Literary LensesLiterary Lenses

What’s the point?What’s the point?

Tool for AnalysisTool for Analysis

As a student, we ask you to As a student, we ask you to analyzeanalyze

Analysis requires Analysis requires

understandingunderstanding

interpretationinterpretation

evaluationevaluation

Literary LensesLiterary Lenses

Literary TheoriesLiterary Theories Critical TheoriesCritical Theories Literary ApproachesLiterary Approaches Critical ApproachesCritical Approaches Interpretive MethodsInterpretive Methods

All “names” mean the same thing: a All “names” mean the same thing: a way of reading with a particular focusway of reading with a particular focus

Literary LensesLiterary Lenses

FormalistFormalist New Critical (New Criticism)New Critical (New Criticism) HistoricalHistorical Archetypal/MythologicalArchetypal/Mythological FeministFeminist Marxist (Sociological)Marxist (Sociological) PsychologicalPsychological

More Literary LensesMore Literary Lenses

New HistoricalNew Historical BiographicalBiographical Reader-ResponseReader-Response DeconstructionistDeconstructionist There’s more. . .There’s more. . .

Reader-Response Reader-Response TheoryTheory Transactional experience of Transactional experience of

readingreading Reader makes meaning based on Reader makes meaning based on

his/her own experiences and his/her own experiences and knowledgeknowledge

Emphasis on connections to the Emphasis on connections to the reader’s worldreader’s world

Unconcerned with author’s intentUnconcerned with author’s intent

Reader-Response Reader-Response TheoryTheory CAPTCAPT Rejects the notion that a single Rejects the notion that a single

“correct” reading exists for a “correct” reading exists for a literary workliterary work

Not “all” readings are permissible Not “all” readings are permissible (meaning is based on logical, (meaning is based on logical, text-based interpretations)text-based interpretations)

What do you “see” through the reader-response lens?

What is your analysis?What is your analysis?

Using the reader-response Using the reader-response approach,approach,

what do you think about thiswhat do you think about this

advertisement?advertisement?

Feminist TheoryFeminist Theory

Also called Gender CriticismAlso called Gender Criticism Examines how sexual identity Examines how sexual identity

influences the interpretation of influences the interpretation of literary worksliterary works

Central precept that patriarchal Central precept that patriarchal attitudes have resulted in attitudes have resulted in literature full of “male-produced” literature full of “male-produced” assumptionsassumptions

Feminist TheoryFeminist Theory

Examines how images of men and Examines how images of men and women reflect or reject the social women reflect or reject the social forces that “feed” inequalityforces that “feed” inequality

Attempts to combat attitudes by Attempts to combat attitudes by questioningquestioning

Archetypal CriticismArchetypal Criticism

Also called Mythological CriticismAlso called Mythological Criticism Emphasizes the “recurrent Emphasizes the “recurrent

universal patterns underlying universal patterns underlying most literary works”most literary works”

The Archetype The Archetype Views literature in a broad Views literature in a broad

contextcontext

Common Female Common Female ArchetypesArchetypes THE EARTH MOTHER. Symbolic of fruition,

abundance, and fertility; this character offers spiritual and emotional nourishment to those with whom she comes in contact

THE TEMPTRESS. Characterized by sensuous beauty

THE PLATONIC IDEA. This woman is a source of inspiration and a spiritual idea

THE UNFAITHFUL WIFE. A woman, married to a man she sees as a dull and unimaginative, is physically attracted to a more virile and desirable man

Historical CriticismHistorical Criticism

Seeks to understand a literary Seeks to understand a literary work by investigating the social, work by investigating the social, cultural, and intellectual context cultural, and intellectual context that produced it (includes the that produced it (includes the author’s biographical information)author’s biographical information)

Key goal is to understand the Key goal is to understand the effect of a literary work upon its effect of a literary work upon its original audienceoriginal audience

New Critical ApproachNew Critical Approach

Also called Formalist Criticism & Also called Formalist Criticism & New CriticismNew Criticism

Regards literature as a “unique Regards literature as a “unique form of human knowledge that form of human knowledge that needs to be examined on its own needs to be examined on its own terms”terms”

Work itselfWork itself Elements of form: style, structure, Elements of form: style, structure,

tone, imagery, symbolism, etctone, imagery, symbolism, etc

New Critical ApproachNew Critical Approach

Primary goal is to determine how Primary goal is to determine how literary elements work together literary elements work together with content to shape an effect on with content to shape an effect on the readerthe reader

AP Literature (college professors AP Literature (college professors love this approach)love this approach)

Psychological Psychological ApproachApproach Uses the study of the mind and Uses the study of the mind and

behavior to view a character (or behavior to view a character (or sometimes the author)sometimes the author)

Asks Asks

““Why is the character feeling this Why is the character feeling this way?”way?”

““Why is the character acting this way?”Why is the character acting this way?”

““What is motivating these things?”What is motivating these things?”

Psychological Psychological ApproachApproach Is Holden “normal”?Is Holden “normal”? Is there a disconnect between Is there a disconnect between

reality and the world he reality and the world he imagines?imagines?

What’s the problem?What’s the problem? How is Holden dealing with it?How is Holden dealing with it?