FRANKENSTEIN AND LITERARY
CRITICISM
"Criticism asks what literature is, what it does,
and what it is worth." Encyclopedia Britannica
WHAT IS LITERARY CRITICISM?
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The study, analysis, interpretation, and history
of literature.
Literary criticism analyzes, interprets, and
evaluates works of literature.
Literary criticism is the act of interpreting
literature.
WHY USE LITERARY CRITICISM?
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Authors present us with work that can have multiple
meanings, expecting us to consider thoughtfully--to
interpret.
Critics evaluate and debate the ideas of fellow
critics.
Good criticism can help us develop a better understanding
of a work.
 It can help us develop a point of view about a work,
whether or not we agree with the opinions of the critic.
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As you work with literary criticism in your writing it
is important that you incorporate your own reactions
and points of view.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
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Credentials of the writer
Quality of the sources--journals, books, Websites
Opinions supported by evidence, relating to:
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Characterization
Voice
Style
Theme
Setting
Technical qualities of the writing (artistry, style, use of
language)
Interpretation
Complex ideas and problems
Relationship of work to the time, or social, historical, or
political trends
WHAT TO AVOID
Plot summaries, SparkNotes, Pink Monkey, etc.
 Casual posts on discussion groups
 The works of other students
 Author biography
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FEMINIST / GENDER
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More contemporary approach sees women as
more than just women (race, sexual orientation,
etc.)
Interest in changing the conventions such as
male centered autobiography where children,
home, etc. are well in the background.
Reexamines the Nineteenth century doctrine of
separate spheres:
Women = Sphere of Domesticity
 Men = Sphere of Discovery
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SOME GOALS OF FEMINIST CRITICISM
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To develop and uncover a female tradition of writing
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To interpret symbolism of women's writing so that it will
not be lost or ignored by the male point of view
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To rediscover old texts
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To analyze women writers and their writings from a
female perspective
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To resist sexism in literature
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To increase awareness of the sexual politics of language
and style.
MARXIST
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“Marxist criticism is not merely a 'sociology of
literature', concerned with how novels get
published and whether they mention the working
class. Its aim is to explain the literary work more
fully; and this means a sensitive attention to its
forms, styles and meanings. But it also means
grasping those forms, styles and meanings as the
product of a particular history.“ – Terry Eagleton
GOALS OF MARXIST CRITICISM
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An assessment of the political "tendency" of a
literary work
Determining whether its social content or its
literary form are "progressive"
PSYCHOANALYTIC
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Critics see the text as if it were a kind of dream
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The text represses its real (or latent) content behind
obvious (manifest) content
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The process of changing from latent to manifest content is
known as the dream work, and involves operations of
concentration and displacement.
The critic analyzes the language and symbolism
of a text to reverse the process of the dream work
and arrive at the underlying latent thoughts.
WHAT PSYCHOANALYSIS ENTAILS…
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Psychoanalysis of:
The author
 A particularly interesting character
 The narrative or poetic structure itself
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SHADOW archetype
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Luke and Darth Vader, Harry Potter and Voldemort,
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Frankenstein and…???
CULTURAL
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Why literature, art, etc. is valued in a particular
society
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There is a reason that every school in the country
studies Shakespeare and has done so for ages
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What culture created the work and why?
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Why is the work still relevant?