Chapter 4 APPROACHES AND METHODS OF STUDYING LITERATURE

Objectives:
At the end of this chapter, the students will be able to:

1. Discuss the different approaches and methods of studying literature.

2. Appreciate literary pieces.

FORMALISTIC/LITERARY APPROACH
Also called “PURE” or “LITERARY” approach. The selection is read and viewed
intrinsically, or for itself; independent of author, age, or any other extrinsic factor. This
approach is close to the “art for art’s sake” dictum.
The study of the selection is more is more or less based on the so – called literary
elements which is more or less boil down to the literal level, the affective values, the
ideational values, technical values, and total effects.
The literal level (subject matter)
The affective values (emotional, mood, atmosphere, tone attitudes, empathy)
The ideational values (themes, visions, universal truths, character)
Technical Values (plot, structure, scene, language, point of view, imagery, figure,
metrics, etc.)
Total Effect (the interrelation of the foregoing elements)

MORAL AND HUMANISTIC APPROACH

The nature of man is CENTRAL to literature. The reader or teacher or critic more or less
“requires” that the piece present MAN AS ESSENTIALY RATIONAL, that is endowed with
intellect and free will; or that the piece does not misinterpret the true nature of man.
In these times of course the TRUE NATURE OF MAN is hotly contested, making
literature all the more challenging.
This approach is close to the “MORALITY” of literature, to the questions of ethical
goodness and badness.

HISTORICAL APPROACH
Sees literature as both a reflection and product of the times and circumstances in
which it is written. Man as a member of a particular society or nation at a particular
time, is central to the approach and whenever a teacher gives historical or
biographical backgrounds in introducing a selection, or arranges a literature course in
chronological order, he is hewing close to this approach.
The historical approach is often suitable to high school classes, to survey courses, for
“average” classes, and for pieces tackled or “discovered” for the first time. It operates
on the premise that the history of a nation has telling effects on its literature and that a
piece can be better understood and appreciated if one knows the times around its
creation.

CULTURAL APPROACH
Considers literature as one of the principal manifestation and vehicles of a nation’s
or race’s culture and tradition. It includes the entire complex of what goes under
“culture” ---- the technological, the artistic, the sociological, the ideological aspects,
and considers the literary piece in the total culture milieu in which it was born.
This approach in one of the richest way to arrive at the culture of the people and
one of the most pleasurable ways of appreciating the literature of the people. It goes
by the dictum “culture teaching through literature”.

PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH
Set in dizzying motion, principally, by FREUD, perhaps beyond his wildest
expectations, it considers literature as the EXPRESSION OF PERSONALITY of “Inner Drives”
of neurosis. It includes the psychology of the author, of the character, and even the
psychology of creation.
It has resulted in an almost exhausting and exhaustive “psychological analysis” of the
characters of symbols and images, of recurrent themes, etc.

SOCIOLOGICAL APPROACH
Literature is viewed as the expression of man within a given social situation which is
reduced to discussions on economy which will underscore the conflict between the two
classes- the rich and the poor.

IMPRESSIONISTIC APPROACH
Literature is viewed to elucidate “reacting response” which is considered as
something very personal, relative and fruitful. Unconditioned by explanations and often
taking the impact of the piece as a whole, it seeks to see how the piece has
communicated.