UGE 1 Seventh Exam Topics

CRITICAL APPROACHES
Literar y Theor y
TO LITERATURE
OBJECTIVES:
1. Discuss critical approaches to

literature;
2. Provide short background of
various literary theories; and
3. Explore some of the perennial
questions in the critical study of
literature.
LITERARY THEORY VS. LITERARY CRITICISM
Literary Theory
the body of ideas and methods we use
in the practical reading of literature.
These are different perspectives we
consider when looking at a piece of
literature.
Literary criticism
This is the practical application of
those theories or methods to
particular works of literature.
CRITICAL APPROACHES TO CONSIDER
1. Reader-Response Criticism
2. Formalist Criticism
3. Psychological/Psychoanalytic Criticism
4. Sociological Criticism
A. Feminist/Gender Criticism
B. Marxist Criticism
5. Biographical Criticism
6. New Historicist Criticism
1. THE READER-RESPONSE APPROACH
Reader-Response Criticism asserts that a great deal

of meaning in a text lies with how the reader
responds to it.
 The text is a living thing that lives in the reader’s
imagination.
1. THE READER-RESPONSE APPROACH
2 Important Ideas in Reader-Response
1. The interpretation of readers

usually changes over time.
2. Readers interpret texts

differently.
2. THE FORMALIST APPROACH
Formalist Criticism emphasizes the form of a literary

work to determine its meaning, focusing on literary
elements and how they work to create meaning.
 A text is an independent entity.

2. THE FORMALIST APPROACH
Two Major Principles of Formalism
1. A literary text has a fixed

meaning.
2. The greatest literary texts are
“timeless” and “universal.”
ARISTOTLE’S POETICS
 Aristotle considers poetry (and rhetoric), a productive science,

whereas he thought logic and physics to be theoretical
sciences, and ethics and politics practical sciences (Richter
38). Because Aristotle saw poetry and drama as means to an
end (for example, an audience's enjoyment) he established
some basic guidelines for authors to follow to achieve certain
objectives.
 Aristotle believed that elements like "...language, rhythm,
and harmony..." as well as "...plot, character, thought, diction,
song, and spectacle..." influence the audience's katharsis
(pity and fear) or satisfaction with the work (Richter 39). And
so here we see one of the earliest attempts to explain what
makes an effective or ineffective work of literature.
3. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL/
PSYCHOANALY TIC APPROACH
Psychological Criticism views a text as a revelation of

its author’s mind and personality. It is based on the
work of Sigmund Freud.
Freudian criticism, is literary criticism that uses the

psychoanalytic theory of Sigmund Freud.
FREUD’S ID, EGO, SUPEREGO
 Id, Ego, and Superego
 Freud maintained that our desires and our unconscious

conflicts give rise to three areas of the mind that wrestle for
dominance as we grow from infancy, to childhood, to
adulthood:
 id - "...the location of the drives" or libido
 ego - "...one of the major defenses against the power of the
drives..." and home of the defenses listed above
 superego - the area of the unconscious that
houses Judgment (of self and others) and "...which begins to
form during childhood as a result of the Oedipus complex"
(Richter 1015-1016)
SAMPLE ANALYSIS
Generally speaking, the worm is a

corrupting figure, preying on the
innocent life-force of the beautiful
rose. Both worm and rose are
personified, and the poem is heavy
with sexual suggestion—leading
many critics to theorize that the poem
depicts the oppression of sexuality
and desire by the Christian
authorities of the day.
https://www.litcharts.com/poetry /
william-blake/the-sick-rose
4. THE SOCIOLOGICAL APPROACH
Sociological criticism argues that social contexts (the

social environment) must be considered when
analyzing a text.
 Core Belief: Literature is a reflection of its society.
4A. THE MARXIST APPROACH
Mar xist Criticism emphasizes economic and social conditions. It is

based on the political theor y of Karl Mar x and Friedrich Engels.
 "Mar xism attempts to reveal the ways in which our socioeconomic

system is the ultimate source of our experience" (Tyson 277).
SAMPLE ANALYSIS BY ALEXA RISO
 This rebellion is only driven forward when Katniss and Peeta

force the Capitol to crown them both as victors of the Hunger
Games when they threaten to kill themselves simultaneously. By
forcing the Capitol to alter its rules because the two protagonists
stood up for themselves against the Capitol, the lower classes
are given an upperhand. They now believe that since the Capitol
changed its rules for only two members of the lowest classes,
then if the entirety of the poor population stood against them,
change would have to ensue. Consequently, despite Katniss’ lack
of wealth, she becomes the leader of the rebellion against the
Capitol, contradicting the Marxist ideal that the wealthy hold all
of the power. In such ways, these ideas of capitalism undermine
the marxist lens through which I viewed the movie.
 https://medium.com/@alexariso/a-marxist-insight-into-the-hunge
r-games-panem-9c077e9c84d5
4B. THE FEMINIST APPROACH
Feminist Criticism is concerned with the role, position,

and influence of women in a literary text.
 Examines the way that the female consciousness is

depicted by both male and female writers
4B. THE FEMINIST APPROACH
FOUR Basic Principles of Feminist Criticism

1. Western civilization is patriarchal.
2. The concepts of gender are mainly
cultural ideas created by patriarchal
societies.
3. Patriarchal ideals pervade “literature.”
4. Most “literature” through time has been
gender-biased.
5. THE BIOGRAPHICAL APPROACH
Biographical Criticism argues that we must take

an author’s life and background into account
when we study a text.
6. THE NEW HISTORICIST APPROACH
New Historicist Criticism argues that every literary

work is a product of its time and its world.
SAMPLE ANALYSIS
Generally speaking, the worm is a

corrupting figure, preying on the
innocent life-force of the beautiful
rose. Both worm and rose are
personified, and the poem is heavy
with sexual suggestion—leading
many critics to theorize that the poem
depicts the oppression of sexuality
and desire by the Christian
authorities of the day.
https://www.litcharts.com/poetry /
william-blake/the-sick-rose
THEME OF THE POEM
Browning engages with themes of love/devotion and

relationships in ‘Sonnet 43’. From the first lines, it’s
clear that this is going to be a love poem. She
addresses her listener, likely her husband Robert
Browning, and tells him that there are many reasons
why she loves him.
ASSIGNMENT
 Read and analyze the poem of Elizabeth Browning using

Psychoanalytic, Biographical, or New Historicist Approach.
Don’t forget to cite your sources properly.
 NO TO PLAGIARISM!
SOURCES
PHOTO CREDITS
https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/565527-importance-literary-criticism
https://blogs.baylor.edu/nmsspr12/2012/11/30/on-literary-theory-before-and-after-2/
http://amazingganesh.blogspot.com/2019/06/reader-response-criticism.html
https://austintannenbaum.medium.com/an-introduction-to-sigmund-freud-d95496ac03cf
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/09/increasing-providers-color
https://viva.pressbooks.pub/amlit1/chapter/author-introduction-edgar-allen-poe/
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elizabeth-Barrett-Browning
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jane-Austen
https://www.humanrightscareers.com/issues/types-of-feminism-the-four-waves/

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CRITICAL APPROACHES

1. Discuss critical approaches to

Reader-Response Criticism asserts that a great deal

2 Important Ideas in Reader-Response

1. The interpretation of readers

2. Readers interpret texts

Formalist Criticism emphasizes the form of a literary

 A text is an independent entity.

Two Major Principles of Formalism

1. A literary text has a fixed

 Aristotle considers poetry (and rhetoric), a productive science,

Psychological Criticism views a text as a revelation of

Freudian criticism, is literary criticism that uses the

 Id, Ego, and Superego

 Freud maintained that our desires and our unconscious

Generally speaking, the worm is a

Sociological criticism argues that social contexts (the

Mar xist Criticism emphasizes economic and social conditions. It is

 "Mar xism attempts to reveal the ways in which our socioeconomic

 This rebellion is only driven forward when Katniss and Peeta

Feminist Criticism is concerned with the role, position,

 Examines the way that the female consciousness is

FOUR Basic Principles of Feminist Criticism

Biographical Criticism argues that we must take

New Historicist Criticism argues that every literary

Generally speaking, the worm is a

Browning engages with themes of love/devotion and

 Read and analyze the poem of Elizabeth Browning using

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