Introduction to Literary Criticism Introduction to Humanities Heartland Community College Author: Sharon Migotsky

What is Literary Criticism? Ways of reading that enhance your understanding of the text by focusing on a particular element or perspective. Ways of opening up the text to meanings that might otherwise never have occurred to you.

Elements of Literature Text Person Author Reader Literature has both a textual and a human element The human element contains both author and reader These elements are the basis of the rhetorical triangle

The Rhetorical Triangle Text Reader Author Critical theories are based on the rhetorical triangle Strategies may focus on the text, reader, or author Strategies may also look at interactions between those three elements

Each approach has its advantages and limitations. No single theory reveals the “right” meaning of the text.

What are the main theories? Formalist Biographical Psychological Historical Sociological (political): Marxist Feminist

Mythological Reader Response Deconstructionist

Formalist Criticism Focuses on the actual form of the text: its language, structure, and tone. Pays attention to the intrinsic elements of the work: metaphor, symbol, character, plot, narrative technique, etc. It is not concerned with the author’s intention or cultural context.

Biographical Criticism Explores the author’s life to understand the text more fully. Can enrich your appreciation of the work. Biographical information can, however, be misleading and complicate the text.

Psychological Criticism Draws upon psychoanalytic theories (Freudian, etc.) to have a fuller understanding of the text, the writer, and the reader. Explores the motivations of the characters and the symbolic meanings of events. Investigates dreams, unconscious desires, and sexual repression.

Historical Criticism Uses history as a means of understanding a literary work more clearly. Places the text in the context of its time in order to shed light on some aspect of the work itself.

Sociological Criticism (also called Political Criticism) Examines social groups, relationships, and values as they appear in the text. Explores the effect of social forces that shape power relationships between groups or classes of people.

Marxist Criticism Focuses on the ideologies of work and its effect on culture, ecology, race, class, and power. Concerned with conditions of the working class and the unequal distribution of wealth and power. Aims not only at revealing these issues, but also at correcting them.

Feminist Criticism Focuses on the representation and treatment of women in literature. Explores the patriarchal forces that have impeded women’s efforts to achieve full equality with men.

Other Sociological Theories Reading the text as it pertains to any marginalized or silenced group. For example: African Americans Gays & Lesbians Elderly Children, etc.

Mythological Theories Looks for underlying patterns in literature that reveal universal meanings and basic human experiences for readers regardless of when or where they live. These underlying patterns are called “Archetypes.”

Archetypes are a “psychic residue” that is deeply imbedded in the memory of the human race. This memory is called the “collective unconscious.” Examples of archetypal patterns include: the hero’s quest, rites of passage, the fertile earth mother, etc.

Reader Response Criticism Focuses attention of the reader rather than the work itself. The reader creates meaning in the text rather than discovers it. Not concerned with what the text means on the page, but with what it does to the reader.

Deconstructionist Criticism Insists that literary works do not yield fixed, single meanings. There can be no absolute knowledge about anything because language can never say exactly what we intend it to mean. Seeks to disassemble meaning in the text rather than establish it.

Remember... Literary theory may seem confusing or intimidating But it plays an important role in the study and enjoyment of literature

Critical theory allows us to: Understand Discuss Interpret Evaluate Enjoy Most importantly, it lets us experience literature from multiple perspectives

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