LIT313D:

LITERARY CRITICISM

Prepared by: Ms. Maybhel C. Hernandez, LPT

Presented by: Mr. Arnold C. Simon, LPT
 LESSON 1
(PART 2):

LITERARY CRITICISM
 Topics to be discussed…

• Definition of Literary Criticism

• Purpose of Literary Criticism
• Literary Discussion vs. Literary
Analysis vs. Literary Interpretation
 LITERARY
Lit·er·ar·y /ˈlidəˌrerē/ Adjective

• concerning the writing, study, or content of

literature, especially of the kind valued for
quality of form:
 CRITICISM
Crit·i·cism /ˈkridəˌsiz(ə)m/ noun
1. the expression of disapproval of
someone or something based on
perceived faults or mistakes:
2 .the analysis and judgment of the merits
and faults of a literary or artistic work:
What is Literary Criticism?
Literary criticism (or literary studies)
is the study, evaluation, and
interpretation of literature.

Modern literary criticism is often

influenced by literary theory, which is
the philosophical discussion of
literature's goals and methods.
 Literary Criticism vs. Literary Theory
Literary theory helps to
Literary criticism, differentiate literary texts from
the study of a others; it works to classify
literary texts into categories
literary text, can and schools of thought. One
begin with a way to think of literary theory
is that it acts as a critical lens,
particular literary or a way to view a particular

theory. work.
Literary Theories
1. Archetypal Criticism
Archetypal criticism is the interpretation of a
text based on the archetypes that appear time
and time again in a wide variety of literature.

2. Feminist Criticism
Feminist criticism uses the principles and ideals of
feminism to critique literature. It suggests that civilization
is largely patriarchal and that history and literature are
largely written and studied from the male point of view.
Literary Theories
3. Marxist Criticism
Based on Karl Marx’s doctrines, this theory
emphasizes class, socioeconomic situations, the
power relations among different segments of society,
and how these segments are represented.

4. Reader-Response Criticism
In reader-response criticism, to understand a text, the processes
that the readers use to create meaning and experience must be
considered. This is in contrast to most other schools that focus
more on the author or content of the work.
Literary Theories
5. Deconstruction
Deconstruction recognizes that literature has no fixed meaning
(and thus can mean anything) because meaning itself is
unstable. Language is ever-changing so attaching static
meanings and ideals to a text is impossible.

6. Formalism
Formalism treats a work of literature as its own distinct
piece, separate from its cultural, social, historical, and
even authorial context. As such, its focus is purely on
its form, including grammar, syntax, meter, and rhythm.
Literary Theories
7. Psychoanalytic Criticism
Psychoanalytic criticism is based on Sigmund Freud’s theories in
psychology, including those of the consciousnesses and the
unconscious. It argues that much like dreams, literary texts are a
manifestation of the author’s neuroses, revealing their unconscious
desires and anxieties.
8. Postcolonial criticism
Postcolonial criticism concerns itself with literature written by
colonizers and those who were/are colonized. It looks at
issues of culture, religion, politics, and economics within the
text and how these relate to colonial hegemony (the
colonizer’s act of controlling the colonized).
Literary Theories
9. Queer Theory
The queer theory explores the representation of gender and sexuality
in literature. It challenges the assumption that heterosexuality is the
preferred or normal mode of sexual orientation—a notion that is
reinforced by certain social institutions such as marriage,
employment, and adoption rights.
10. New Historicism
New Historicism acknowledges that literature isn’t only influenced
by the history of the author, but also that of the critic. Put simply,
the writer’s circumstances shape their writing, their work reflects
their time, and the critic’s circumstances and environment affect
their criticism.
 The Importance of Literary Theories
All literary theories are starting points from which we
can better understand a piece of literature, learn more
about the author’s intentions, and improve the quality
of said literature for both the author and the critic. One
theory is not better than the others, each is just a
different way of seeking an answer to a question.
The Function of Literary Criticism
The overall functions of literary criticism are not easily
compartmentalized. If someone were to attempt to critique
a literary work, they might find that they are doing a broad
spectrum of activities, ranging from book reviews to more
in-depth theoretical discussions of not only the book but
also the person who wrote the book and the historical
events that occurred during the time of original writing.
Other notable periods of literary
criticism include:
• The Medieval Period
• The Renaissance
• Neoclassicism and its decline

• Romanticism
• The late 19thCentury
• The 20thCentury
 Purpose of Literary Criticism
Researching, reading, and writing literary criticism can help
you make sense of the work, establish judgements about
literature, analyze concepts from many points of view, and
assess whether a literary work is worth reading on an
individual level. Literary critics often seek to understand
what books mean, how they influence readers, and what
kinds of lives they can change for the better.
 What is the job of a literary critic?
A literary critic's principal responsibility is to examine and
evaluate literary materials. They usually accomplish this by
employing readily accessible and appropriate ideas (literary
theories) to aid them in making statements and/or inferences
about the specific literary work they have read or are reading.

The term "critic" comes from the Greek kritikos, which means "to
discern," "to distinguish," or "to classify."
The person making the evaluation studies what is known as "the
canon" (a collection of valuable writings) and uses that knowledge
to discuss the new material accurately and thoroughly.
 How does literary criticism
improve one’s critical thinking
skills?
 How do you read literary criticism?
To read literary criticism, first,
understand what type of
writing it is. Is it analytical or
subjective? Does it focus on
facts or interpretations? How
much background information
does it require? Once you
understand the genre, use
that to guide what you read.
Reading literary criticism is
an important skill for anyone
who reads for pleasure. It
helps you understand why
some people find certain
books appealing and others
not. It also helps you
appreciate quality writing
elsewhere produced.
 What is the meaning of "literary critic"?

Literary critics examine works of art from

different time periods, places, and cultures for
similarities and differences. The goal is to
explain what makes certain writings significant
and to explore how different authors express
similar ideas or feel about similar subjects.
Literary Discussion vs.
Literary Analysis vs.
Literary Interpretation
 Literary Discussion
Literature discussion affords students an
opportunity to think critically about the text
and to reflect as they read, discuss, and
respond to books and other reading
materials (Keene & Zimmerman, 2007)
 Literary Analysis
Literary analysis is a close examination of
sections of various writings. For example,
students analyze any work of literature, like
poems, novels, or songs, to have a deeper
understanding of literary and rhetorical devices.
 Literary Interpretation

Literary interpretations broaden and deepen

our understanding of a particular work, usually
a text such as a short story, novel, poem, play,
or film.
 How to interpret?
1. 3.
Interpretations
Interpretations
address
are open to
meaning in a 2. Interpretations
debate.
work. rely on in-depth
textual analysis.