How do we study literature?
How does viewpoint and bias affect our
perception of literature?
1.
What – What claim are you making about
the text?
2.
Why should we care? Why is the claim
important?
This is the “so what” part.
CLAIM + WHY = Literary Thesis
1.
Mark Twain’s “Huckleberry Finn” is a
great American novel.
Is this a good thesis?
Where is the WHAT and the WHY?
It can discuss how
individual components
of a novel relate to
each other (such as
symbols)
It may analyze how
concepts relate to
larger political, social,
economic or religious
concepts.
1.
2.
3.
What is the theme?
What is the claim you are
making about the
theme?
Why does it matter?
Examples from text
Direct quotations
Summaries of scenes
Paraphrasing
Other critics’ opinions
Historical or social
context
You are like a lawyer
presenting your case as to why
this claim is important.
Use evidence to support your
reasons.
Make sure your points relate
back to your thesis statement.
This is your guiding light.
In “Huckleberry Finn”, Mark Twain develops a contrast between life
on the river and life on the shore.
In “Huckleberry Finn”, Mark Twain develops a contrast between life on the river and life on the shore.
Reader-Response Criticism asserts that a great deal of
meaning in a text lies with how the reader responds to
it.
 Focuses on the act of reading and how it affects our
perception of meaning in a text (how we feel at the
beginning vs. the end)
 Deals more with the process of creating meaning and
experiencing a text as we read. A text is an experience,
not an object.
 The text is a living thing that lives in the reader’s
imagination.
READER + READING SITUATION + TEXT = MEANING
What is the concept?
The power of the written
word
Formalist Criticism emphasizes the form of a literary
work to determine its meaning, focusing on literary
elements and how they work to create meaning.
Examines a text as independent from its time period,
social setting, and author’s background. A text is an
independent entity.
Focuses on close readings of texts and analysis of the
effects of literary elements and techniques on the
text.
Two Major Principles of Formalism
1.
A literary text exists independent of any
particular reader and, in a sense, has a fixed
meaning.
2.
The greatest literary texts are “timeless” and
“universal.”
Psychological Criticism
views a text as a revelation
of its author’s mind and
personality. It is based on
the work of Sigmund Freud.
Also focuses on the
hidden motivations of
literary characters
Looks at literary
characters as a
reflection of the writer
Sociological criticism argues that
social contexts (the social
environment) must be considered
when analyzing a text.
Focuses on the values of a
society and how those views are
reflected in a text
Emphasizes the economic,
political, and cultural issues within
literary texts
Core Belief: Literature is a
reflection of its society.
Marxist Criticism examines literature to
see how it reflects
1. The way in which dominant
groups (typically, the majority)
exploit the subordinate groups
(typically, the minority)
2. The way in which people
become alienated from one
another through power,
money, and politics
4 Basic Principles of Feminist Criticism
1.
Western civilization is patriarchal.
2.
The concepts of gender are mainly
cultural ideas created by patriarchal
societies.
3.
Patriarchal ideals pervade “literature.”
4.
Most “literature” through time has
been gender-biased.
New Historicist Criticism argues that every literary work is a
product of its time and its world.
•
No one will interpret text STRICTLY from the same
standpoint. That is antithetical to what you doing in a
literary analysis.
•
As you read, focus on the text and use these critical
approaches to clarify understanding of a text and
develop an interpretation of it.
It starts with a concept: Growing up stinks
In Billy Collin’s poem “On Turning 10”, the poet
uses the juxtaposition of childhood and
preadoloscenence [WHAT] to illustrate that
childhood is an idyllic time in life compared to
the bleak reality of growing up. [so what].
1. Glove essay
2. Letter to Phoebe 3. “The Catcher in
demonstrates love
the Rye” poem
for Allie
-
-
The fact that
Holden writes the
descriptive essay
about Allie’s mitt
expresses his
fondness for his
brother.
The description of
green ink and
hand-written
poems are happy
memories.
-
-
The letter asking
Phoebe to come
to the Museum
during lunch is a
turning point.
This is where he
shows true
maturity and sets
out to protect
Phoebe from hurt
as he says
goodbye.
-
-
The poem that is
misinterpreted by
Holden brings out
his need to protect
children from
cruelty in the world.
When asked by
Phoebe what he
wants to do, he
says to save
children.