English

Quarter 3 - Module 3:
Literary Approaches
Lesson
Structuralist /Formalist
1 Approach

Structuralist Criticism
In literary theory, structuralism challenged the belief that a work of literature
reflected a given reality; instead, a text was constituted of linguistic conventions and
situated among other texts. Structuralist critics analyzed material by examining
underlying structures, such as characterization or plot, and attempted to show how
these patterns were universal and could thus be used to develop general
conclusions about both individual works and the systems from which they emerged.

Formalist Criticism
In literary theory, formalism refers to critical approaches that analyze,
interpret, or evaluate the inherent features of a text. These features include not
only grammar and syntax but also literary devices such as meter and tropes. The
formalistic approach reduces the importance of a text’s historical, biographical, and
cultural context and instead focuses on modes, genres, discourse, and forms.

The following are the major literary terms of structuralist and formalist criticism:

I. Plot - It is the sequence of events in a story or play. The short story usually has one
plot so it can be read in one sitting. There are five essential parts of plot:
1) Exposition (introduction) - Beginning of the story; characters, background,
and setting revealed.
2) Rising Action - Events in the story become complicated; the conflict is
revealed.

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 3) Climax - Turning point of the story. Readers wonder what will happen
next; will the conflict be resolved or not?
4) Falling action - Resolution begins; events and complications start to fall into
place.These are the events between climax and denouement.
5) Resolution (Conclusion) - Final outcome of events in the story.

II. Setting - Time and location a story takes place.

1) Place - Geographical location; where is the action of the story taking place?
2) Time - Historical period, time of day, year, etc.; when is the story taking
place?
3) Weather conditions - Is it rainy, sunny, stormy, etc.?
4) Social conditions - What is the daily life of the characters like? Does the
story contain local color (writing that focuses on the speech, dress,
mannerisms, customs, etc. of a particular place)?
5) Mood or atmosphere - What feeling is created at the beginning of the
story? Cheerful or eerie?

III. Character - There are two meanings for "character": 1) a person in a fictional
story; or 2) qualities of a person.
1) People in a work of fiction can be a:
• Protagonist –Principal character of a story
• Antagonist - Opposition or "enemy" of main character.
2) Characteristics of a character can be revealed through:
• his/her physical appearance
• what he/she says, thinks, feels, dreams and what he/she does or does
not do
• what others say about him/her and how others react to him/her
3) Characters can be:
• Round - Fully developed personalities that are affected by the story's
events; they can learn, grow, or deteriorate by the end of the story.
Characters are mostly convincing when they resemble real people by
being consistent, motivated, and life-like.
Example: In the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast, the protagonist,
Belle, is a round character. She is fully developed and has several
layers to her personality. At times Belle may be caring and gentle with
her father, but at the same time she shows wit and strength when
warding off the undesirable suitor, Gaston.
• Flat - One-dimensional character
Example:In Disney’s Finding Nemo, the sea turtle, Crush, is an
example of a flat character. Crush personifies the stereotypical “surfer-
dude” in the film with his constant use of the word “dude”. This turtle is
a minor character in the film and does not have complexity to his
personality like the main characters.
• Dynamic - Character who does go through change and "grows"
during a story.
Example: In the movie Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry,
the protagonist has experienced inner conflict which makes him a
dynamic character. Harry perceives that he shares some abilities
similar to Tom Riddle, who becomes the evil, Lord Voldemort, and this
makes him worry that he might also turn out to be an evil character.
• Static - Character does not go through a change.
Example: Scar, in the movie The Lion King, is an excellent example of
a static character. Scar is a sly and a clever brother of the Lion King.
This cunning character plots to kill Simba and his father. As the film
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 goes on, Scar does not go through any changes, keeping his
personality traits until the end.

IV. Point of View - The angle from which the story is told.
1) First Person - Story told by the protagonist or a character who interacts closely
with the protagonist or other characters; speaker uses the pronouns "I", "me",
"we".
2) Second Person - Story told by a narrator who addresses the reader or some
other assumed "you"; speaker uses pronouns "you", "your", and "yours".
3) Third Person - Story told by a narrator who sees all of the action; speaker uses
the pronouns "he", "she", "it", "they", "his", "hers", "its", and "theirs". This
person may be a character in the story.

V. Theme - Central message, "moral of the story," and the underlying meaning of a
fictional piece; may be the author's thoughts on the topic or view of human nature.

Lesson

2 Marxist Approach

What is Marxist Criticism?

When you read a piece of literature, you’re not just reading a story, but you’re
getting a glimpse into a different culture and society. So what is that society like? Is it like
yours? Do the rich and powerful have all the control? And what even inspired the author
to create this society in the first place? These are all sorts of questions asked in Marxist
Criticism, which reviews a work of literature in terms of the society it presents.

Marxist gets its name form Karl Marx, the German philosopher who wrote The
Communist Manifesto. In it, Marx and co-author Friedrich Engels argue that all of history
is about the struggle between the haves and have-nots. They predicted that one day, the
proletariat or the have-nots, will throw off the oppression of the bourgeoisie or those with
means and power. In other words, Marxist Criticism is a careful reader or viewer who
keeps in mind issues of power and money.

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 Lesson

3 Moralist Approach

Moralist Criticism is a type of literary critique that judges the value of the
literature based on its moral lessons or ethical teachings. In simpler terms, it
determines the worth of literature by seeing if it encourages good out of the
reader. For a moral criticism, it evaluates the maturity, sincerity, honesty,
sensitivity, and courage of literature.

Lesson

4 Feminist Approach

Feminist Literary Criticism helps us look at literature in a different light. It

applies the philosophies and perspectives of feminism to the literature we read.
Some theorists examine the language and symbols that are used and how that
language and use of symbols is “gendered.” Many feminist critics look at how the
characters, especially the female characters, are portrayed and ask us to consider
how the portrayal of female characters “reinforces or undermines sexual
stereotypes”.

Feminist literary theory also suggests that the gender of the reader often
affects our response to a text. For example, feminist critics may claim that certain
male writers address their readers as if they were all men and exclude the female
reader. Feminist literary critics remind us that literary values, conventions, and even
the production of literature, have themselves been historically shaped by men. They
invite us to consider writings by women, both new and forgotten, and also ask us to
consider viewing familiar literature through a feminist perspective.

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 Questions to Consider

Feminist Lens:
 Is the author male or female?
 Is the text narrated by a male or female?
 What types of roles do women have in the text?
 Are the female characters the protagonists or secondary and minor
characters?
 Do any stereotypical characterizations of women appear?
 What are the attitudes toward women held by the male characters?
 What is the author’s attitude toward women in society?
 How does the author’s culture influence his/her attitude?
 Is feminine imagery used? If so, what is the significance of such
imagery?
 Do the female characters speak differently that the male characters? In
your investigation, compare frequency of speech for the male
characters to the frequency of speech for the female characters.

POST TEST
Read the questions carefully and choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your
answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1. What literary approach analyses the material by examining underlying

structures, such as characterization or plot, and attempted to show how these
patterns could be used to develop general conclusions?
A. feminist B. formalist
C. Marxist D. structuralist

2. If I told you this story takes place in a jungle on a mysterious island sometime in
the 1930s/1940s involving an eccentric hunter, I would be describing what aspect
of the story?
A. character B. plot
C. setting D. theme

3. Which part of the story is conflict resolved?

A. climax B. denouement
C. falling action D. rising action

4. The point of view that is told from one character’s perspective and uses pronouns
such as “he” and “she” is ________________.
A. narrator first person B. first person
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 C. second person D. third person

5. It refers to place, time, weather condition, social condition, and even mood or
atmosphere.
A. characters B. conflict
C. plot D. setting

For numbers 6 and 7, read the poem below and answer the questions that follow.
Child, you are like a flower so sweet and pure and fair;
I look at you and sadness comes on me, like a prayer.
I must lay my hands on your forehead and pray to God
to be sure to keep you forever and always so sweet and
fair and pure.
6. The theme of the poem is ___________________________.
A. a blessing B. a father’s prayer
C. on a child’s innocence D. a father’s great love to a daughter

7. The values implied are

A. Being loving and caring B. Being nonsense and callous
C. Being prayerful and peaceful D. Being affectionate and prayerful

For numbers 8 and 9, read the selection below and answer the questions that follow.

There are no guarantees in life but it is a sure thing that you will get back what you
give. If you give 100% of your attention, energy, and time to a thing, you will get back
exactly the same. Spending your time and attention focused on what you cannot do and
do not have assures that more of the same will come. When you concentrate only to lack,
weakness, fault, and blame, it is sure to become a reality.
Nobody has everything, but everybody has something. Use what you have right
now! Use it wisely, freely, and with love. Wherever you are, use your time, energy, and
talents to do the best you can right now. Give no thought to what is missing. Spend no
time wishing what was better. Make sure you give all that you have: your talents and
assets, and make sure you will get all that you need.

8. What value is emphasized in the selection?

A. asking for help from others
B. giving thought to what is missing
C. giving and doing the best you can
D. spending one’s time thinking what one can’t do

9. What common belief is expressed in the selection?

A.One reaps what one sows.
B. One learns from experience.
C.One can’t give what one doesn’t have.
D. One should follow in others’ footsteps.

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10. It is a type of literary critique that judges the value of the literature based on its
moral lessons or ethical teachings.
A. feminist B. formalist
C. Marxist D. moralist

11. What book did Karl Marx write?

A. The Communist Review
B. The Communist Manifesto
C. The Communist Guide to Literature
D. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

12. In Marxist theory, those who own property and the means of production are the
___________________.
A. bourgeoisie B. poor
C.proletariat D. wealthy

13. Feminism is no longer ______________.

A. diverse B. organized
C. homogenous D. a patriarchal society’s property

14. Feminist criticism in general has moved away from exposing male bias and
towards ______________.
A. advocating lesbian-only criticism
B. acknowledging women’s inferiority to men
C. studying women’s texts and women authors
D. none of the above

15. Feminist criticism ________________.

A. is concerned with the marginalization of women in a patriarchal culture
B. tries to examine the experiences of women from all races, classes, and
cultures
C. tries to explain how the subordination of women is reflected in or
challenged by literary texts
D. all of the above