An Introduction to Literary Criticism

A Little Dab’ll Do Ya…

Why a book review is not what you need for most academic pursuits…

Book reviews primarily provide evaluation

Book reviews typically treat a work holistically

Book reviews typically do not provide meaning; instead, they convey worth:

Usually written very near the original work’s publication date.

“In 1922, F. Scott Fitzgerald announced his decision to write ‘something new--something extraordinary and beautiful and simple + intricately patterned.’ That extraordinary, beautiful, intricately patterned, and above all, simple novel became The Great Gatsby, arguably Fitzgerald's finest work and certainly the book for which he is best known.”

Amazon.com editorial review“Man, what self-indulgent rubbish.

"I am so rich...I am so observant...My friends are so rich...My friends have great parties...Gatsby is so rich...Gatsby is so neat..."

So it's a great story about the Jazz era. It wasn't that great an era.

If I wanted to read about lame, rich, full of themself people going to parties, I'd pick up People magazine.

A bore.” “greg collins, book lover”

Literary Criticism Should Be More Interesting To You. . .

Criticism provides interpretation, ideas that you will be able to use to clarify your own understanding and appreciation.

Criticism often focuses on specifics within the work and how those specific elements affect meaning. Criticism typically appears well after the publication date, years, decades, or even centuries later. . .

Hard Copies of Criticism

Allow you to get an understanding of the body of criticism.

Often contain criticism from a longer timeframe. Often contain criticisms written by “great thinkers” and “great writers.”

Can be more beneficial in a weird, counterproductive way.

So, in the gigantic books…

Cumulative Author Index

Fitzgerald, F(rancis) Scott (Key)1896-1940 . . . . . . . .TCLC 1, 6, 14, 28

See also CA 110, 123See also DLB 4, 9See also DLB-Y 81See also DLB-DS 1

Cumulative Title Index

The Great Gatsby 1:237-48, 250-56,258-74; 6:160-62, 165, 169, 171;14:147-89; 28:90, 104, 108, 110, 115, 120.

Criticism in the Virtual RealmEasier and more specific searches—keywords,

date range, must lift only a few fingers.

For some scholars, the search may befuddle or frustrate.

Some limitations on scope of materials available. With the proper passwords, databases are available in many different computing environments.

www.reynoldshs.org “academics” Library Media Center “Links for Research” www.ncwiseowl.org

One place to look for virtual criticism:

Professional Zone Magazines

Here’s what you’ll get:

Your Best Bet For Academic Criticism Will Be The Academic Journals tab…

If you figure out a theme or motif as you reflect, you can use related keywords to narrow your searches and cull out peripheral info…

Remember: A little criticism goes a long way…

Most readers will be more interested in your insights and interpretations.

Your ideas should predominate in the paragraph. Use only a sentence or two of criticism, and use it as support for your ideas.

Your ideas should occupy the prime real estate in your writing: thesis statement, topic sentences, introduction and conclusion.