1. By: Rachel Layman, Laritza Bernal, and Joshua Caraballo
Biographical Theory
By: Rachel Layman, Laritza Bernal, and Joshua Caraballo

2. What is Biographical Theory?
It is a form of critical theory that analyzes a writer’s biography, such as events and parts of their life, to show the relationship between the author’s life and their works of literature.
Often associated with Historical-Biographical criticism which sees literary works as a reflection of its author’s life and events.

3. What are the key elements to this approach?
Begins with understanding that literature is written by actual people and understanding author’s life can help readers comprehend the work more.
The biographical facts of a writer’s life should not be taken too far into the criticizing of the works.
Focuses on clarifying the literary work by using knowledge of the author’s life.
Biographical data should amplify the meaning of the text, not drown it with material.

4. Example of Biographical Theory: Lorraine Hansberry
Hansberry wrote A Raisin In the Sun, a play that takes place between the end of WWII and the “present” (it was completed in 1957 and the first production was in 1959). The story follows the Youngers as their dreams clash when the dead Mr. Younger’s life insurance policy ($10,000) comes in. To be brief, they end buying a house in Clybourne Park, an all white neighborhood. Keep in mind that at this time, racism was still prevalent. When their future neighbors find out that they’re moving into their neighborhood, they’re infuriated and send a man named Mr. Linder to convince them to find a different place to live (he even offers them money). When he visits the Youngers again, they decline his offer and move into their new house.
Hansberry’s family moves to a house in the Washington Park Subdivision, in the South side of Chicago (where the play takes place). Upon moving, her white neighbors are angry to live next to them. Their neighbors took legal action to try and force them out of their house. The restrictive covenant was ruled contestable, though not inherently invalid.

5. Benefits of Biographical Criticism
Gives a deeper understanding of events within the text and the uniqueness of the author
A possibly more realistic depiction of human experience
A glimpse into a life of someone who has a different life and situation of the reader

6. Potential Problems Some feel this approach is/can be too simplified
There is no way to COMPLETELY understand the life of anyone else with all their different experiences
Must not generalize and apply everything gathered from reading to everyone in a similar situation
To be used to enhance a story, not take over the main meaning

7. How To Ruin a Children’s Book
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The author is Eric Carle. In 1939, they were living in Germany at the time and his father was drafted into the German army for WWII and in 1945, was captured by the Soviet Union. When he was liberated and brought home, he weighed only 85 pounds. Carle told the Guardian, “When he came back, he was a broken man. He was a dead man and psychologically and physically devastated.”
In 1952, he moved to America with only $7 left so it was more likely than not that he was hungry frequently. He later found a job as a graphic designer, then was drafted into the Korean war. When he was discharged, he returned to his old job at The New York times and later became the art director of an advertising agency.