Theories of Literary Criticism Literary criticism is criticism is a view or opinion on what a particular piece of literature means. means. It is and attempt to evaluate and understand the creative writing writing of an author. author. Literary criticism is a description, analysis, evaluation, or interpretation interpretation of a particular literary work or an author’s writings as a whole. It is usually expressed in the form of a critical essay, although although indepth book review are also sometimes viewed as literary criticism. Literary criticism has three primary purposes: 1. to help help the reade readerr resolve resolve difficult difficulties ies in underst understandin andingg the text. text. . to help the the reader reader choose choose the better better of of two or more more conflicting conflicting interp interpretat retations. ions. !. to help help the the reade readerr form "udg "udgment mentss about about literatu literature. re. #hat follows is a list of the most common schools of literary criticism as well as some guiding $uestions. Formalism / New Criticism ( CLOSE CLOSE READING matters)
%ow does the author’s use of irony, paradox, imagery, imagery, diction, tone, or metaphor &or any figurative language' contribute to the meaning of the work( %ow does the author’s use of setting, characters, symbols, motifs, allusions, and point of view contribute to the meaning of the work(
Reader Response Criticism (the READER matters) #hat characteristics of your personal life are relevant to your interpretation of literature( #hat characteristics of the text do you find most relevant to your interpretation( #here is there the greatest intersection between your life and the text(
Feminist / Gender Criticism (GENDER matters) %ow does patriarchal ideology influence character and thematic developmen development( t( #hat is the relation between the sexes( #hat are the roles of men and women(
ar!ist Criticism (ONE" and #O$ER matter) %ow is each character’s 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) #s%choanal%tical %ow does the character’s psychology contribute to the meaning of the text( #hat appears to be motivating motivating the character( )re the motivating factors obvious, 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 character’s 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 author’s 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 author’s 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(
%tholo,ical / Archet%pal (&NI.ERSAL S"+OLS AND E*#ERIENCE E*#ERIENCES S matter) %ow is the text’s 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 for the father, the paradise image, etc. to create meaning(
%ow does the text use recogniable character types or symbols(
Adapted from www.mrbye.com “Lenses of Interpretation: Literary Theories”; www.literatureclassics.com “Literary Criticism: An Oeriew of Approaches”; and Texts and Contexts: Writing About Literature with Critical Theory ! "th ed.! by #teen Lynn. $e. %&'(()
