Types of Critical Lenses

What are Critical lens? Literary theories were developed as a means to understand the various ways people read texts. The proponents of each theory believe their theory is the theory, but most of us interpret texts according to the “rules” of several different theories at a time. All literary theories are lenses through which we can see texts.

What are Critical lens? New/Formalist Lens Historical Lens Architypal Lens Psychological Lens Biographical Lens Marxist Lens Feminist Lens Reader Response Lens

New (a.k.a Formalist) Criticism This approach to literature involves a close reading of the text. Formalist critics believe that all information essential to the interpretation of a work must be found within the work itself; there is no need to bring in outside information about the history, politics, or society of the time, or about the author's life. Ideally, all of the elements of a text work together to form a unified whole. Essential Question: How do various elements of the text (e.g. plot, characters, setting, point of view, diction, imagery, figurative language, irony, symbols) reinforce its meaning?

Archtypal Criticism An archetype is a type of character, detail, image, or situation that appears in literature throughout history, suggesting a set of universal elemental patterns that exist across cultures. Some critics believe that archetypes reveal deep truths about human experience. Examples of archetypes include the death-rebirth theme, the hero’s journey, the scapegoat, the earth goddess, and the trickster. Essential Question: How does this text show similarities to ancient story designs, character categories, and imagery?

Biographical Criticism Because authors typically write about things they care deeply about and know well, the events and circumstance of their lives are often reflected in the literary works they create. The Biographical Lens can help readers to gain insight into a text – for example, themes, historical references, and characters – by examining biographical information about the author. However, it is not safe to assume that story or character that an author has created represents biographical details from the author’s life. Essential Question: How does this text reflect the experiences, beliefs, and intentions of its maker(s)?

Feminist Criticism This school of criticism focuses on the relationships between the genders. Under this theory you would examine the patterns of thought, behavior, values, enfranchisement, and power in relations between the sexes. Many Feminist Critics believe that the biases of patriarchal societies have resulted in literature that lacks autonomous female role models, implicitly addresses male readers, and reinforces cultural practices that prevent women from achieving their potential. Essential Question: How does this text reinforce, critique, or challenge definitions of masculinity or femininity?

Historical Criticism When applying this perspective, you view a literary text within its historical context. Specific historical information will be of key interest: about the time during which an author wrote, about the time in which a text is set, about the ways in which people of the period saw and thought about the world in which they lived. History, in this case, refers to the social, political, economic, cultural, and/or intellectual climate of the time. Essential Question: How does this text reflect the attitudes and beliefs of the time in which it was written or set?

Marxist Criticism Marxist Criticism is based on the theories Karl Marx and Friedrich Engles, who proposed that the evolution of humanity is based on the struggle to achieve economic, social, and political advantage over others. This school of critical theory focuses on relationships between classes in works of literature. Who has the power/money? Who does not? What happens as a result? Essential Question: How does this text comment on or represent class conflict?

Psychological Criticism Psychological critics view works through the lens of psychology, examining the motivations of the authors or, more frequently, the characters in a text. Most frequently, Psychological critics apply Freudian and/or Jungian (archetypes) psychology to works. Essential Question: How can we apply psychology to gain insights into the behavior and motivations of authors and characters?

Reader Response Criticism This type of criticism focuses on reading as an active process that occurs within a reader’s mind. Because meaning is created as the reader interacts with the features of the text – including narrator, plot, characters, style, and structure – Reader-Response critics believe that a text has no objective meaning. People bring their own thoughts, moods, and experiences to whatever text they are reading and get out of it whatever they happen to, based upon their own expectations and ideas Essential Question: How does this text reflect the experience, beliefs, and understandings of its reader?