1. Critical Approaches Formalist Deconstruction Reader-response
Archetypal
Historical
Biographical
Marxist
New Historicist
Psychological (Freudian)
Gender

2. Formalist Form of the literature
Meaning derived from that form
Why this piece has particular form and function
Explication
Analysis
Author’s purpose is discovered (known to the author)

3. Deconstruction Deconstructs the literary work
Author’s purpose is revealed through his/her sub-conscious
Take the work down to its elements

4. Reader-Response “That’s neat…” What is the ‘meaning’ of work?
Not the author’s intent
What does it mean to the informed or competent reader?
Example: We know that “The Jabberwocky” uses non-sense…

5. Archetypal Follows a ‘recurring unit’
Hero’s journey
Hero vs. Villain
Labeling of the characters
Patterns
Because of these, all readers share an ‘unconscious memory’

6. Historical Work analyzed by the time period in which it was written
Writers are influenced by the current political/social situation – work reflects that situation

7. Biographical Critiques the work based upon the author’s life
How does “Alice in Wonderland” reflect Lewis Carroll’s life?
If Carroll __________, then he wrote __________, because of ________.

8. Marxist Based on Karl Marx’s philosophy Socioeconomic struggle
Must actually understand Marx in order to use this critique style

9. New Historicist History is written by the victors!
Criticism is based on the idea that our view of the past is influenced by our view of the present

10. Freudian
Oedipus complex

11. Gender Also called Feminist, Lesbian, and Gay Criticism
Not ‘male-bashing’
Focuses on a type of reader-reaction with respect to Gender
Sleeping Beauty…