Critical Approaches to Literature

Question 1

Traditional

Answer 1

Looks at outside sources to interpret text: e.g.author biography, other works by author, what author has said about this story, or other literature.

Question 2

Formalist

Answer 2

Assumes that text is self-contained and self-referential; would not use author biography; instead, focuses on structure, patterns, repetition, and other elements of fiction.

Question 3

Mythological

Answer 3

Looks for story elements and themes that are repeated throughout literature of many ages and cultures: e.g.,initiation theme, isolation of individual in society, the nature of God, What is love? Sometimes finds common plot lines.

Question 4

Literature as cultural artifact

Answer 4

What do we learn about a historical period from the work? What do we learn about a certain culture or society’s attitudes, values, beliefs? How does knowledge of the culture affect/enrich our interpretation of the story?

Question 5

Psychological

Answer 5

Studies the characters as if they are real people. What are their motivations? Why do they act the way they do? We can use modern psychological analysis on stories of any age.

Question 6

Gender Criticism

Answer 6

Considers what the story reveals about male and female roles in that setting? We can study gender issues that are presented intentionally or unintentionally by the author.

Question 7

Reader Response

Answer 7

Focuses on the subjective responses of the reader. How does the reader relate to the events or issues in the literature? The reader might respond by writing his/her own story with a similar conflict or theme.