Critical Approaches to Literature

Critical Approaches to Literature

• Literary criticism involves different perspectives when analyzing literature.
• Key questions include: what do we read, why do we read, and how do we read.
• Learning objectives for a 45-minute session might include defining literary criticism, evaluating texts using criticism, and developing appreciation for diverse perspectives through respectful discussions.
• Unit focus questions might include how we study literature, and how viewpoint and bias affect perception of reality.

Approaches to Consider

• Reader-Response Criticism: This approach emphasizes how a reader responds to a text, focusing on the act of reading and its influence on meaning. A reader’s interpretation changes over time, and readers from different times may interpret texts differently. Reader + Reading Situation + Text = Meaning.

• Formalist Criticism: This approach focuses on the form of a literary work to determine its meaning, examining the text independently of author, time period, or context. Close readings and analyzing literary elements are central. A text is an independent entity; great literary works are considered timeless and universal.

• Psychological/Psychoanalytic Criticism: This approach views a text as a reflection of its author's mind and personality, drawing on the work of Freud. Examining hidden motivations of characters, and how they relate to the author, are both important aspects.

• Sociological Criticism: This approach emphasizes social contexts—like economic, political, and cultural issues—when analyzing a literary text. It examines how a society's values are reflected in the work. Core belief is that literature is a reflection of society.

• Marxist Criticism: This approach—influenced by Marx and Engels—examines how economic and social conditions, like power dynamics, politics, and money, shape literary texts, especially the relationships among dominant and subordinate groups.

• Feminist Criticism: This approach explores the role, position, and influence of women in literary texts. It often asserts that much literature is written by men, for men, and examines how female consciousness is portrayed by both male and female authors. Concepts of gender are culturally created by patriarchal societies, and ideals of patriarchy frequently shape literary works.

• Biographical Criticism: This approach examines an author's life and background to understand a literary text. Factors, like the author’s experiences, can influence how a reader interprets the work.

• New Historicist Criticism: This perspective argues that every literary work is a product of its time and world. Understanding the historical context of a text is essential, and understanding its audience, values, and assumptions.

Additional Considerations

• These approaches are not mutually exclusive; understanding multiple perspectives enriches literary analysis. Be mindful of this critical approach
• Scrutinize potential benefits and problems that each method offers regarding interpretation, potential bias, and how it impacts the understanding of the text.
• Remember that a holistic understanding of literature is crucial, and that interpretations of a text are always evolving. All analyses benefit from careful attention and varied viewpoints.