Course Title: Literary Criticism

Topic: Literary Criticism and Approaches

Submitted to: Mam Sehar Saleem

Class: BS English (5rd Semester Evening B)

Submitted by: Zahra (BSENGEB-21-13),

Khyzar (BSENGEB-21-14),

Abdullah (BSENGEB-21-25),

Zainab (BSENGEB-21-98),

Malaika (BSENGEB-21-43),
Literary Criticism:

Literary criticism is the systematic evaluation and interpretation of literature,

encompassing various theories, methodologies, and approaches. It goes beyond mere
appreciation of a text and seeks to uncover its underlying themes, symbols, and social,
historical, or cultural implications. Literary critics aim to offer insights that enrich our
understanding of literary works and the human experience.

Approaches of Literary Criticism:

1. Formalist Approach:
The formalist approach emphasizes the intrinsic qualities of a literary work. It focuses on
the structure, form, and literary devices employed by the author to convey meaning.
Formalist critics analyse elements such as plot, character development, symbolism, and
narrative techniques. They believe that the text itself contains all the necessary
information for interpretation, disregarding external influences.

2. Historical Approach:
Historical criticism places literary works within their historical context. It explores how
the text reflects the time period, cultural norms, and societal changes in which it was
written. Understanding the historical background helps interpret the motivations of the
author and the intended audience, shedding light on the text's deeper meaning.

3. Biographical Approach:
Biographical criticism centres on the life and experiences of the author. Critics delve into
the author's biography to uncover personal influences and experiences that may have
shaped the literary work. This approach can provide valuable insights into an author's
intentions, beliefs, and personal struggles.
 4. Psychological Approach:
Psychological criticism seeks to understand the characters' and author's psyche. It
explores the emotional and mental aspects of the literary work, examining the characters'
motivations, desires, and conflicts. This approach often draws from theories of
psychology to analyse character behaviour and development.

5. Feminist Approach:
Feminist criticism examines literature from a gendered perspective, highlighting the
portrayal of women, gender roles, and power dynamics. It aims to uncover and challenge
patriarchal biases and stereotypes present in literary works while celebrating the voices of
female authors and characters.

6. Marxist Approach:
Marxist criticism focuses on the socioeconomic and class structures within a literary
work. Critics analyse how power, wealth, and social hierarchies are depicted and how
they relate to broader societal issues. This approach often seeks to unveil the underlying
political messages in literature.
7. Postcolonial Approach:
Postcolonial criticism focuses on the effects of colonialism and imperialism in literary
texts. It examines how colonial powers have influenced the language, culture, and
representation of colonized people. Postcolonial critics often analyze the ways in which
literature addresses issues of identity, hybridity, and resistance against colonial
domination.

8. Reader-Response Approach:
The reader-response approach places emphasis on the role of the reader in interpreting a
literary work. It suggests that meaning is not solely derived from the text or the author's
intention but is co-constructed by the reader's personal experiences, beliefs, and
emotions. Critics in this approach explore how individual readers' responses shape their
understanding of a text.
 9. Deconstructionist Approach:
Deconstructionist criticism, influenced by the work of Jacques Derrida, seeks to expose
the instability and contradictions within a text. It challenges the idea of fixed meanings
and hierarchies, emphasizing the ambiguity and multiplicity of interpretations.
Deconstructionist critics analyse the language and structures in a text to reveal hidden
tensions and paradoxes.

10. New Criticism:

New Criticism, popular in the mid-20th century, closely examines the text itself while
excluding external contexts. It emphasizes close reading and analysis of literary elements
such as imagery, symbolism, and irony. New Critics believe that a text should be
evaluated based solely on its intrinsic qualities and not on the author's life or historical
context.

11. Comparative Literature Approach:

Comparative literature criticism explores literary works by comparing and contrasting
them across different cultures, languages, or time periods. This approach highlights
universal themes, motifs, and narrative techniques that transcend geographical and
temporal boundaries. It offers a broader perspective on the global connections and
influences in literature.