Literary CriticismLiterary Criticism

• Literary criticism is the study, discussion, Literary criticism is the study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation of evaluation, and interpretation of literatureliterature..

• Modern literary criticism is often published Modern literary criticism is often published in essay or book form. Academic literary in essay or book form. Academic literary critics teach in literature departments and critics teach in literature departments and publish in academic journals, and more publish in academic journals, and more popular critics publish their criticism in popular critics publish their criticism in broadly circulating periodicals such as the broadly circulating periodicals such as the New York Times Book ReviewNew York Times Book Review, the , the New New York Review of BooksYork Review of Books, the , the London Review London Review of Booksof Books, , The NationThe Nation, and , and The New YorkerThe New Yorker. .

Literary CriticismLiterary Criticism

• Literary criticism is a view or opinion on what a Literary criticism is a view or opinion on what a particular written work means. It is about the particular written work means. It is about the meanings that a reader finds in an author's literature. meanings that a reader finds in an author's literature.    

• Literary criticism is an attempt to evaluate and Literary criticism is an attempt to evaluate and understand the creative writing, the literature of an understand the creative writing, the literature of an author. Literature includes plays, essays, novels, author. Literature includes plays, essays, novels, poetry, and short stories. poetry, and short stories. Literary criticism is a Literary criticism is a description, analysis, evaluation, or interpretation of a description, analysis, evaluation, or interpretation of a particular literary work or an author's writings as a particular literary work or an author's writings as a wholewhole. Literary criticism is usually expressed in the . Literary criticism is usually expressed in the form of a critical essay. In-depth book reviews are form of a critical essay. In-depth book reviews are also sometimes viewed as literary criticism. also sometimes viewed as literary criticism.

CriticismCriticism

• Literary criticism has at least Literary criticism has at least three primary purposes.three primary purposes.

(1) To help us resolve a difficulty (1) To help us resolve a difficulty in the reading. in the reading.

• (2) To help us choose the better (2) To help us choose the better of two conflicting readings. of two conflicting readings.

• (3) To enable us to form (3) To enable us to form judgments about literature. judgments about literature.

Which type of criticism is most Which type of criticism is most prevalent to your needs?prevalent to your needs?

• HistoricalHistorical

• BiographicalBiographical

• FormalFormal

Historical/Biographical Historical/Biographical ApproachApproach• Definition:Definition:• Historical / Biographical critics see works as the Historical / Biographical critics see works as the reflection of reflection of

an author's life and timesan author's life and times (or of the characters' life and times). (or of the characters' life and times). They believe it is They believe it is necessary to know about the author and the necessary to know about the author and the political, economical, and sociological context of his timespolitical, economical, and sociological context of his times in in order to truly understand his works.order to truly understand his works.

• Advantages:Advantages:• This approach works well for some works, which are obviously This approach works well for some works, which are obviously

political in nature. It also is necessary to take a historical political in nature. It also is necessary to take a historical approach in order to place allusions in there proper classical, approach in order to place allusions in there proper classical, political, or biblical background. political, or biblical background.

• Disadvantages:Disadvantages:• New Critics refer to the historical / biographical critic's belief New Critics refer to the historical / biographical critic's belief

that the meaning or value of a work may be determined by that the meaning or value of a work may be determined by the author's intention as "the intentional fallacy."  They the author's intention as "the intentional fallacy."  They believe that this approach tends to reduce art to the level of believe that this approach tends to reduce art to the level of biography and make it relative (to the times) rather than biography and make it relative (to the times) rather than universal.universal.

Formalism/New CriticismFormalism/New Criticism

• Definition:Definition:• A formalistic approach to literature, once called New A formalistic approach to literature, once called New

Criticism, involves a close reading of the text. Criticism, involves a close reading of the text. Formalistic critics believe that Formalistic critics believe that all information all information essential to the interpretation of a work must be essential to the interpretation of a work must be found within the work itself; there is no need to bring found within the work itself; there is no need to bring in outside information about the history, politics, or in outside information about the history, politics, or society of the time, or about the author's lifesociety of the time, or about the author's life. . Formalistic critics (presumably) do not view works Formalistic critics (presumably) do not view works through the lens of feminism, psychology, through the lens of feminism, psychology, mythology, or any other such standpoint, and they mythology, or any other such standpoint, and they are not interested in the work's affect on the reader. are not interested in the work's affect on the reader. Formalistic critics spend much time Formalistic critics spend much time analyzing irony, analyzing irony, paradox, imagery, and metaphorparadox, imagery, and metaphor. . They are also They are also interested in the work's setting, characters, symbols, interested in the work's setting, characters, symbols, and point of view. and point of view.

Moral/Philosophical Moral/Philosophical ApproachApproach• Definition:Definition:• Moral / philosophical critics Moral / philosophical critics believe that the larger believe that the larger

purpose of literature is to teach morality and to purpose of literature is to teach morality and to probe philosophical issues. probe philosophical issues.

• Advantages:Advantages:• It does not view literature merely as "art" isolated It does not view literature merely as "art" isolated

from all moral implications; it recognizes that from all moral implications; it recognizes that literature can affect readers, whether subtly or literature can affect readers, whether subtly or directly, and that the message of a work--and not directly, and that the message of a work--and not just the decorous vehicle for that message--is just the decorous vehicle for that message--is important. important.

• Disadvantages:Disadvantages:• Detractors argue that such an approach can be too Detractors argue that such an approach can be too

"judgmental."  Some believe literature should be "judgmental."  Some believe literature should be judged primarily (if not solely) on its artistic merits, judged primarily (if not solely) on its artistic merits, not its moral or philosophical content.not its moral or philosophical content.

• Advantages:Advantages:

• This approach can be performed without This approach can be performed without much research, and it emphasizes the value much research, and it emphasizes the value of literature apart from its context (in effect of literature apart from its context (in effect makes literature timeless).  Virtually all makes literature timeless).  Virtually all critical approaches must begin here.critical approaches must begin here.

• Disadvantages:Disadvantages:

• The text is seen in isolation. Formalism The text is seen in isolation. Formalism ignores the context of the work. It cannot ignores the context of the work. It cannot account for allusions. It tends to reduce account for allusions. It tends to reduce literature to little more than a collection of literature to little more than a collection of rhetorical devices. rhetorical devices.

Psychological ApproachPsychological Approach

• Psychological critics view works through Psychological critics view works through the lens of psychology. They look either at the lens of psychology. They look either at the psychological motivations of the the psychological motivations of the characters or of the authors themselves, characters or of the authors themselves, although the former is generally although the former is generally considered a more respectable approach. considered a more respectable approach. Most frequently, psychological critics apply Most frequently, psychological critics apply Freudian psychology to works, but other Freudian psychology to works, but other approaches (such as a Jungian approach) approaches (such as a Jungian approach) also exist. also exist.

• Advantages:Advantages:• It can be a useful tool for understanding some works, It can be a useful tool for understanding some works,

such as Henry James such as Henry James The Turning of the ScrewThe Turning of the Screw, in , in which characters obviously have psychological which characters obviously have psychological issues. Like the biographical approach, knowing issues. Like the biographical approach, knowing something about a writer's psychological make up something about a writer's psychological make up can give us insight into his work. can give us insight into his work.

• Disadvantages:Disadvantages:• Psychological criticism can turn a work into little Psychological criticism can turn a work into little

more than a psychological case study, neglecting to more than a psychological case study, neglecting to view it as a piece of art. Critics sometimes attempt to view it as a piece of art. Critics sometimes attempt to diagnose long dead authors based on their works, diagnose long dead authors based on their works, which is perhaps not the best evidence of their which is perhaps not the best evidence of their psychology.  Critics tend to see sex in everything, psychology.  Critics tend to see sex in everything, exaggerating this aspect of literature. Finally, some exaggerating this aspect of literature. Finally, some works do not lend themselves readily to this works do not lend themselves readily to this approach.approach.

Mythological/Archetypal/Mythological/Archetypal/SymbolicSymbolic

• Definition:Definition: • A mythological / archetypal approach to literature A mythological / archetypal approach to literature

assumes that there is a collection of symbols, assumes that there is a collection of symbols, images, characters, and motifs (i.e. images, characters, and motifs (i.e. archetypesarchetypes) ) that evokes basically the same response in all that evokes basically the same response in all people. people.   According to the psychologist Carl   According to the psychologist Carl JungJung, , mankind possesses a mankind possesses a "collective unconscious" "collective unconscious" that contains these archetypes and that is that contains these archetypes and that is common to all of humanity.  Myth critics identify common to all of humanity.  Myth critics identify these archetypal patterns and discuss how they these archetypal patterns and discuss how they function in the works. They believe that these function in the works. They believe that these archetypes are the source of much of literature's archetypes are the source of much of literature's power.power.

• archetypal women - the Good Mother, the Terrible Mother, archetypal women - the Good Mother, the Terrible Mother, and the Soul Mate (such as the Virgin Mary) and the Soul Mate (such as the Virgin Mary)

• water - creation, birth-death-resurrection, purification, water - creation, birth-death-resurrection, purification, redemption, fertility, growth redemption, fertility, growth

• garden - paradise (Eden), innocence, fertility garden - paradise (Eden), innocence, fertility • desert - spiritual emptiness, death, hopelessness desert - spiritual emptiness, death, hopelessness • red - blood, sacrifice, passion, disorder red - blood, sacrifice, passion, disorder • green - growth, fertility green - growth, fertility • black - chaos, death, evil black - chaos, death, evil • serpent - evil, sensuality, mystery, wisdom, destruction serpent - evil, sensuality, mystery, wisdom, destruction • seven - perfection seven - perfection • shadow, persona, and anima (see shadow, persona, and anima (see psychological criticismpsychological criticism) ) • hero archetype -  The hero is involved in a hero archetype -  The hero is involved in a questquest (in which (in which

he overcomes obstacles). He experiences he overcomes obstacles). He experiences initiationinitiation (involving a separation, transformation, and return), and (involving a separation, transformation, and return), and finally he serves as a finally he serves as a scapegoatscapegoat, that is, he dies to atone. , that is, he dies to atone.

• Advantages:Advantages:• Provides a universalistic approach to Provides a universalistic approach to

literature and identifies a reason why literature and identifies a reason why certain literature may survive the test of certain literature may survive the test of time. It works well with works that are time. It works well with works that are highly symbolic. highly symbolic.

• Disadvantages:Disadvantages:• Literature may become little more than a Literature may become little more than a

vehicle for archetypes, and this approach vehicle for archetypes, and this approach may ignore the "art" of literature.may ignore the "art" of literature.

• In Herman Melville's In Herman Melville's Moby DickMoby Dick, Fedallah can be , Fedallah can be seen as Ahab's shadow, his defiant pagan side seen as Ahab's shadow, his defiant pagan side wholly unrestrained. Numerous archetypes wholly unrestrained. Numerous archetypes appear in Moby Dick. The sea is associated both appear in Moby Dick. The sea is associated both with spiritual mystery (Ahab is ultimately on a with spiritual mystery (Ahab is ultimately on a spiritual quest to defy God because evil exists) spiritual quest to defy God because evil exists) and with death and rebirth (all but Ishmael die at and with death and rebirth (all but Ishmael die at sea, but Ahab's death as if crucified is suggestive sea, but Ahab's death as if crucified is suggestive of rebirth). Three is symbolic of spiritual of rebirth). Three is symbolic of spiritual awareness; thus we see numerous triads in awareness; thus we see numerous triads in Moby Moby DickDick, including Ahab's three mysterious crew , including Ahab's three mysterious crew members and the three harpooners. members and the three harpooners.

Feminist ApproachFeminist Approach

Definition:Definition:• Feminist criticism is concerned with the impact of Feminist criticism is concerned with the impact of

gender on writing and reading. It usually begins with gender on writing and reading. It usually begins with a critique of patriarchal culture. It is concerned with a critique of patriarchal culture. It is concerned with the place of female writers in the cannon.  Finally, it the place of female writers in the cannon.  Finally, it includes a search for a feminine theory or approach includes a search for a feminine theory or approach to texts. Feminist criticism is political and often to texts. Feminist criticism is political and often revisionist. Feminists often argue that male fears are revisionist. Feminists often argue that male fears are portrayed through female characters. They may portrayed through female characters. They may argue that gender determines everything, or just the argue that gender determines everything, or just the opposite: that all gender differences are imposed by opposite: that all gender differences are imposed by society, and gender determines nothing. society, and gender determines nothing.

• Advantages:Advantages:• Women have been somewhat underrepresented Women have been somewhat underrepresented

in the traditional cannon, and a feminist approach in the traditional cannon, and a feminist approach to literature redresses this problem. to literature redresses this problem.

• Disadvantages:Disadvantages:• Feminist turn literary criticism into a political Feminist turn literary criticism into a political

battlefield and overlook the merits of works they battlefield and overlook the merits of works they consider "patriarchal."   When arguing for a consider "patriarchal."   When arguing for a distinct feminine writing style, they tend to distinct feminine writing style, they tend to relegate women's literature to a ghetto status; relegate women's literature to a ghetto status; this in turn prevents female literature from being this in turn prevents female literature from being naturally included in the literary cannon. The naturally included in the literary cannon. The feminist approach is often too theoretical. feminist approach is often too theoretical.

Reader Response CriticismReader Response Criticism

Definition:Definition:• Reader response criticism Reader response criticism analyzes the reader's role in the analyzes the reader's role in the

production of meaning. It lies at the opposite end of the production of meaning. It lies at the opposite end of the spectrum from formalistic criticismspectrum from formalistic criticism. In reader response . In reader response criticism, the text itself has no meaning until it is read by a criticism, the text itself has no meaning until it is read by a reader. The reader creates the meaning. This criticism can reader. The reader creates the meaning. This criticism can take into account the strategies employed by the author to take into account the strategies employed by the author to elicit a certain response from readers. It denies the elicit a certain response from readers. It denies the possibility that works are universal (i.e. that they will possibility that works are universal (i.e. that they will always mean more or less the same thing to readers always mean more or less the same thing to readers everywhere). Norman Holland argues that "each reader will everywhere). Norman Holland argues that "each reader will impose his or her 'identity theme' on the text, to a large impose his or her 'identity theme' on the text, to a large extent recreating that text in the reader's image." extent recreating that text in the reader's image." Therefore, we can understand someone's reading as a Therefore, we can understand someone's reading as a function of personal identity. function of personal identity.

• Advantages:Advantages:• It recognizes that different people view It recognizes that different people view

works differently, and that people's works differently, and that people's interpretations change over time. interpretations change over time.

• Disadvantages:Disadvantages:• Reader Response criticism tends to make Reader Response criticism tends to make

interpretation too subjective. It does not interpretation too subjective. It does not provide adequate criteria for evaluating provide adequate criteria for evaluating one reading in comparison to another. one reading in comparison to another.

• For instance, in reading the parable of the prodigal For instance, in reading the parable of the prodigal son in the New Testament, different readers are son in the New Testament, different readers are likely to have different responses. Someone who likely to have different responses. Someone who has lived a fairly straight and narrow life and who has lived a fairly straight and narrow life and who does not feel like he has been rewarded for it is does not feel like he has been rewarded for it is likely to associate with the older brother of the likely to associate with the older brother of the parable and sympathize with his opposition to the parable and sympathize with his opposition to the celebration over the prodigal son's return. Someone celebration over the prodigal son's return. Someone with a more checkered past would probably with a more checkered past would probably approach the parable with more sympathy for the approach the parable with more sympathy for the younger brother. A parent who had had difficulties younger brother. A parent who had had difficulties with a rebellious child would probably focus on the with a rebellious child would probably focus on the father, and, depending on his or her experience, father, and, depending on his or her experience, might see the father's unconditional acceptance of might see the father's unconditional acceptance of the prodigal as either good and merciful or as the prodigal as either good and merciful or as unwise and overindulgent. While the parable might unwise and overindulgent. While the parable might disturb some, it could elicit a feeling of relief from disturb some, it could elicit a feeling of relief from others, which, presumably, is what Christ intended others, which, presumably, is what Christ intended it to do, and a more skillful critic might be able to it to do, and a more skillful critic might be able to analyze the strategies Christ employed to elicit analyze the strategies Christ employed to elicit those responses. those responses.

Criticism SectionCriticism Section

• Approach this section like it is a Approach this section like it is a “mini-paper” “mini-paper”

• Begin with an introductionBegin with an introduction

• The thesis should be what your going The thesis should be what your going to try to prove through the research to try to prove through the research you found that is critical analysis of you found that is critical analysis of the bookthe book

• Chopin’s Chopin’s The AwakeningThe Awakening examines the smothering examines the smothering effects of late 19th-century social structures upon a effects of late 19th-century social structures upon a woman whose simple desire is to fulfill her own woman whose simple desire is to fulfill her own potential and live her own life. Immediately after its potential and live her own life. Immediately after its publication, reviewers frequently denounced the publication, reviewers frequently denounced the "unwholesome" content of this book, while "unwholesome" content of this book, while simultaneously acknowledging that the writing style simultaneously acknowledging that the writing style was outstanding. It was also condemned due to its was outstanding. It was also condemned due to its sexual openness. One critic remarked that he was sexual openness. One critic remarked that he was well satisfied with Edna's death at the end. The well satisfied with Edna's death at the end. The harsh reaction to the book probably was the harsh reaction to the book probably was the determining factor in the publisher's decision to stop determining factor in the publisher's decision to stop publication after only a single printing. Using the publication after only a single printing. Using the moral and philosophical critical approach to moral and philosophical critical approach to analyzing literature, analyzing literature, The Awakening The Awakening is a criticism by is a criticism by Chopin of the societal norm of women being Chopin of the societal norm of women being property during the term of the century.property during the term of the century.

• IntroductionIntroduction

• Discuss which approach you chose and Discuss which approach you chose and how the book fits with the approachhow the book fits with the approach

• Discuss (and use) some critics Discuss (and use) some critics interpretations that support your thesisinterpretations that support your thesis

• Include some negative criticism, and then Include some negative criticism, and then PROVE it isn’t true by using other researchPROVE it isn’t true by using other research