Historical and bibliographical approach to Literature Brennan, Chris, Matt, Nick, Taylor, Kurt

Biographical approach The biographical approach is used when comparing fictional ideas in an author’s book with real life situations that occurred in the authors life. When reading a novel you may be able to read between the lines and catch glimpses of the authors life on paper.

Biographical approach PROS Cons It may be easier to analyze with a full understanding of the author’s life. You may familiarize yourself with the authors writing style. You may become aware of common themes the author writes about. You may have the same moral views as the author. The reader may not want to have to research an author. The author may not be relating the book to him or herself. One reader may interpret a situation differently than another reader. The reader may not agree with the moral views of the author. Ex. Everyone has there own view on justice.

Biographical approach Theoretical Questions • What influences evident in the writer’s life does the work reflect? • How much of what happens in the authors life is portrayed through his or her writing? • Has the author skewed actual events in favour of themselves, in order to make the character reflecting him or herself look like the protagonist? • What are the effects of the differences between actual events and their literary transformation in the novel? Could the changes be meaningless? • What has the author revealed in the work about his or her characteristic modes of thought, perception, or emotion? Do the author’s moral views come into play? What bias is revealed through the authors writing?

Historical Approach The historical approach is used when comparing fictional ideas in an author’s book with real life situations that occurred throughout history. This can be helpful with books that are based on true stories, but may not be entirely accurate.

Historical approach Pros Cons People can relate better to something that has already happened. May help if you have similar perspective on an event as the author. If the reader doesn’t understand something in the text they can research it. The reader can apply his or her knowledge of historical events. May not be an enjoyable for some people. The truth might be changed to make the story more exciting. Some books are entirely fictional and there may be no historical value. Many people have different perspective on historical events.

Historical approach Theoretical questions • When was the work written? Does this have any relevance to the story and how? • What does the work’s reception by the public reveal about the standards of taste and value during the time it was written? • What social attitudes and cultural practices related to the text were prevalent during the time the work was written? • To what extent can we understand the past as it is reflected in the literary work? To what extent does the work reflect differences from actual historical events?

Connections We are connecting our literary critical approach to the book “Night” by Elie Wiesel. The book is a true story about a historical event that is reflected in the eyes of the author and about his experience in the event. This particular event is the Holocaust. His experience involves all the struggles that he overcame, including everyone that was with him, and gave the reader a first- person point of view on the Holocaust. This novel can be analyzed both historically and biographically, as it took place in the past and is a non-fiction autobiography. Considering that it is non-fiction it is relatable to actual historical events that the reader can research. It is an autobiography so the reader may also be able to look up additional information on the author. Ie. Elie Wiesel appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show.