1. What is Literary Criticism?
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2. Origins of Literary Criticism
Aristotle believed that an author’s intent could be understood by examining seven different causes:
Chance
Nature
Compulsion
Habit
Reason
Passion
Desire
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3. Criticism
When you hear “criticism,” you might automatically think about pointing out weaknesses or failures.
However, criticism can be favorable as well as unfavorable. 
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4. Literary criticism
Literary criticism helps interpret the meaning of a short story, poem, or play.
Literary criticism is an attempt to understand and ultimately evaluate what an author has created.
Let me explain this to you…
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5. Literary criticism interpretation of its meaning
Literary criticism of a work usually offers:
interpretation of its meaning
analysis of its structure and style
judgment of its worth by comparison with other works
estimation of its likely effect on readers
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6. an author's writings as a whole
Literary criticism
Literary criticism can be applied to a…
genre
an author's writings as a whole
a specific literary work
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7. The Critical Process – Basic Steps
Understanding what the text says
The book begins with…and then…in the end…
Wow…she really gets this!
2) Analyzing literary elements such as plot, character, point of view, symbolism, irony etc…
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8. The Critical Process – Basic Steps
3) Interpreting the literature by making broad observations or generalizations of the theme 4) Evaluating the literature by applying specific criteria
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9. Literary Criticism… What’s the Purpose?
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10. What purpose does literary criticism serve?
Literary criticism helps to explain a work and its underlying principles to readers who may not fully understand the text
I’m having a little difficulty with Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms…
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11. What purpose does literary criticism serve?
Literary criticism helps interpret works to readers who might otherwise fail to understand or appreciate them
Without Literary Criticism (Before)
With Literary Criticism (After)
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12. What purpose does literary criticism serve?
Literary criticism helps discover and apply principles that describe “good literature”
Literature
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13. What purpose does literary criticism serve?
Literary criticism examines how
Culture
Politics
Gender
Popular ideologies
History
Psychology
Author’s life
affect interpretation of literature.
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14. What purpose does literary criticism serve?
Literary criticism helps establish clearly defined standards of evaluation
Literature Evaluation
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15. What purpose does literary criticism serve?
Literary criticism helps to justify imaginative literature in a world that finds its value questionable
Imaginative literature…who needs it??
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16. Types of Literary Criticism
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17. Types of Literary Criticism
Literary criticism helps the reader view the text through a different lens. Imagine how your view would change with each colored lens…
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18. Reader Response Criticism
Text Meaning------Reader
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19. Reader Response Criticism
Reader Response stresses the importance of the reader's role in interpreting texts.
No single, fixed meaning is inherent in every literary work.
The protagonist is afraid of moving forward…
The protagonist is playing it safe…
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20. Reader Response Criticism
The reader creates his or her own meaning through a "transaction" with the text.
Readers bring emotions, concerns, life experiences, and knowledge to their reading; therefore, each interpretation is subjective and unique.
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21. Reader Response Criticism
Besides Reader Response, what other types of literary criticism can be applied to texts?
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22. Formalist / or “New” Criticism
The whole text and nothing but the text
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23. Formalist / or “New” Criticism
New Critics treat a work of literature as if it were a self-contained, self-referential object.
I alone have the meaning…
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24. Formalist / or “New” Criticism
New Critics do not look at:
the reader’s response
the author’s stated intentions
historical contexts
author’s life
I am the book, and the book stands alone
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25. Formalist / or “New” Criticism
New Critics perform a close reading, concentrating on the words and structures within the text that give it its own distinctive character or form.
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26. Formalist / or “New” Criticism
The formalist critic would
Closely read the words in the text
Examine the text only, not allowing any influences outside the text influence interpretation
Need meaning? Look no further than right here…
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27. It’s all about gender -or- gender means nothing
Feminist Criticism
It’s all about gender -or- gender means nothing
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28. Feminist Criticism
A Feminist Critic would approach the text by assuming:
that all literature reflects or promotes patriarchy (Men control a disproportionately large share of power)
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29. Feminist Criticism
A Feminist Critic would approach the text by assuming:
that the text reflects society’s view of women as outsiders or inferiors in terms of their place with men
that women are sociologically underrepresented
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30. Feminist critics may argue
Feminist Criticism
Feminist critics may argue
that gender determines everything
or just the opposite:
that all gender differences are imposed by society, and gender determines nothing
Gender…
ALL?
NOTHING?
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31. Feminist Criticism
reinforces the idea that literature is a profound element in the maintenance of male power and privilege.
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32. Feminist Criticism
provides a new perspective on literature and the canon from the point of view of an oppressed, excluded minority
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33. Feminist Criticism
has expanded the canon to include many previously excluded women authors
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34. Marxist Criticism
To have or have not
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35. What is Marxism? Marxist Criticism
Marxism is an economic and social system based upon the political and economic theories of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
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36. Vs. Marxist Criticism Marxist Criticism plight of working class
Marxist literary critics focus upon:
economic issues
plight of working class
capitalist control
Vs.
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37. Marxist Criticism
Marxist literary critics focus upon:
ideological oppression of a dominant (wealthy) class over subordinate (poorer) classes
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38. Marxist Criticism What do Marxist literary critics do with texts?
Examine class structure and living conditions of the poor, working class
Look for indications that the working poor are oppressed
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39. Marxist Criticism A Marxist critic might ask the following questions:
Does the text reflect a dominant capitalist ideology?
Does the main character accept or resist bourgeoisie values?
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40. Marxist Criticism Are lower economic groups ignored or devalued?
Are values that support the dominant economic group given privilege?
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41. Historical accuracy is key
Historical Criticism
Historical accuracy is key
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42. Historical Criticism
Historical critics believe it is necessary to know about the political, economical, and sociological context of the stories to truly understand the meaning.
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43. Historical Criticism Historical Criticism
Critics examine actual historical setting context.
Historical critics see works as the reflection of the characters' life and times.
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44. Historical Criticism Historical Criticism
Historical Criticism is linked to Authorial Criticism, as the author’s environment often manifests in his/her writing.
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45. Historical Criticism Historical Criticism
Historical Critics examine a piece of literature in terms of what it says about a specific time/place in history.
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46. Historical Criticism Historical Criticism
Historical Critics often check the accuracy of facts and/or look for new facts that historians may have overlooked/ignored.
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47. Psychoanalytic Criticism
It’s all in your mind
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48. Psychoanalytic Criticism
Psychoanalytic critics view literature through the lens of psychology
They apply psychological theory about the workings of the human mind to a story’s characters
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49. Psychoanalytic Criticism
Psychological critics
examine psychological motivations of characters
do not diagnose, but make predictions based upon patterns of psychology
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50. Psychoanalytic Criticism
Psychoanalytic Criticism is often Freudian (based upon the theories of Sigmund Freud)
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52. Psychoanalytic Criticism
Psychoanalytic critics ask:
why the author created such a text, particularly focusing on what may have been unconscious motivations
You say you want a cheeseburger and fries, but all I hear is “I need love.”
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53. Psychoanalytic Criticism
Psychoanalytic critics ask:
why the character acted a certain way, again particularly focusing on unconscious motivations
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54. Psychoanalytic Criticism
Psychoanalytic critics ask:
how the reader’s unconscious “motivated” a particular reaction to the text
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55. To know the meaning, you must know the author
Authorial Criticism
To know the meaning, you must know the author
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56. Authorial Criticism
Authorial critics see works as the reflection of the author's life and times
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57. Authorial Criticism
Authorial critics believe it is necessary to know about the author in order to truly understand his works.
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58. Authorial Criticism Relate author’s life to the text for meaning
Authorial critics study the biography of the author and...
Relate author’s life to the text for meaning
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59. Authorial Criticism
Authorial critics study the biography of the author and...
Examine the author’s acquaintances, friends, and relatives for character origins
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60. Authorial Criticism
Authorial critics study the biography of the author and...
Attempt to determine what facts from the author’s life appear in the text
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61. In Summary…
A quick review…
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62. In Summary...
Literary criticism attempts to explain and evaluate literature. Critics attempt to create meaning by examining many factors.
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63. In Summary... Types of Literary Criticism include:
Reader-Response Criticism
Formalist/New Criticism
Feminist Criticism
Marxist Criticism
Historical Criticism
Psychoanalytic Criticism
Authorial Criticism
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64. For more information:
The Internet Public Library (IPL) Online Literary Criticism Guide
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65. Remember that texts can have more than one meaning.
End of presentation.
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