Literary TheoriesThe Basics of Criticism

The Basic IdeaThe point of criticism is to argue your point of view on a work of literature.You dont have to criticize a text (but you can)You do have to analyze a text and support your assertions with specific evidence from experts and the text.

The Basic IdeaA critical analysis is an in-depth examination of some aspect of the literary workyou may examine any element of the text: character development, conflicts, narrative point of view, etc.Even though its an examination of a literary work, its still a persuasive essay

The Basic IdeaThe goal is to prove something about the work There must be a point to the discussion.You must answer the questions Why?, or So what?For example, why is a recurring symbol important? Or, why is the development of the female characters significant?

The Basic IdeaThere are many different approaches we can take to critical analysisLiterary theories provide a framework for our discussion of a textWe dont have to identify the theory were using, though.We use it as a starting point for our own ideas and opinions

Historical/Biographical Approachviews literature as the reflection of an author's life and times (or of the characters' life and times).it is necessary to know about the author and the political, economical, and sociological context of his times in order to truly understand his works.

Historical/Biographical ApproachAdvantages:works well for some which are obviously political or biographical in nature. places allusions in their proper classical, political, or biblical background.

Disadvantages:"the intentional fallacy" tends to reduce art to the level of biography and make it relative (to the times) rather than universal.

ApplicationWhat are some historical or biographical elements we might examine in a discussion of our current novel?

Moral / Philosophical Approach: asserts that the larger purpose of literature is to teach morality and to probe philosophical issuesauthors intend to instruct the audience in some way

Moral / Philosophical Approach:Advantages:useful for works which do present an obviousmoral philosophy useful when considering the themes of works does not view literature merely as "art" isolated from all moral implications recognizes that literature can affect readers and that the message of a work is important.

Moral / Philosophical Approach:Disadvantages:such an approach can be too "judgmental" Some believe literature should be judged primarily (if not solely) on its artistic merits, not its moral or philosophical content.

ApplicationWhat are some moral or philosophical elements we might examine in a discussion of our current novel?

Formalism / New Criticisminvolves a close reading of the textall information essential to the interpretation of a work must be found within the work itselffocuses on analyzing irony, paradox, imagery, and metaphoralso interested in the work's setting, characters, symbols, and point of view.

Formalism / New Criticismno need to bring in outside information about the history, politics, or society of the time, or about the author's lifedoes not view works through the lens of feminism, psychology, mythology, or any other such standpointnot interested in the work's affect on the reader.

Formalism / New CriticismTerms Used in New Criticism: intentional fallacy - the false belief that the meaning or value of a work may be determined by the author's intention affective fallacy - the false belief that the meaning or value of a work may be determined by its affect on the reader external form - rhyme scheme, meter, stanza form, etc.

Formalism / New CriticismAdvantages:can be performed without much researchemphasizes the value of literature apart from its context virtually all critical approaches must begin here

Disadvantages:text is seen in isolationignores the context of the workcannot account for allusions

ApplicationWhat are some formal elements we might examine in a discussion of our current novel?

Psychoanalytical Approachviews works through the lens of psychologylooks either at the psychological motivations of the characters or of the authors themselvesmost frequently applies Freudian psychology to works, but other approaches also exist.

Freudian Approach to PersonalityThree parts to an individuals psyche:the id: the instinctual, pleasure seeking part of the mindthe superego: the part of the mind that represses the id's impulsesthe ego: the part of the mind that controls but does not repress the id's impulses, releasing them in a healthy way

Sex is Everything Freud believed that all human behavior is motivated by sexuality Oedipus complex: a boy's unconscious rivalry with his father for the love of his mother Electra complex: a girls unconscious rivalry with her mother for the love of her father (a.k.a. daddy issues)

Freudian ImageryRecognizes symbols that are linked to sexual pleasureconcave images, such as ponds, flowers, cups, and caves as female symbolsphallic symbols, objects that are longer than they are wide, are male imagesdancing, riding, and flying are associated with sexual pleasurewater is usually associated with birth, the female principle, the maternal, the womb, and the death wish.

Psychoanalytical ApproachAdvantages:can be a useful tool for understanding some works in which characters obviously have psychological issueknowing something about a writer's psychological make-up can give us insight into his work.

Disadvantages:can turn a work into a psychological case studysometimes attempts to diagnose long dead authors based on their works tends to see sex in everything, exaggerating this aspect of literature some works do not lend themselves readily to this approach.

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ApplicationWhat are some psychological or psychoanalytical elements we might examine in a discussion of our current novel?

Archetypal Approachassumes that there is a collection of symbols, images, characters, and motifs (i.e. archetypes) that evokes basically the same response in all peopleidentifies these patterns and discusses how they function in the works asserts that these archetypes are the source of much of literature's power.

Archetypal Approachbased on the theories of psychologist Carl Jung he states that mankind possesses a "collective unconscious" that contains these archetypes and that is common to all of humanity

Some Archetypesarchetypal women - the Good Wife/Mother, the Terrible Mother, the Virgin (often a Damsel in Distress), and the Fallen Woman.water - creation, birth-death-resurrection, purification, redemption, fertility, growth garden - paradise (Eden), innocence, fertility desert - spiritual emptiness, death, hopelessness red - blood, sacrifice, passion, disorder green - growth, fertility black - chaos, death, evil serpent - evil, sensuality, mystery, wisdom, destruction seven - perfection hero archetype - The hero is involved in a quest (in which he overcomes obstacles). He experiences initiation (involving a separation, transformation, and return), and finally he serves as a scapegoat, that is, he dies to atone.

Archetypal ApproachAdvantages:provides a universalistic approach to literature and identifies a reason why certain literature may survive the test of timeit works well with works that are highly symbolic

Disadvantages:literature may become a vehicle for archetypesmay ignore the "art" of literature

ApplicationWhat are some archetypal elements we might examine in a discussion of our current novel?

Feminist Approachconcerned with the impact of gender on writing and readingusually begins with a critique of patriarchal cultureconcerned with the place of female writers concerned with the roles of female characters within worksoften argues that male fears are portrayed through female characters may argue that gender determines everything, or just the opposite: that all gender differences are imposed by society, and gender determines nothing.

Stages of Female IdentityFeminine: the female accepts the definitions and roles male authorities have created for herFeminist: rebels against male authority and intentionally challenges all male definitions and rolesFemale: no longer concerned with male definitions or restrictions; defines her own voice and values

The Mad-Woman in the AtticCritics Gilbert and Gubar identify a pattern in the treatment of female characters in literature, even when written by women.based on the plot of Jane Eyrethe practice of removing a female character who is no longer useful to the male characters

Feminist ApproachAdvantages:redresses the problem of under representationseeks to provide a more realistic portrayal of women within a textexamines the power struggle between the sexes.

Disadvantages:can turn literary criticism into a political battlefield can overlook the merits of works they consider "patriarchal"

ApplicationWhat are some gender-based elements we might examine in a discussion of our current novel?

Reader Response Criticism analyzes the reader's role in the production of meaninglies at the opposite end of the spectrum from formalismthe text itself has no meaning until it is read by a readerThe reader creates the meaning. can take into account the strategies employed by the author to elicit a certain response from readers denies the possibility that works are universal (i.e. that they will always mean more or less the same thing to readers everywhere) makes someone's reading a function of personal identity.

Reader Response CriticismAdvantages:recognizes that different people view works differently and that people's interpretations change over time.

Disadvantages:tends to make interpretation too subjectivedoes not provide adequate criteria for evaluating one reading in comparison to another

ApplicationWhat are your personal responses to this novel? Are there certain elements you respond to strongly or with which you identify?

Marxist ApproachKarl Marx perceived human history to have consisted of a series of struggles between classes--between the oppressed and the oppressing. Marx thought that materialism was the ultimate driving force in history, a notion involving the distribution of resources, gain, and production

Marxist ApproachFeudalism exploits workers to the point of revoltThis leads to bourgeois capitalismIn bourgeois capitalism, the privileged bourgeoisie rely on the working proletariatWorkers are exploited to the point of revolt

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