Critical Lens
Guidelines, Intro, Body Rubric, and Acceptable Terms
Guidelines
Guidelines:
Be sure to
• Provide a valid interpretation of the critical lens that clearly
establishes the criteria for analysis
• Indicate whether you agree or disagree with the statement as you
have interpreted it
• Choose two works you have read that you believe best support your
opinion
• Use the criteria suggested by the critical lens to analyze the works
you have chosen
• Avoid plot summary. Instead, use specific references to appropriate
literary elements (for example: conflict, characterization, symbol, and
image) to develop your analysis
• Organize your ideas in a unified and coherent manner
• Specify the titles and authors of the literature you choose
• Follow the conventions of standard written English
Introduction
An anonymous author once stated, “Good literature
substitutes for an experience we ourselves have not lived
through.” In other words, effective literature can transport us to
lands we have not visited, allow us to go on adventures we not
otherwise get to go on, and meet characters we may have never
gotten to meet. Good literature can also teach us lessons we
never could have gotten from real life. This quote is true and is
supported by two pieces of literature. The novel Monster, by
Walter Dean Myers and the story Theseus, by Bernard Evslin
both demonstrate the truth of this quote
Body 1 (of 2)
The first piece of literature that supports the critical lens is the story of
Theseus from Bernard Evslin’s Heroes, Gods, and Monsters. In the story,
Theseus starts off young and weak. He is the target of bullying from the
neighborhood boys and only dreams of adventures. Early in the story Theseus
receives instruction from how to fight from a seagull he meets on the beach.
After he receives these lessons, he returns to his village and challenges each
boy to conflict and wins. From this experience, Theseus learns to use his
opponent’s strength against his opponent. This event shows that the critical
lens is accurate. The reader could never expect to learn such a valuable lesson
from a seagull, yet the advice proves valuable. Because of this, we learn from
literature a lesson we may never have learned ourselves. Later on in the story,
Theseus battles the minotaur unarmed in the labyrinth. During the battle,
Theseus remembers the words of the gull and snaps off the minotaur’s horn to
use it against the beast. This is symbolic of the fact that Theseus has grown
into a true hero and is ready to fulfill the role of the hero archetype. Again, this
event reflects the critical lens because Theseus undergoes an experience that
the reader will never undergo, yet the story teaches us lessons and values that
we can relate to.
Terms we Have Learned
Symbolism
Atmosphere
Setting
Characterization (Direct and Indirect)
Conflict
Image (Imagery)
Archetype