1. Literary Theory: Biographical Criticism
Life Experiences
Influence Writing
Adapted from Catherine Wishart
Adjunct Instructor

2. How Common is Biographical Context in Writing?
All* authors write in a biographical context
The goal of a biographical criticism is understanding why the author wrote what he or she wrote
how biographical circumstances contributed to the creation of parts of the text
biographical readings often resemble non-theoretical psychological readings
*debatable by those outside this theory

3. Influences on Biographical Context
Ideology: a system of beliefs that governs a group’s actions, its view of reality, and its assumptions about what is “normal” and “natural.” Ideology can be communicated by discourse.
Some authors ideologically agree with the power elites of society (agree with the societal norm)
Other authors ideologically disagree with the power elite (want to initiate change)
Life experiences often influence their ideologies.

4. Important Questions for Biographical Criticism
Understanding the Author:
What facts about the author’s life suggest ideas in the work? Did anything that happened to the author effect his or her themes or choice of subject matter?
What was/is the author’s world view? Which of the author’s beliefs seem reflected in their story?
What commentary on the story did the author make? Does it point to ideas in the story?

5. Important Questions Understanding the Author’s World*:
What world view was typical of the author’s time? What aspects of this world view seem prevalent in this story or character? Does the author seem to accept or rebel against this world view?
How did people respond to the author’s works and life?
What ideas did people find in the author’s works and life?
*Often paired with Historical Theory for this reason

6. Adding Perspective
The social structure or way of life of the author’s time period gives greater depth from which to draw conclusions and better understand the story.
Discovering details about the author’s life and times also provides a way to further develop ideas about interpreting the story.

7. Not a Biography A biography analyzes an author’s life
Biographical criticism analyzes a TEXT using details from the author’s life – THE TEXT IS ALWAYS CENTRAL
If an aspect of an author’s life does not logically fit into the text, discard it – again text is the focus
Details about the author are meant to enhance not necessarily create our understanding of the text

8. Ernest Hemingway and Old Man and the Sea
How does knowing about Hemingway’s life, philosophy, and struggles help us better understand the text?
Take a few moments to discuss…

9. Biographical Criticism Checklist of Questions
What influences – persons, ideas, movements, events – evident in the writer’s life does the work reflect?
To what extent are the events described in the work a direct transfer of what happened in the author’s actual life?
What modifications of the actual events has the writer made in the literary work? For what possible purposes?
Why might the writer have altered his or her actual experience in the literary work?
What are the effects of the differences between actual events and their literary transformation in the work?
What has the author revealed in the work about his or her characteristic modes of thought, perceptions, or emotion? What place does the work have in the author’s literary development and career?

10. Sources
DiYanni, Robert. Literature Approaches to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 2nd ed. Boston: McGraw Hill, Print.