AN INTRODUCTION TO
CRITICAL LITERARY
THEORY
Discussion Focus:
New Criticism/Formalism
&
Reader’s Response Theory
Do Now:
• Take out your homework from last night and a writing utensil; I’m
coming around to stamp them and give you homework credit. 
• You can clear everything else off of your desk.
Let’s look at those questions!
Pass your question to the person on your left.
1. Read and answer the question. When you finish, pass to the left.
2. Read the question, the answer, and then determine what type of
question you’ve been given (“On your Own,” “Right There,”
“Think and Search,” or “Author and You). Explain your answer.
When you finish, pass to the left.
3. Read the question, answer, and analysis; revise the given
question so that it becomes a “Right There,” question. When you
finish, pass to the left.
Thanks for reviewing what
you read last night and the
questioning techniques
we’ve been working with.
WHAT QUESTIONS DO
YOU HAVE THAT NEED
TO BE ANSWERED…
ABOUT F451?
ABOUT THIS PROCESS
WE’VE BEEN USING?
For homework tonight, you need
to finish reading Part One, “The
Hearth and the Salamander.”
You should also start planning
for your first writing assignment.
TO DO THIS, YOU’LL
NEED SOME
BACKGROUND
INFORMATION.
Answer the following question in your groups:
• What types of questions to teachers usually ask you about
literature? What literary “buzz words” do they want you to
talk about?
Be ready to share your discussion points with the whole group!
I expected you to say things like…
• Plot
• Point of View
• Character
• Setting
• Symbolism
• Imagery
• Figurative Language
• Rhyme
• Meter
• Alliteration
• Rhythm
THERE’S A NAME FOR
THIS ANALYSIS
METHOD:
Literary scholars call it “New
Criticism” or “Formalism.”
And MOST teachers (elementary,
middle, high, and even a lot of
college professors) use this theory
to facilitate text analysis in their
classrooms.
Let’s talk about it critically.
• Everything you need for analysis is contained within the text.
• Focus for analysis is on
• language and
• What words are used?
• How are they used?
• What’s their effect?
• literary conventions.
• What elements are present?
• Why are they significant?
Which is
essentially…
…like this photograph. You
get a really good idea what
the lilies are like, but at the
expense of losing the
environment they thrive in.
When we use the New
Criticism/Formalist approach
EXCLUSIVELY to analyze
literature, we lose a lot of
other elements that are
important to the text.
Black and White and Colored Flowers. 2010. Fine Art America. By Thomas
Jarvais. Web. 26 Sept. 2014.
While there’s nothing wrong with
narrowing your focus. A text is still a
beautiful work of art even when you
focus on language and literary
conventions.
I JUST THINK YOU’RE
READY TO DO MORE.
AN INTRODUCTION TO
CRITICAL LITERARY
THEORY
Discussion Focus:
New Criticism/Formalism
&
Reader’s Response Theory
So what do we mean when we use the phrase
“Critical Literary Theory”?
• The easy answer, is that we mean there is a multitude of ways to
analyze a piece of literature—not just the New Criticism/Formalist
Approach you’re used to.
• We’re going to start small, so we can build up your confidence.
Reader’s Response Theory
• In this approach, scholars say it’s the reader who makes meaning of
what’s on the page.
• This means that each one of you will bring your own experiences,
emotions, concerns, and knowledge to the text, which will impact
what it “means” to you.
• As a caution, you do still need to support your interpretations and
meaning with evidence from the text. Even though it’s all about
how you interpret the events of the text, you can be “wrong” if
your analysis doesn’t make logical sense and/or if it’s not based in
text.
So, let’s get you going.
• Your prompt says:
“[…]Walk me through the significance of the section title “The Hearth and
the Salamander” and how you are able to make meaning of it as a reader.
Requirements: You should make at least three direct references to the text
(can be directly quoted or paraphrased); remember to cite your evidence.”
So, what do you need to do? Work with your team to translate
this into your own words.
How will you know when you’ve accomplished your task?
Go ahead and get started.
• My suggestion for a time table/schedule is this:
• Friday (in class): Read 52-72 in Fahrenheit 451.
• Friday (in class or at home): Make yourself a short outline; find three pieces of
evidence from the text that help you make meaning of the title of this section.
• Monday (at home): Draft your response paper. The format for this assignment is
up to you, but I’d actually prefer that it’s not typed. I’d be happiest if you hand
wrote it in your notebook, but if you absolutely must type, you can put tape/glue
your work into your notebook. Up to you!
• Tuesday: Hand in your notebook; I’ll get them back to you by Friday.