Literary Lenses: Theories of Literary Criticism PDF

LITERA RY READIN THEORIES OF LITERARY CRITICISM GS Looking at literary texts through different reading lenses  LEARNING OBJECTIVES Apply a critical Evaluate how Identify and lens to a given different readings...

LITERA RY READIN THEORIES OF LITERARY CRITICISM GS Looking at literary texts through different reading lenses  LEARNING OBJECTIVES Apply a critical Evaluate how Identify and lens to a given different readings describe different text to explore can reveal literary lenses. how deeper meanings interpretation in a text. varies. THINK, PAIR, SHARE Have you ever read a book, poem, or watched a movie that felt completely different when you revisited it later? What changed in your understanding or perspective? DEFINING LITERARY READINGS While you won’t be new to analysing and interpreting texts, let’s look at what we mean when we refer to undertaking a ‘literary reading’. WHAT IS A READIN G? A reading in literary studies refers to the method of analysing or interpreting a text in order to draw meaning from it. It involves thinking critically about the text’s elements, such as themes, characters, language, and structure, and considering the context in which the work was created. A reading is not just about summarising the plot; it’s about exploring deeper layers of meaning and considering how the text communicates ideas, values, or emotions. Different readings can arise depending on the reader's personal context or perspective, critical approach, or the specific lens they apply. Thus, a reading is not a single, fixed interpretation but a dynamic process that reflects the reader’s interaction with the text, shaped by various personal, cultural, and contextual factors.  INTERPRETAT IONS VS. READINGS While literary reading and interpretation are related, they aren’t exactly the same... A reading refers to the process, An interpretation is the conclusion method or approach taken to analyse or explanation that results from that and understand a text. This could process. It’s the specific meaning or involve using a specific perspective understanding you derive from the or lens to focus on certain aspects of text after analysing it. the text.  INFLUENCES ON READING Our reading of a text is influenced by various factors that shape how we perceive, interpret, and engage with the story. Let’s take a look at some of them...  PERSONAL EXPERIENCE S Our life experiences, such as CULTURAL relationships, challenges, cultural background, and upbringing, provide a & lens through which we relate to characters, themes, SOCIAL The cultural and societal values we and situations. For instance, someone who CONTEXT grow up with also affect how we interpret texts. has experienced discrimination For example, a reader from a culture that may be more attuned to themes values honour and duty might of injustice in a text. sympathise with a character who sacrifices personal desires for the greater good, while a reader from a culture that prioritises self-expression and individualism might view the same  EDUCATIO N The era in which a text is read can influence its & LITERARY interpretation. Readers with knowledge of literary For example, a text read in the 21st KNOWLED theories or critical approaches, like century might be seen through a lens of feminist or psychoanalytic lenses, modern values, such as equality and are inclusivity, which may differ significantly from how it was interpreted when it was first published. GE likely to read texts with these perspectives in mind. HISTORICAL Education also equips readers with the tools to notice symbolism, CONTEXT & themes, and narrative techniques that TIME PERIOD others might miss. TYPES OF LITERARY READINGS Understanding the main types of readings can help us recognise that literature is open to multiple interpretations and that reading is not just about what the author intended. DOMINA This is the most common or NT widely accepted interpretation of a text, often aligning with the author’s intended READIN message. It typically reflects mainstream ideas and supports the G existing state, confirming societal norms, beliefs, and attitudes. For example, the dominant reading of Romeo and Juliet is a tragic love story about the destructive nature of feuding families. ALTERNA TIVE An alternative reading challenges or diverges from the dominant interpretation, READIN offering a different perspective that still works within the broader context of the text. G For example, an alternative reading of Romeo and Juliet might focus on the theme of youthful rebellion and critique the impulsiveness and recklessness of the young lovers. RESISTA A resistant reading actively challenges the dominant NT message, often highlighting issues like bias, marginalization, or problematic READIN aspects of the text. It questions the assumptions that underpin G the dominant reading. For example, a resistant reading of Romeo and Juliet could critique the romanticisation of toxic relationships and question the societal pressures that drive the characters to their demise. MATCH UP ACTIVITY Cinderella is a classic story of rags-to-riches and love at first sight, where the prince rescues Cinderella from her Read each hardships, and their marriage symbolises the resolution of all her struggles, proving that love really does conquer all. description carefully and Cinderella is an outdated tale that promotes damaging ideas see if you can about gender roles and social mobility, suggesting that a woman's worth is tied to her beauty and her ability to attract identify which of a wealthy man, while ignoring her potential for the three critical independence and self-empowerment. reading lenses Cinderella is a story of personal resilience, where Cinderella's has been inner strength, kindness, and ability to maintain hope in the face of adversity are the true qualities that lead to her applied to the transformation and ultimate success, rather than external story of beauty or reliance on others. Cinderella. MATCH UP ACTIVITY Cinderella is a classic story of rags-to-riches and love at first sight, where the prince rescues Cinderella from her hardships, and their marriage symbolises the resolution of all Dominant her struggles, proving that love really does conquer all. Cinderella is an outdated tale that promotes damaging ideas about gender roles and social mobility, suggesting that a woman's worth is tied to her beauty and her ability to attract Resistant a wealthy man, while ignoring her potential for independence and self-empowerment. Cinderella is a story of personal resilience, where Cinderella's inner strength, kindness, and ability to maintain hope in the face of adversity are the true qualities that lead to her Alternate transformation and ultimate success, rather than external beauty or reliance on others.  DEFINING LITERARY LENSES Sometimes we might approach a text from a particular angle or perspective to produce a specific type of alternate reading.  WHAT ARE LITERARY LENSES? Similar to how a camera By reading through a lens highlights different lens, readers can Literary lenses, or aspects of a scene, uncover unique insights critical lenses, are literary lenses allow into the themes, specific perspectives or readers to focus on characters, and approaches used to different elements of a structure of a work, analyse and interpret text, such as power offering varied texts. dynamics, gender roles, interpretations that or psychological deepen their overall motivations. understanding of the text. MORALI Moralist reading theory... Examines the ethical teachings in a text, focusing on how it presents moral values, virtues, and duties. ST Critiques the actions of individuals based on how well they align with ethical principles, often emphasizing the consequences of READIN moral or immoral behavior. Seeks to discern lessons that promote moral development and virtue, often by examining the consequences of righteous and GS unrighteous actions. Analyzes themes of filial piety, integrity, For would example, on The righteousness, focus on individuals andAnalects of conduct the proper Confucius' within Confucius of society.emphasis on virtues like filial piety, righteousness and the importance of moral self-cultivation. A passage where Confucius stresses the importance of a ruler’s moral example—suggesting that a leader’s virtue is crucial for the moral health of the state—would be read as a critique of leaders who fail to live ethically, showing how their HISTORI Historical reading theory... Focuses on understanding a text by examining the historical context in which it was written. CAL Analyzes how events, ideologies, and social conditions of the time influence the content, characters, and themes. READIN Seeks to uncover how the text reflects, critiques, or contributes to its historical moment. A historical reading of The Great Gatsby by F. GS Scott Fitzgerald would explore how the novel reflects the social and economic conditions of the 1920s in America, particularly the Jazz Age and the post-World War I disillusionment. The novel’s themes of wealth, class, and the American Dream are shaped by the historical context of the Roaring Twenties, a time of rapid economic growth, moral looseness, and the rise of consumer culture. By understanding the social upheavals and cultural shifts of the time, a historical reading POSTCOL Postcolonial reading theory... Examines how texts represent colonial power dynamics and the impact of ONIAL colonisation on marginalized groups. Analyses themes of otherness, displacement, and cultural identity. Critiques the portrayal of imperial READING power and challenges the narratives that glorify or justify colonialism and oppression. S Aims to highlight the voices of the marginalised that are often silenced or misrepresented in literature. A postcolonial reading of Noli Me Tangere by José Rizal would explore how the novel critiques the Spanish colonial system in the Philippines. MARXIS Marxist reading theory... Draws on the theories of Karl Marx. Analyses the representation of class structures, economic power dynamics T and social inequalities. Investigates how texts reinforce, or challenge the ideologies of capitalism READIN and other economic systems. Focuses on themes of class struggle, exploitation, power and privilege. Seeks to uncover hidden ideologies GS that maintain inequality, challenging the portrayal of power and privilege. For example, The Merchant of Venice focuses on money, debt, and social inequality allowing for a Marxist critique of how economic power shapes relationships, with Shylock representing marginalized economic and social classes. FORMALI Formalist reading theory... Focuses on the structure, language, and form of the text itself, independent of external contexts such as the ST author's background or historical influences. Analyzes elements like imagery, READIN syntax, rhyme, meter, and symbolism to understand how the text creates meaning. Emphasizes the aesthetic qualities of a GS text, seeing the work as a self- For contained example, aentity. formalist reading of The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost would examine how the poem's structure and language convey its themes of choice and reflection. The poem follows a consistent yet simple rhyme scheme, contributing to its calm, contemplative tone. The repetition of the word "I" in the first stanza, the imagery of the two diverging roads symbolizes life choices. FEMINIS Feminist reading theory... Examines how texts portray gender roles, power dynamics, and the representation of women. T Critiques patriarchal structures and the marginalisation of women. Seeks to uncover and critique READIN instances of gender bias, inequality and the ways women’s voices are silenced or oppressed. Analyses themes of identity, power, GS and autonomy, focusing on how these themes affect female characters. For example, a feminist reading of The Taming of the Shrew critiques the play's portrayal of gender roles and the subjugation of women, examining how Katherine’s transformation reflects societal pressures to conform to patriarchal expectations of obedience and PSYCHO- Psychoanalytical reading theory... Based on the theories of Sigmund Freud and later psychoanalysts. ANALTIC Analyses unconscious desires, exploring how characters’ actions reflect hidden emotions and unresolved psychological conflicts. AL Focuses on the inner psychological states of characters, including neuroses, psychoses, and complex READIN relationships between characters. Interprets symbols, motifs and dreams as subconscious thoughts and desires. Investigates how the author's own GS psychological background influences For the text. a psychoanalytic reading of example, Hamlet reveals the protagonist's profound inner conflict and existential angst as manifestations of his unresolved Oedipal complex and deep-seated fears of inadequacy and mortality. Read each Cinderella reinforces traditional gender roles, portraying women as description and passive and in need of rescue by a male hero, while also promoting beauty as the primary source of a woman’s worth. ACTIVITY identify the reading lenses The story can be seen as a reflection of Cinderella’s unconscious used on desires for escape from her repressive family environment, with the MATCH Cinderella... fairy godmother, symbolising her psyche’s desire for independence and personal growth. The story reflects class struggle, with Cinderella representing the oppressed working class and the stepmother and stepsisters symbolising the bourgeoisie, whose wealth and status unfairly dictate Cinderella’s position in society. Cinderella is a narrative of cultural dominance, where the royal family represents the colonising force, and Cinderella's UP transformation from rags to riches mirrors the erasure of her original identity to fit the mould of the dominant culture. The natural world, represented by the animals and the fairy godmother, plays a restorative role, showing how nature provides support and empowerment to Cinderella in contrast to the oppressive, materialistic human world.  The story reflects class struggle, with Cinderella representing the Marxist oppressed working class and the stepmother and stepsisters symbolising the bourgeoisie, whose wealth and status unfairly dictate Cinderella’s position in society. The story can be seen as a reflection of Cinderella’s unconscious Psychoanalytic desires for escape from her repressive family environment, with the al fairy godmother, symbolising her psyche’s desire for independence and personal growth. Cinderella is a narrative of cultural dominance, where the royal Postcolonial family represents the colonising force, and Cinderella's transformation from rags to riches mirrors the erasure of her original identity to fit the mould of the dominant culture. Cinderella reinforces traditional gender roles, portraying women as Feminist passive and in need of rescue by a male hero, while also promoting beauty as the primary source of a woman’s worth.  SIGNIFIC ANCE The significance of literary readings in analysing texts lies in the fact that they allow us to explore and appreciate the multi-layered nature of literature. By applying different literary readings, we can move beyond surface-level interpretations and engage with the text on a deeper, more nuanced level. Furthermore, different literary readings provide alternative interpretations of a text by shedding light on aspects that may be overlooked or marginalized in traditional analyses. TO Literary reading is an active process where readers engage deeply with the text, questioning and analysing it from different WRAP perspectives. Different lenses offer varied interpretations Literary lenses focus on the and highlight distinct aspects of a text, following principles... UP enriching our understanding. Different readers can read the same text differently, as their own context, including cultural, historical, and personal factors, influences how they interpret a text. Interpretations can change over time or with different approaches, reflecting evolving societal values and critical theories. Literary readings use specific frameworks (e.g., feminist, Marxist, psychoanalytical) to explore themes, characters, and structures from unique viewpoints. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING