1. ENG4U
Ms. Ferreira
Let’s start fresh...

2. Plan
Critical Approaches
Critical Analysis Essay

3. What is Literary Criticism?
Back to Basics

4. Critical Approaches
What do we need to cover?

5. Critical Approaches Archetypal In criticism “archetype” signifies:
narrative designs, character types, or images which are said to be identifiable in a wide variety of works of literature
The meanings behind these archetypal connections are believed to hold/reflect a set of universal, primitive, and narrative patterns
Ex. The Quest, The Journey
The expression of these patterns is thought to also be represented by characters in the text falling under certain character-types
Ex. The orphan, the mother, magician, etc

6. Critical Approaches Feminist A Feminist Critic sees:
cultural and economic disadvantages in a “patriarchal” society
This prevents and hinders women from realizing their potential in many ways
Identify patterns of women’s cultural identification as:
dependent on gendered stereotypes (ie. Nurturing, mother, sensitive, illogical, run by emotion)
See women portrayed as subjects or objects to men or masculine systems
Look at power imbalances, relations between men and women, how text illustrates the female experience

7. Critical Approaches Formalism
This approach regards literature as a unique form of human knowledge that needs to be examined on its own terms. Attention is paid to use of literary devices.
Symbolism, themes, imagery, etc
How are the various parts of the work interconnected?
What does the form of the work say about its content

8. Critical Approaches Reader Response
An approach to literature that focuses on the reader rather than the work itself, by attempting to describe what goes on in the reader's mind during the reading of a text
Also considers:
that the role of the reader cannot be omitted from our understanding of literature
that readers do not passively consume the meaning presented to them by an objective literary text; rather they actively make the meaning they find in literature

9. Critical Approaches Psychoanalytic/ Freudian Theory
Based on the idea that the unconscious, much like a literary work, speaks its message through symbols, images, metaphors, etc. A text does not stand alone.
Look for “covert”/hidden meanings behind the text
Look at unconscious motives or desires of the author or characters

10. Critical Approaches Psychoanalytic/ Freudian Theory

11. Critical Approaches Psychoanalytic/ Freudian Theory

12. Critical Analysis Essay
Were you given a list of topics to choose from?

13. Critical Analysis Essay
Analysis: “detailed examination of the elements or structure of something, typically as a basis for discussion or interpretation”.
The purpose of a critical analysis is to look at
HOW a work demonstrates its themes based on
your analysis.
You do need a thesis. You must support this thesis
with evidence and discuss its relevance to your
argument.
You are not to summarize the text or your argument.
You are writing to an informed reader.

14. Critical Analysis Essay
Analytical writing, answers the “how” and "why" question
Ie. How is x demonstrated in the text and WHY is it important? (basically, “so, what?”)

15. Critical Analysis Essay

16. Where are we at in our essays?
Planning, writing, first draft???
Monday – Approaches Review, make notes/outline
Tuesday – begin writing/typing first draft
Wednesday – First Draft complete & Peer Editing Period
Thursday – Peer Editing and Revising, Ask Questions
Friday – Review Essay, Work Period
Essay Due Friday January 23rd

17. REMEMBER! MLA Format Size 12, Times New Roman Font, double spaced
First Draft: January 9th
Peer Editing & Review: January 10th-12th
Essay Due: January 13th