7/23/2019 Theories of Literary Criticism Handout

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Theories of Literary Criticism

Literary criticismis a view or opinion on what a particular piece of literature means. It is and attempt to evaluate andunderstand the creative writing of an author. Literary criticism is a description, analysis, evaluation, or interpretation of aparticular literary work or an authors writings as a whole. It is usually expressed in the form of a critical essay, although in-depth book review are also sometimes viewed as literary criticism.Literary criticism has three primary purposes:

1. to help the reader resolve difficulties in understanding the text.

. to help the reader choose the better of two or more conflicting interpretations.!. to help the reader form "udgments about literature.

#hat follows is a list of the most common schools of literary criticism as well as some guiding $uestions.

Formalism / New Criticism (CLOSE READING matters) %ow does the authors use of irony, paradox, imagery, diction, tone, or metaphor &or any figurative language'

contribute to the meaning of the work( %ow does the authors use of setting, characters, symbols, motifs, allusions, and point of view contribute to the

meaning of the work(

Reader Response Criticism (the READER matters) #hat characteristics of your personal life are relevant to your interpretation of literature(

#hat characteristics of the text do you find most relevant to your interpretation(

#here is there the greatest intersection between your life and the text(

Feminist / Gender Criticism (GENDER matters) %ow does patriarchal ideology influence character and thematic development(

#hat is the relation between the sexes(

#hat are the roles of men and women(

ar!ist Criticism (ONE" and #O$ER matter)

%ow is each characters socioeconomic status and cultural background relevant( #ho has more power and why(

#hy are characters oppressed( %ow do characters overcome oppression(

imetic Criticism (REAL LIFE matters) %ow well does the text align with the real world(

%ow accurately does the text portray real life(

Is the text a true imitation, reflection, or representation of the reality of the world and of human life and character(

#s%choanal%tical Criticism (the &NCONSCIO&S matters) %ow does the characters psychology contribute to the meaning of the text(

#hat appears to be motivating the character( )re the motivating factors obvious, repressed, or both(

%ow is the ego influenced by the superego and the id(

#hat are the conscious and unconscious personality traits that affect each characters development(

*o any characters undergo psychological shifts( #hy(

'istorical Criticism (REAL$ORLD CONE* matters) #hat is the relationship between the historical period in which the author lived and his+her text(

%ow does the authors political, economical, and sociological context of his+her times contribute to the meaning of the work(

Is the author part of a dominant culture, or a colonial culture, or a post colonial culture, and how does that status affect the

work(

+io,raphical (the A&'OR matters) #hat characteristics of the authors life are most relevant to the text(

Deconstr-ction (INCONSISENCIES matter) #hat inconsistencies or contradictions can you find in language+perceptions(

#hat inconsistencies or contradictions can you find in the philosophies or societal commentary(

*o any passages in the text have an unintended meaning that weakens or undermines the intended meaning(

7/23/2019 Theories of Literary Criticism Handout

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%tholo,ical / Archet%pal (&NI.ERSAL S"+OLS AND E*#ERIENCES matter) %ow is the texts meaning shaped by common cultural and psychological myths(

%ow does the text use archetypal themes such as the heroic $uest, the heavenly ascent, the "ourney underground, the search

forthe father, the paradise image, etc. to create meaning( %ow does the text use recogniable character types or symbols(

Adapted fromwww.mrbye.comLenses of Interpretation: Literary Theories; www.literatureclassics.comLiterary Criticism: An

Oeriew of Approaches; and Texts and Contexts: Writing About Literature with Critical Theory! "thed.! by #teen Lynn.

$e. %&'(()

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