Literary Criticism Approaches

Formalism:

The work is interpreted only through itself

Central Formalism Questions:

·         How do language and symbols make meaning?

·         What are the roles of character, setting, and point of view?

·         How are irony, paradox, imagery, and metaphor used?

·         How do the structure and other elements create unity of form?

·         Does the work have internal tensions that effect the meaning?

Sociological/Anthropological:

Social conditions and notions of the origins and cultures of humanity affect literature

Central Sociological/Anthropological Questions

·         What sort of society does the author describe? (How is it set up? What rules are there? What happens to people who break them? Who enforces the rules?)

·         What does the writer seem to like or dislike about this society?

·         What changes do you think the writer would like to make in the society? And how can you tell?

·         What sorts of pressures does the society put on its members? How do the members respond to this pressure?

Psychological:

Prevailing theories of human behavior find their way into literature

Central Psychological Questions:

·         Are there any specific psychologists or psychological theories mentioned in the text? In what ways?

·         What theories of human behavior does the writer seem to believe? How can you tell?

·         What theories of human behavior does the writer seem to reject? How can you tell?

·         How do people’s minds work in the text? How do people think? How are their thoughts shown?

·         In what ways do the structure and organization of the text indicate the writer’s beliefs about the workings of the mind?

Philosophical and Religious:

The religious and ethical climate influences writers and their texts.

Central Philosophical/Religious Questions:

·         What religious or ethical beliefs does the text deal with directly? Are any religions or philosophies mentioned specifically in the text?

·         What religious or ethical beliefs or philosophies does the author seem to favor? How can you tell?

·         What religious or ethical beliefs or philosophies does the author seem to disfavor? How can you tell?

·         What behaviors do the characters display that the author wants us to think are “right?” How can you tell?

·         What behavior is “wrong?” How can you tell?

                                                                 Political:

Prevailing political conditions often modify a literary work

Central Political Questions:

·         What political events are significant in the text?

·         What political events were occurring at the time the text was written? (See timelines in history or literature texts.)

·         What political beliefs does the author seem to have? And how are those beliefs shown?

·         What political beliefs does the author seem to dislike? How can you tell?