Literary Lenses
One Text – Many Ways of Seeing It
What are Literary Lenses?
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The different perspectives we use to
understand and interpret texts.
We bring different “angles” to texts.
We bring different background knowledge.
We focus on different parts of the texts.
Why are Lenses Important?
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By focusing our reading attention on
different parts of the text, we can move
closer to understanding the text’s theme
Remember that theme is the author’s
comment on the human condition!
Types of Literary Lenses
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Historical
Feminist
Marxist
Formalism
Reader Response
Historical
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Looking at a text through its connections
to history.
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The Crucible - Cold War
Of Mice and Men - The Great Depression
Focuses on the social, political, and
economic climate of the event
How to Look Through the Historic
Lens
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Examine the historical connections of the text.
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Social, economic, political
MOST readings done at Legacy are done through
this lens
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Since we have integrated lit. and history classes
Feminist
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Looking at a text through how gender is
shown.
Males / females
Stereotypical gender roles
How to Look Through the
Feminist Lens
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Consider the gender of the author.
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Consider the gender(s) of the characters.
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What roles do gender and sexuality play in
this work?
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Are gender stereotypes reinforced or
challenged?
Imagine yourself as the opposite gender
while reading this piece
Marxist
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Looking at a text in terms of power
Oftentimes, power is related to money
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Who has money; who doesn’t
Who has power; who doesn’t
Who is “rich”; who is “poor”
How to Look Through the Marxist
Lens
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Consider who has the power and who
doesn’t
Consider who has the money and who
doesn’t
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What role(s) do power, money, or class play
in this work?
What happens as a result of these
differences?
Formalism
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Looks at the text AS a TEXT.
Meaning is discovered through close reading
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NOT by examining outside sources
How to Look Through the
Formalist Lens
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Look at words, literary terms, symbols.
Analyze how parallels are established and
create a unity within the text.
Reader Response
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Looks at how the reader responds to the
text.
Individual meaning is derived as the reader
reads
How to Look Through the Reader
Response Lens
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Ummm….just read (no…seriously)
Track what you think and interpret the text to
mean!
Bring your own thoughts, moods, and
experiences to the text.
So What is the Point?
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Literal level
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Notice these structures for each lens
Point out the history, the women, the powerful
Interpretive level
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Answer the “so what…” question
What might the author be implying with a
powerful woman, a class conflict, or similes
throughout….. the THEME
Example to Ponder The Lion King
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Historical
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Made in 1990s
Time of great political upheaval in world
Theme – “right” governments can overcome
adversity?
The Lion King
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Feminist
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Helpless females
Females provide food and care for the young yet
males have ALL the power
Nala is stronger than Simba, but she does not
inherit the crown
Theme – Strong men should rule in the world
while women support them?
The Lion King
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Marxist
 Males have all the power (Mufasa, Simba,
Scar)
 When Mufasa dies, Simba is the ONLY one
considered for the crown.
 Lions retain power over all other animals
 Hyenas are weak (lower-class)
 Class rebellion leads to the conflict of the film
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Theme – Class distinction should be
eliminated?
The Lion King
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Formalist
 Examine songs and messages?
 Examine artwork?
 Different with movies than with
written texts.
The Lion King
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Reader Response
 I like it because….
 It reminds me of….
 This connects to Hamlet….