Literary Criticism Flashcards
is the study, analysis, and evaluation of imaginative literature. - Mark Lund
Literary criticism
along with one of its more conspicuous modern iterations, focuses on a literary text itself, aside from questions about its author or the historical and cultural contexts of its creation.
New Criticism/Formalism
Key Aspects of Formalism/New Criticism:
- Close Reading
- Autonomy of the Text
- Form and Content Unity
- Literary Devices
investigates the life of an author using primary texts, such as letters, diaries, and other documents, that might reveal the experience, thought, and feelings that led to the creation of a literary work.
Biographical CRITICISM
Key Aspects of Biographical Criticism
- Author’s Life and Work Connection
- Use of Primary Sources
- Understanding Motives and Themes
has been one of the most productive forms of literary inquiry in the twentieth century. Developed in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s by Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) and his followers, psychological criticism has led to new ideas about the nature of the creative process, the mind of the artist, and the motivation of characters.
Psychological criticism
The part of the mind that holds repressed desires, fears, and memories that are not accessible to conscious thought. (Sigmund Freud)
The Unconscious
A defense mechanism where uncomfortable or traumatic experiences are pushed into the unconscious to protect the individual from distress.(Sigmund Freud)
Repression
(Tripartite Psyche)
-The primitive, instinctual part of the mind
- Operates on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification for desires like hunger, aggression, and sexual urges.
The Id (Instincts)
(Tripartite Psyche)
- The rational, conscious part that mediates between the id and the superego.
- Operates on the reality principle, trying to satisfy the id’s desires in socially acceptable ways.
Ego (Reality)
(Tripartite Psyche)
- The moral compass, shaped by societal norms, parental guidance, and ethical values.
- Enforces feelings of guilt, shame, or pride depending on actions.
The Superego (Morality)
Represents wholeness and unity within an individual.
It is the balance between the conscious and unconscious mind.
A person who has accepted both their strengths and weaknesses.
(Jungian Archetypes)
The Self
The dark, hidden part of a person’s personality.
Contains repressed desires, fears, and weaknesses.
Often appears as an enemy or a villain in stories.
(Jungian Archetypes)
The Shadow
Feminine traits in a man (nurturing, emotion, intuition). (Jungian Archetypes)
Anima
Masculine traits in a woman (logic, assertiveness, strength). (Jungian Archetypes)
Animus
The mask people wear in society.
How a person presents themselves to others, often different from their true self.
A strict boss at work who is kind and fun-loving at home.
(Jungian Archetypes)
The Persona
He believed that a healthy person had a closely linked Ideal Self and Real Self. If a person had a significant discrepancy between the Ideal Self and Real Self then the individual would have an unhealthy self image and personality.
Carl Rogers
The person you aspire to be.
Ideal Self
The person you actually are
Real Self
When the Ideal and Real Self are closely aligned, leading to a healthy self-image.
Congruence
A significant gap between the two selves, causing anxiety and low self-worth.
Incongruence
- seeks to interpret the work of literature through understanding the times and the culture in which the work was written.
- more interested in the meaning the literary word had for its own time than in the meaning the work might have today.
Historical criticism
Key Aspects of Historical Criticism
Author’s Historical Context
Cultural and Social Influences
Political and Economic Conditions
Historical Accuracy vs. Literary Interpretation
examines literature by considering the social, economic, and political context in which it was created. It explores how a literary work reflects or critiques society and its structures, including class struggles, power dynamics, and cultural influences.
Sociological criticism