Literary Criticism Theories

Texts and What They Possibly Mean

F K Dumalay
Definition
Literary Criticism

An attempt to express your personal view,

interpretation, or judgment of a work by
describing the evidence that supports your
interpretation.

An analysis based on literary theories.

 Reading Glasses

Reading
Glasses
Definition
Literary Theory

A body of ideas or methods that we

use in practical and critical reading
of literary works.
Some Common Ways to Analyze
Literature
Formalistic
Biographical
Historical/Cultural
Mythological
Gender
Social
Formalist Analysis
A formalist analysis of a
text focuses on
symbolism, metaphor,
imagery,
characterization, and so
on.

Its what you do most

often in English
literature.
A Checklist of Formalist Critical
Questions
What is the works plot? How is its plot related to its
structure?
What is the relationship of each part of the work to the
work as a whole? How are the parts related to one
another?
Who is narrating or telling what happens in the work?
How is the narrator, speaker, or character revealed to
readers? How do we come to know and understand this
figure?

- Who are the major and minor characters, what do they

represent, and how do they relate to one another?
 What is the setting and how does it relate to what
we know of the characters and their actions? To
what extent is the setting symbolic?

What kind of language does the author use to

describe, narrate the literary work? What images,
similes, metaphors, symbols appear in the work?
What is their function? What meanings do they
convey?
A Formalist Analysis of
The Little Red Riding Hood

What does the wolf symbolize?

How does the behavior of the wolf foreshadow

the events to happen next?

What does the setting reveal about the

theme?
 Biographical Analysis
Looks for the
authors influence.

By examining the
authors life, we can
have a deeper
understanding of the
writing
 A Biographical Analysis of The Hunger
Games
by Suzanne Collins

Hunger Games is a direct reflection of her

love of a myth in the ancient Greece.
Youth from different districts are sent to the games as a
reminder of the past and for the entertainment of the
capital.
Katniss volunteers and enters the games along with other
youth from the districts.
Katniss is the champion of the poor and represents hope
 Historical/Cultural
Reading of Pixars Wall-E
What can Wall-E
reveal about our
society?

How do the
people in the
movie reflect our
beliefs about
technology?
 Historical/Cultural Analysis

Examines a text in relation to its

historical or cultural backdrop.

Examines a texts effect on history

or culture or vice versa.
 Mythological Analysis

It is about the universal elements

of human life that are common in
all cultures.
 Mythological Analysis
Central to mythological
theory are archetypes.
universal elements
present in the literature of
all cultures
 Mythological Analysis
Common Archetypes
The Hero = Beowulf, Spiderman, Luke Skywalker,

The Outcast = Freak the Mighty, Lord of the Flies,

Cain

The Quest = LOTR, Star Wars, Interstellar

Sacrificial King = Jesus, Narnia: The Lion the Witch

and the Wardrobe, The Lion King

Evil Personified = Maleficent, the Devil, the

Emperor in SW
A Feminist Reading of
Cinderella

As a single, young woman, Cinderella is without means or

opportunity because she is unattached to a father or a husband.

It is only through the magic of a fairy godmother that she can be

made presentable and meet the prince AND he is the only means
of her escaping her plight.

What skills does she have? She is beautiful, can sing well, and is
kind. What does this say about her ugly, untalented step-sisters?
 Gender Analysis
Gender analysis views literature through the
lens of socially-constructed gender roles.

Feminism
seeks to correct womens inequality to men in
society

In its most basic form, feminism is about

equality.
Social Analysis

Investigates assumptions and values

associated with culture, race, class.

For example: Are the rich always good or bad?

Are the poor always good or bad?
Social Analysis

Believes that literature is essentially

political; it either supports or refutes
economic oppression. In other words, the
author either reinforces the status quo or
rebels against it.
Why write literary
criticism?
Sir, too many
meanings -_-
Different approaches or lenses
help us to discover rich and
deeper meaning.

Each lens has its strengths and

weaknesses.

Each lens is valuable.

Try to become a pluralist rather

than an inflexible supporter of one