Grade 10 English Literature Reviewer PDF

Lesson 1: Introduction to Literary Criticism What is Literature? Literature comes from the Latin word “litera” or “littera” which literally means “letters” or “use of letter” It is defined as the pieces of writing that are valued as works of art, either written, oral, or visual which contains imag...

Lesson 1: Introduction to Literary Criticism What is Literature? Literature comes from the Latin word “litera” or “littera” which literally means “letters” or “use of letter” It is defined as the pieces of writing that are valued as works of art, either written, oral, or visual which contains imaginative language that portrays thoughts, emotions, and experiences of the human condition. Examples of Literature ​ Fiction ​ Non-Fiction ​ Drama ​ Poetry What is Literary Criticism? This refers to the comparison, analysis, interpretation, and/or evaluation of works of literature. This is essentially an opinion supported by evidence relating to theme, style, setting, historical, or political context of a literary work. Criticism values judgement not based on taste but evaluates the influence of texts upon each other and their impact upon readers and societies. It may use analysis of texts in order to explain underlying truths about language or aesthetics. It may work from textual examples to explore the role of story-telling, life-writing, self-expression, or political speech. Why write Literary Criticism? By reading and discussing literature, we expand our imagination, our sense of what is possible, and our sense of what is possible, and our ability to empathize with others. This sharpens our critical thinking, enabling us to assess works and better understand why literature can have such a powerful effect on our lives. Lesson 2: Moralist Literary Criticism Moralist Literary approach ​ Moralist literary criticism evaluates texts based on their ethical impact and the moral lessons they convey. It seeks to determine whether a literary work promotes virtues or vices and often judges literature by its alignment with societal moral values. Key Principles 1.​ Literature as a Teacher of Morality Moralist literary criticism holds that literature serves as a tool for teaching moral lessons. In this view, stories are not merely for entertainment but also for imparting wisdom about how people should behave in society. 2.​ Emphasis on Universal Truths and Virtues This principle asserts that a good piece of literature should reflect universal truths about human nature, morality, and virtue. These truths are thought to transcend individual cultures and time periods and are rooted in what is considered to be universally right and wrong 3.​ Critique of Immoral or Harmful Themes This principle involves analyzing the themes and subjects within a text to assess whether they are morally sound or detrimental. A critic applying this principle will focus on whether the narrative explores themes such as violence, greed, deception, or corruption. If a work prominently features harmful actions without any moral consequences or lessons, it might be seen as encouraging immoral behavior 4.​ Impact of he Work on the Reader’s Characters The moralist critic believes that literature has a direct influence on the reader’s moral development. A key part of this evaluation is considering how the text affects the reader's own values, beliefs, and behavior. The moralist criticism stresses that literature should improve the reader’s ethical understanding, guiding them toward making better choices in life. This principle often involves considering how the text’s portrayal of characters and actions might shape the reader’s views on morality. How to Apply Identify moral or ethical dilemmas in the text. Evaluate the characters' actions and decisions. Analyze the consequences presented for immoral behavior. Reflect on the overall moral lesson of the text. One of These Days -​ By Gabriel Garcia Marquez In the short story "One of These Days", Gabriel García Márquez portrays a tense encounter between a humble dentist, Aurelio Escovar, and the town's corrupt mayor. The story is set in a small village and begins with the dentist methodically preparing for his day. He is a meticulous and silent man, absorbed in his routine. The tranquility is disrupted when the mayor, suffering from a severe toothache, arrives demanding treatment. Initially, the dentist refuses to see him, ignoring his calls. However, when the mayor threatens to use force, the dentist agrees but remains calm and stoic. During the procedure, the dentist reveals that the mayor's tooth must be extracted without anesthesia due to the severity of the infection. The mayor endures the excruciating pain without complaint, a moment that underscores his vulnerability and humanity. As the dentist works, he quietly expresses his disdain for the mayor, who embodies the corruption and violence of the local government. After the procedure, the mayor asks where to send the payment. The dentist coldly replies, "It's the same thing," implying that the payment could come from the mayor personally or from the public funds he has likely embezzled. This final line highlights the pervasive corruption and moral decay in the society depicted in the story. The story explores themes of power, corruption, resistance, and the complex dynamics between oppressors and the oppressed, all rendered with Márquez's characteristic subtlety and depth. Important Highlights in the Story:  1.​ Aurelio Escovar wore a collarless striped shirt with a Golden stud, and pants held up by suspenders. He was Erect and Skinny. 2.​ The son of the Dentist told him that the Mayor will shoot him if he continues to refuse service for the Mayor. 3.​ An Abscess is a pocket of pus caused by bacterial infection. 4.​ The Dentist mentioned how the Mayor will pay for the 20 dead men before extracting his tooth without anesthesia—further implying that the Mayor was corrupt and killed men for his own gain. 5.​ Cute ko Lesson 3: The Historical-Biographical Literary Criticism ​ This seeks to discover the so-called "authorial intent" or the author's intention for his/her text to mean in his/her time and place. ​ Critics of this approach try to understand a literary work's social, cultural, and political context that produced it. ​ This is used to illuminate a writer's psychology. The literary text is analyzed for relevance to its author. ​ It seeks to understand how the author’s personal experiences, thoughts, and beliefs influence the themes, characters, and events in their texts. The historical-biographical literary criticism analyzes the literary piece by looking into a literary piece's background such as in: ​ cultural context, which includes the community, beliefs, customs, ideas, language, and norms that an individual was raised with; ​ social context, which is the setting where the social interaction happens; ideas prevalent around those times, which include philosophies, politics, scientific and technological innovations, among others, and; ​ the author's biography, which refers to the lifetime and fact-based knowledge about the author's personality, life events, education, family, economic status, and political views How to Apply Research the Author ​ Learn about the author’s life: personal experiences, beliefs, and struggles. ​ Identify events or relationships that may have influenced their writing. Study the Historical Context ​ Understand the political, social, and cultural conditions during the work’s creation. ​ Identify key historical events or movements relevant to the text. Analyze the Text ​ Find connections between the author’s life and the work (e.g., themes, characters, or events). ​ Examine how historical influences are reflected in the plot, setting, or conflicts. Support with Evidence ​ Use details from the author’s biography and historical facts to support your analysis. ​ Cite specific examples from the text to illustrate these connections. My Story -​ Rosa Parks In My Story, Rosa Parks recounts the pivotal moment in the evening of December (1955) when she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Parks describes how she boarded the bus after a long day at work and sat in the section designated for Black passengers. When the bus became crowded, the driver demanded she and others vacate their seats for white passengers. Parks, driven by a lifetime of frustration with racial injustice, quietly refused, resulting in her arrest. Her act of defiance sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a movement that lasted for 381 days and brought national attention to the Civil Rights Movement. The boycott, led by figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., united the Black community in a fight against segregation, causing significant economic pressure on the bus system and leading to a Supreme Court ruling that declared bus segregation unconstitutional. Important highlights in the story: 1.​ The story happened on the evening of December 1, when Rosa Parks went to Court Square to catch a bus. 2.​ The bus driver was the same bus driver that kicked her out of the bus in 1943 3.​ She was forced to give up her seat when the stop was at the Empire Theater  4.​ Rosa Parks was a test case to challenge the constitutionality of Alabama's bus segregation laws.. She then became a symbol. Lesson 4: Feminist Literary Criticism Feminist Literary Criticism ​ Feminist literary criticism is an approach that analyzes literature through the lens of gender, focusing on how women are portrayed in texts and how literature reflects or challenges gender roles in society. It began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries alongside the women's rights movement and has evolved over time. ​ Feminist critics look at works by both male and female authors to uncover hidden biases and patriarchal values that may marginalize or misrepresent women. ​ They also emphasize the importance of giving a voice to female experiences and perspectives in literature Key Principles Gender and Power Dynamics ​ Feminist criticism examines how gender shapes the portrayal of characters, particularly women, in literature. It focuses on how male and female characters are treated differently and how these representations reflect or challenge societal power structures, especially patriarchy Critique of Traditional Gender Roles ​ This approach critiques how literature often reinforces traditional gender roles, such as depicting women as passive or subordinated. It seeks to uncover and challenge stereotypes and highlight women's agency and diverse experiences Focus on Women’s voices ​ Feminist critics argue that literature should give more space to women's voices, experiences, and perspectives. This includes both the representation of female characters and the inclusion of works by female authors, which have often been marginalized in the literary canon. Intersectionality ​ Feminist literary criticism considers not only gender but also how other social categories, such as race, class, and sexuality, intersect to affect women's experiences. Challenging Patriarchy ​ Feminist critics often aim to uncover and challenge the patriarchal structures embedded in literature. They seek to show how traditional literary forms and narratives have reinforced the dominance of men and the subordination of women​. How to Apply ​ Examine Character Roles: Analyze how female characters are portrayed. Are they complex or stereotypical? Are they passive or empowered? ​ Analyze Power Dynamics: Look at how power is distributed, especially between genders. Is there a clear imbalance that reflects societal norms? ​ Consider Context: Think about the author's perspective and historical context. Does the text reinforce or challenge gender norms of its time? ​ Apply Intersectionality: Examine how gender, race, class, and sexuality intersect in the text, affecting women's experiences. ​ Critique the Author: Reflect on the author’s gender perspective. Does it challenge or uphold patriarchal views? “Desire” -​ By Paz Latorena The Main character was an unattractive Filipina Girl, yet she possessed a beautiful body that had men lusting over her and other women to be Jealous of what her body had. The attention that she got was only for her body which isolated her. She grew to be lonely, the standards of society had only valued how men could utilize her body and disregard her worth for how her face looked. She craved to experience love that was not fueled by desire but by pure and genuine love. She then started to hide her body in order to keep away from the attention, causing her to distrust the men around her. In order to express her desires she turned to writing lyrics and sketches. She published her works to forget her loneliness. Her sketches caught the eyes of a White man, they wrote to eachother and agreed to meet up by the shore of Manila Bay. He initially saw past her appearance, giving attention to her inner beauty—she felt hope that love could develop between them. One day she wore a dress that complimented her body, believing that he was to be trusted. When he saw her, he at first, did not seem to care. The next time, she wore a Filipino dress when they both went out to ride in the country, when they headed back he expressed his love for her body. Hearing this, she broke down and the man felt guilty— knowing he had wronged her. He apologized, but it was too late as her hope for genuine love has now completely shattered. Lesson 5: The Marxist Literary Criticism Marxist Literary Criticism ​ Marxist Literary Criticism is an approach to analyzing literature through the lens of Marxist theory, focusing on the ways in which literature reflects, reinforces, or challenges the socio-economic structures of society. It emphasizes the role of class struggle, economic conditions, and power dynamics in shaping characters, themes, and narratives. ​ Marxist critics examine how literature reflects the interests of the ruling class — bourgeoisie, and how it may either perpetuate or critique existing social, political, and economic systems, particularly capitalist systems. ​ The criticism also explores how literature can reveal issues of oppression, exploitation, and alienation, often advocating for social change and the liberation of the working class. Key Principles Class Struggle ​ The conflict between different social classes, primarily the bourgeoisie (ruling class) and the proletariat (working class), is central to understanding the dynamics within literature. Materialism ​ Emphasizes that material conditions, such as economic and social structures, shape human behavior, beliefs, and ideologies, influencing the characters and events in literature. Alienation ​ Focuses on how characters, particularly in capitalist societies, experience estrangement from their work, society, and even themselves due to oppressive socio-economic conditions. Critique of Capitalistic systems ​ Marxist critics examine how literature portrays the exploitation of labor by the ruling class. Texts often reveal or critique the stark disparities between the wealthy elite and the impoverished masses. A Marxist reading investigates how these inequalities are framed—whether they are normalized, romanticized, or challenged Ideology ​ Literature can serve to promote or challenge the dominant ideology— the set of ideas that supports the existing social and economic systems, often benefiting the ruling class, also called hegemony. How to Apply ​ Identify the Social Class Structures: Are there distinct divisions between the wealthy (bourgeoisie) and the working class (proletariat)? How do these characters interact, and what does this reveal about their social status and the class struggle within the narrative? ​ Examine Power Dynamics: Who holds the power in the story? How is it exercised, and what impact does it have on the characters? Does the text portray the exploitation of the working class, or is it a critique of the power structures that benefit the elite? ​ Analyze Material Conditions and Economic Influences: Consider how the economic situation of characters affects their behavior, choices, and relationships. Are their actions driven by necessity or desire for material gain? ​ Explore Ideology/Hegemony  Identify the ideologies promoted in the text. Does the literature support the existing social order, or does it challenge dominant beliefs and values? Analyze how the story may reflect the dominant ideology of its time and whether it reinforces or subverts the values of the ruling class. ​ Look for Themes of Alienation Pay attention to themes of alienation, especially among the working class. How do characters feel disconnected from their work, their society, or themselves? Does the text highlight the alienation caused by capitalist systems, where workers are detached from the products of their labor? The Necklace -​ By Guy de Maupassant Mathilde Loisel is a beautiful but discontented woman who longs for a life of luxury and wealth, despite being married to a modest clerk. One day, her husband brings home an invitation to a grand ball, hoping to please her. However, Mathilde is upset because she lacks an elegant dress and jewelry for the occasion. Her husband sacrifices his savings to buy her a dress, and she borrows a stunning diamond necklace from her wealthy friend, Madame Forestier, to complete her ensemble. At the ball, Mathilde is the center of attention, reveling in the admiration of the attendees. After the ball, Mathilde discovers that she has lost the necklace. Unable to find it, she and her husband decide to replace it without informing Madame Forestier. They spend their entire savings, borrow money, and work tirelessly for ten years to repay the enormous debt incurred by purchasing the replacement. Over the years, their lives are reduced to poverty and struggle, with Mathilde losing her beauty and charm due to the hardships they endure. One day, Mathilde encounters Madame Forestier and decides to confess the truth about the necklace. To her shock, Madame Forestier reveals that the original necklace was a fake, worth only a fraction of the replacement cost. Important Highlights in the Story: 1.​ The necklace was borrowed from Madame Forestier 2.​ The dress that was bought for the party was worth four hundred francs 3.​