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LITERARY THEORIES & CRITICISM
A Quick Overview
What would happen…
…We must constantly look at things in a different way…When you read, don’t just consider what the author thinks, consider what YOU
think.
What is Literary Theory/Criticism?
Studies devoted to the comparison, analysis, interpretation, and evaluation of works of literature.
The term "criticism" is derived from the Greek word kritikos, meaning a "judge."
Simply, a method for readers to “judge”/interpret what they believe a text is about, states or represents
Why Literary Criticism? Literary theories provides readers
alternative ways of “seeing” or reading/interpreting a text (Roethke’s “My Papa’s Waltz”)
Stimulates readers and deepens meaning in a text by showing how there may be multiple interpretations of the same text
Sharpens one’s critical thinking skills Empowers readers to find their own
interpretations/readings of a text
Literary Criticism Examples F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby
(Historical/Sociological) William Golding’s Lord of the Flies
(Sociological) Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow
Wallpaper” (Feminist) Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman
Brown” (Mythological/Hero Journey) Victor Fleming’s The Wizard of Oz
(Psychoanalytical)
Other Examples…Other Examples…
In Film and ImageIn Film and Image
““Reading” Reading” The GodfatherThe Godfather• Good escapist fun/action
(aesthetic)• Spin on the mafia/gangster”
genre (archetypal)• Greek tragedy/Tragic Hero
(mythological/archetypal)• Dysfunctional families
(sociological)• The failure of the American
Dream & its leaders (historical/sociological)
• Trying to live up to your father’s example (psychological)
• Showing mafia as ordinary people with real problems (mimetic)
• Try the same with The Sopranos or Scarface
“Reading” The Lion King
• Action/adventure (aesthetic)
• Good vs Evil (archetypal)• Coming of age tale
(archetypal/mythological)• Hero journey
(mythological)• African culture
(sociological)