Literary Criticisms

Question 1

Historical-biographical criticism

Answer 1

Focuses on historical context and believes literature is inextricably linked to its historical context

Question 2

Moral-philosophical criticism

Answer 2

Focuses on literature’s ethical merits and evaluate works based on moral statements and judgements

Question 3

Sociological criticism

Answer 3

Focuses on literature based on its relationship to society. Examines the authors status and the impact of their work

Question 4

Psychoanalytic criticism

Answer 4

Focuses on desires and neuroses of characters in literature and believes an author’s unconscious thoughts are expressed in their work

Question 5

Reader response criticism

Answer 5

Focuses on the reader/audience’s reaction or interpretation of a text and uses this for critical study

Question 6

Feminist criticism

Answer 6

Focuses on gender roles within a text and how they reflect wider society at the time of writing, and in modern times