1. Literary Lenses
What’s the point?

2. Tool for Analysis As a student, we ask you to analyze
Analysis requires
understanding
interpretation
evaluation

3. Literary Lenses Literary Theories Critical Theories
Literary Approaches
Critical Approaches
Interpretive Methods
All “names” mean the same thing: a way of reading with a particular focus

4. Literary Lenses Formalist New Critical (New Criticism) Historical
Archetypal/Mythological
Feminist
Marxist (Sociological)
Psychological

5. More Literary Lenses New Historical Biographical Reader-Response
Deconstructionist
There’s more. . .

6. Reader-Response Theory
Transactional experience of reading
Reader makes meaning based on his/her own experiences and knowledge
Emphasis on connections to the reader’s world
Unconcerned with author’s intent

7. Reader-Response Theory
CAPT
Rejects the notion that a single “correct” reading exists for a literary work
Not “all” readings are permissible (meaning is based on logical, text-based interpretations)

8. What do you “see” through the reader-response lens?

9. What is your analysis? Using the reader-response approach,
what do you think about this
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10. Feminist Theory Also called Gender Criticism
Examines how sexual identity influences the interpretation of literary works
Central precept that patriarchal attitudes have resulted in literature full of “male-produced” assumptions

11. Feminist Theory
Examines how images of men and women reflect or reject the social forces that “feed” inequality
Attempts to combat attitudes by questioning

13. Archetypal Criticism Also called Mythological Criticism
Emphasizes the “recurrent universal patterns underlying most literary works”
The Archetype
Views literature in a broad context

14. Common Female Archetypes
THE EARTH MOTHER. Symbolic of fruition, abundance, and fertility; this character offers spiritual and emotional nourishment to those with whom she comes in contact
THE TEMPTRESS. Characterized by sensuous beauty
THE PLATONIC IDEA. This woman is a source of inspiration and a spiritual idea
THE UNFAITHFUL WIFE. A woman, married to a man she sees as a dull and unimaginative, is physically attracted to a more virile and desirable man

16. Historical Criticism
Seeks to understand a literary work by investigating the social, cultural, and intellectual context that produced it (includes the author’s biographical information)
Key goal is to understand the effect of a literary work upon its original audience

17. New Critical Approach Also called Formalist Criticism & New Criticism
Regards literature as a “unique form of human knowledge that needs to be examined on its own terms”
Work itself
Elements of form: style, structure, tone, imagery, symbolism, etc

18. New Critical Approach
Primary goal is to determine how literary elements work together with content to shape an effect on the reader
AP Literature (college professors love this approach)

19. Psychological Approach
Uses the study of the mind and behavior to view a character (or sometimes the author)
Asks
“Why is the character feeling this way?”
“Why is the character acting this way?”
“What is motivating these things?”

20. Psychological Approach
Is Holden “normal”?
Is there a disconnect between reality and the world he imagines?
What’s the problem?
How is Holden dealing with it?