Schools of Literary Criticism

The Purpose of Criticism(1)To help us resolve a difficulty in the

reading. (2) To help us choose the better of two

conflicting readings.

(3) To enable us to form judgments about literature.

Historical / Biographical SchoolAnalyze the work as the reflection of an

author's life / times (or of the characters' life / times).

Belief that it is necessary to know about the author and the political, economical, and sociological context of his times in order to truly understand his works.

A natural tendency for readers.Literature is naturally more moving when we

can connect it to life.

To use historical/biographical criticism1. Research the author’s life and relate that

information to the work.2. Research the author’s time (political

history, intellectual history, and economic history) and relate it to the wok.

3. Research the belief structures and ways of thinking and relate them to the work.

Advantages of Historical CriticismThis approach works well for some works--like

those of Alexander Pope, John Dryden, and Milton--which are obviously political in nature.

One must know Milton was blind, for instance, for "On His Blindness" to have any meaning.

It also is necessary to take a historical approach in order to place allusions in their proper classical, political, or biblical background.

Disadvantages of Historical Criticism

the meaning / value of a work may be determined by the author's intention is "the intentional fallacy." 

reduce art to the level of biography and make it relative (to the times) rather than universal.

Gender (Feminist) CriticismDeveloped in late 20th centuryStudies “women’s issues” of repression,

oppression, exploitation, and exclusion of womenAlso masculine roles and stereotypesconcerned with the place of female writers in

the cannon (most commonly taught body of literature)

Simone de Beauvoir gender (masculinity and femininity) are created by society

Misogyny (women as monsters) vs. idealization (women as saints)- seeks a balance

To use gender criticism1. Consider the gender of the author and the

characters; what role does gender or sexuality play in this work?

2. Observe how sexual stereotypes might be reinforced or undermined. Try to see how the work reflects or distorts the place of men and women in society.

3. For men, imagine yourself as a woman reading the work.

Advantages of Gender CriticismWomen have been somewhat

underrepresented in the traditional cannon- a feminist approach to literature redresses this problem.

Men can better understand female characters.

Disadvantages of Gender (Feminist) Criticism

turns literary criticism into a political battlefield

overlook the merits of works considered "patriarchal."  

often too theoretical.

Reader-Response CriticismInspired in late 1930s but didn’t really catch

on until the 1970sReaction to problems and limitations found

with new criticism (not all literature is suited for new criticism, such as 18th Century literature)

The reader play plays a role in the meaning of any work- inspired by Einstein’s theory of relativity, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle

A subjective perspective

To use Reader-Response1. Read and evaluate the text very slowly,

describing the response of an informed reader at various points.

2. Describe your personal response as you read the text.

3. React to the text as a whole, expressing the subjective and personal responses to it.

Advantages:It recognizes that different people view works

differently, and that people's interpretations change over time.

Disadvantages:tends to make interpretation too subjective. does not provide adequate criteria for

evaluating one reading in comparison to another.

Too informal at times

Psychological Criticism

Asks “why did you do that?”

Advantages of Psychological CriticismIt can be a useful tool for understanding

some works, in which characters obviously have psychological issues.

Like the biographical approach, knowing something about a writer's psychological make up can give us insight into his work.

Disadvantages of Psychological Criticismcan turn a work into little more than a

psychological case study, neglecting to view it as a piece of art.

  Critics tend to see sex in everything, exaggerating this aspect of literature.

some works do not lend themselves readily to this approach.

Began with FreudFreud’s id (instinct), ego(rational), and

superego (repression)Oedipal complex (subconscious rivalry of a

boy with his father for mother’s love)Everything relates to sex

Beyond FreudSubconscious acts upon author- shows in

workRepression: the mind hides desires and fearsIsolation: experience of an event without any

of the expected responseSublimation: channeling an unacceptable

urge into art or fantasyDisplacement: replacement of a safe object of

emotion for a dangerous one

Denial: the subject falsifies reality, flatly refuses to accept it

Projection: one sees his/her own characteristics in someone else

Intellectualization: rationalizing as a way of avoiding uncomfortable emotions

Reaction formation: one is convinced that the opposite of a terrible situation is the case

~ can make analysis more interesting

To use psychological criticism1. Try to apply some developmental concept

to the work, author, or characters (Oedipal complex, repression, gender confusion, etc)

2. Relate the work to psychologically significant events in the author’s life.

3. consider how repressed material may be expressed in the work’s symbols or imagery.

New Criticism (Traditional)Emerged in the 1920s, dominated from the

late 1930s through the 1960sThinks of themes as whole statements rather

than phrases (“the big picture”)Intellectual exerciseObjective perspective

To use new criticismDetermine what ambiguities, ironies, and

tensions are present.2. Read closely. Assume that all aspects are

established carefully to contribute to the unifying theme: figures of speech, points of view, diction, recurrent ideas or events, etc.

3. Describe how the various elements of the text work to unify it.

Advantages:can be performed without much researchemphasizes the value of literature apart from

its context (makes literature timeless). Disadvantages:The text is seen in isolation. ignores the context of the work. It cannot

account for allusions. tends to reduce literature to little more than

a collection of rhetorical devices.

Deconstruction CriticismLanguage doesn’t have a set meaning; words

always refer to other wordsThe relationship between words and things is

arbitrary and therefore can be changedMultiples meaning indefinitelySeems ridiculous, but can create more

creative and careful writer and readerMay show us how a text can be misread, and

what is excluded or suppressed in a text

To use deconstruction criticism1. Identify the oppositions in the text.2. Determine which character, concept,

theme or idea seems to be favored and look for evidence that contradicts that favoring.

3. Expose the incongruities in the text; if you read too closely, the text will fail to make sense, or at least contradict itself.

Deconstruction examplesA sign by an elevator: “Seeing eye dogs only.”

Logical meaning?Literal(deconstructionist) meaning?

A sign in fast food restaurants: “Picture menus available upon request.”Logical meaning?Literal(deconstructionist) meaning?