ultimate destiny of an apple seed.That makes me
happy and a little bit hungry.Ripe, rednice alliteration, but would
it taste as sweet by any other name?I wonder where and how this
apple was grown? Organic? Local? Fair trade?This reminds me of my
Grannys apple pie.Why was Eve the one to pick the apple from the
Tree of Knowledge, not Adam?Tally your score.Strongly agree =
+2Agree = +1Neither agree nor disagree = 0Disagree = -1Strongly
disagree = -2What is your approach?New CriticismReader-Response
CriticismStructuralist / Deconstructive CriticismHistorical
StudiesPsychological CriticismFeminist CriticismNew CriticismMotto:
Back to the Text!Works of art form an organic UNITYWorks of art are
characterized by COMPLEXITY7How to Do New CriticismCLOSE READING.
Find oppositions, tensions, ambiguities and ironies in the workFind
a/the unifying idea of the work.Give details from the work to show
how the parts (tensions) work together to create the whole
(unity).Tip: pay special attention to the beginning (title) and the
end of the work.8Reader-Response CriticismThe readers response is
what countsReaders actively create meaning in a textPersonal
responseIdeal readers responseResponding to a text is a process9How
to Do Reader Response CriticismMove through the text in slow
motion, recording your reactions (thoughts, feelings, associations)
as you go.Focus on the details that shape your
response.10Structuralist and Deconstructive CriticismLanguage is an
arbitrary system of meaning, built on oppositions.Meaning is
created by favouring one of the two sides of an
opposition.Deconstructionism looks at the side that isnt favoured,
reversing the meaning of the text.Turning the text against itself
reveals the instability and open-endedness of language itself.How
to Do DeconstructionismIdentify oppositions in the text. See which
sides of the oppositions are favoured.Find the central idea of the
text, and those ideas which are marginal or excluded
altogether.Reverse the texts hierarchy to open-up an alternative
reading. 12
13Historical Criticism /Cultural StudiesIt matters when and
where something was written, and by whom.The facts about the
authors life, and the times in which he/she lived and wrote can
illuminate the work.Tip: be careful to distinguish between real
life and literature.14How to Do Historical Criticism /Cultural
StudiesResearch the authors life and relate this information to the
work.Research the authors time (political history, economic
history, etc) and relate this to the work.Research the authors
culture and the culture in which he lived and relate this to the
work.15Psychological CriticismCreative writing is like
dreamingwishes and fears expressed as symbols.Eveyones
psychological history influences his or her motivation.This can be
retraced in the interpretation of literature. We can uncover what
is repressed and transformed.16Psychological Criticism:
Background
17Psychological Criticism: Background
18Psychological Criticism: Background
19Psychological Criticism: BackgroundThe tricks of the
unconscious mind:ProjectionDisplacementDenialReversal
20How to Do Psychological CriticismConsider how repressed
material may be expressed in the works pattern of imagery or
symbols.Ask what seems to be motivating the author or
character.Relate the work to psychologically significant events in
the authors life.21Feminist CriticsmYour gender influences your
reading of a text.Women have often been excluded from
literature.Literature can influence social change.22How to Do
Feminist CriticismIdentify the qualities of gender showing how
individuals are portrayed as members of a group.Consider whether
the text promotes or undermines stereotypes.Imagine how the text
might be read by a certain type of reader (eg. Man or woman).Tip:
ask yourself if the text would change if the characters were of the
opposite gender.23AssignmentWork in groups of 5 students on a
theory youve been assigned. In your group summarize how Steven Lynn
interpreted Here at the New Yorker using your theory.Prepare a
poster with a mindmap / brainstorm how your theory helps to
interpret the short story. Give details from the text.Think of one
question to start a discussion of your interpretation.In class,
present your summary, your poster and lead the discussion of your
question.24
