Critical Lens Theory

Question 1

Reader-Response Lens

Answer 1

This lens allows you to look at literature in ways the text is familiar to your own life

Question 2

Marxist (Socio-Economic) Lens

Answer 2

This lens allows you to look at who has the money and power

Question 3

Gender/Feminist Lens

Answer 3

This lens looks at how gender roles are portrayed in the text and how they affect the characters, conflict, themes and plot line.

Question 4

Historical Lens

Answer 4

This lens looks at how events from history affect the story

Question 5

Biographical Lens

Answer 5

This lens looks at how details and influences from the author’s life shines through the text

Question 6

Psychological and Psychoanalytical Lens

Answer 6

This lens looks at the characters’ behavior as real people, their range of emotions, and how they react to situations within the text.

Question 7

New Critical Lens

Answer 7

This lens looks at the text as a stand-alone text- no outside influences affect the text. It looks at its strengths and weaknesses, etc.

Question 8

Archetypal Lens

Answer 8

This lens focuses on all the characters, events, conflicts, etc. as patterns or symbols seen in literature throughout history in various cultures

Question 9

Race Lens

Answer 9

This lens looks at how cultural conflicts, particularly between majority and minority groups affect the story.