FORMALISM - an approach that studies text as a text.

It views literature as a unique

form of human knowledge that needs to be examined on its own terms. In formalism
approach, a literary work can be understood only by reference to its intrinsic features,
which are the elements. These elements include the CHARACTERS, SETTING,
PLOT, POINT OF VIEW, and THEME.

 Character – a person or even animal who takes part in the action.

 Setting – Refers to the time and place the story takes place. This includes weather
conditions and social conditions.
 Plot – has something to do with the whole sequence of the story. It shows the
beginning of the conflict, how the character faces the conflict, and the effect of the
character’s action toward the conflict, or how the conflict is solved.
 Point of View – this is the angle the story is told: first, second or third person.
Who speaks in the story?
 Theme – The central idea of the story. It answers the question: What is the story
all about?

THE STORY OF TEDDY STODDARD - Read by Dr. Wayne Dyer

MORALIST CRITICISM - is a type of literary critique that judges the value of the
literature based on its lessons or ethical teachings.
 It also determines the worth of literature by seeing if it encourages good out of
the reader.
 This approach forces readers to dig deeper for you to discover the moral values
in the story.

The Great Greek Philosopher Plato argued that literature and art had the ability to
influence people. These influences could cause corruption or virtue.
Two (2) aspects of moralist criticism
a. Literature that is ethically sound and encourages virtue is praised.
b. Literature that misguides and/or corrupts is condemned.

Things to consider when approaching a text with moral criticism.

1. Maturity, sincerity, honesty, sensitivity, and/or courage.

2. Does the text seek to corrupt or negatively influence the reader? How so and/or
why?
 3. What moral lesson or ethical teaching is the author presenting in the text/or
through character, plot, or theme.
4. How do characters, settings, and plot events represent or allegorize moral or
ethical principles?
5. Does the work in question pose a pragmatic or moral lesson or philosophical idea?

Works associated to moral criticism.

 The Holy Bible
 The 10 commandments
 The parables of Jesus
 Parable of the Prodigal Son
 Parable of the Good Samaritan
 Parable of the Talents
 Fables
 The Monkey and the turtle
 The story of Pina

“THE NECKLACE” – Guy de Maupassant

Guy de Maupassant was an important French naturalist writer who was most well
known for his short stories. His writing career was short-lived but extremely prolific;
between 1880 and 1890 he wrote over 300 short stories, as well as several full length
novels and a book of poetry.

“The Necklace” is a short story by French writer Guy de Maupassant. It is known for its
twist ending, which was a hallmark of de Maupassant’s style. The story was published on
17 February 1884 in the French newspaper.

''GOD SEES THE TRUTH, BUT WAITS'' – by Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy (September 9, 1828-November 20, 1910) was a Russian writer, best known
for his epic novels. Born into an aristocratic Russian family, Tolstoy wrote realist fiction
and semi-autobiographical novels before shifting into more moral and spiritual works.
''God Sees the Truth, But Waits'' is an 1872 short story by Russian author, Leo
Tolstoy. Tolstoy also spelled Tolstoi, Russian in full Lev Nikolayevich, Graf (count)
Tolstoy, (born August 28 [September 9, New Style], 1828, Yasnaya Polyana, Tula
province, Russian Empire—died November 7 [November 20], 1910, Astapovo, Ryazan
province), Russian author, a master of realistic fiction and one of the world’s greatest
novelists. Tolstoy is best known for his two longest works, War and Peace (1865–69) and
Anna Karenina (1875–77), which are commonly regarded as among the finest novels
ever written.
FEMINIST CRITICISM is used to study the ways in which literature reinforce or
undermine the economic, political, social, and psychological oppression of women.
APPROACH:
 Women are marginalized
 Western civilization is deeply rooted in patriarch
 Symbolism of women lost in male point of view Female tradition of writing
Gynocriticism - the “female” perspective on women's writings, women’s experiences,
women’s struggle
Questions to consider in feminist criticism:
1. Is there a woman or a woman's point of view in this text?
2. How are women portrayed in this text?
3. Who has the power in this text?
4. How is the power distributed?
5. How does the text represent a uniquely female experience?
6. How has the women’s voice been suppressed in this text?
7. What hidden gender assumption is behind this text?

How feminist criticism used in literature

 Resist the traditional assumptions and views on women throughout literature
 How women are written about in literature
 How society focuses on male authors and their literary achievements

How Women are Portrayed

 gender influences
 if the author is male
 how subjects are referred to
 the difference between styles of men and women writers
 giving recognition to marginalized feminist critics

First wave:
 Mary Wollstonecraft highlights the issues of inequalities between men and women
 Activists, Susan B. Anthony and Victoria Woodhull help the world towards
women’s suffrage movement, resulting in National Universal Suffrage in 1920
 19th Amendment passed
  Women oppressed by the patriarchy economically, politically, socially, and
psychologically. Primary means by which women are oppressed.
 Feminist theory and literary criticism
 To change the world view gender equality.

Second wave:
 Better working conditions and equality due to women’s roles in WWII
 National Organization for Women established
 Simone de Beauvoir and Elain Showalter very influential in the dissemination of
feminist theories

Third wave:
 Resisting ideologies of white, heterosexual, and middle-class focus as the second
wave did
 Gender and race theories get more focus, highlights marginalized and experiences
 Alice Walker focused on the struggles of African Americans, especially women.
Worked for women’s recognition in the workplace.
 Term "feminism" = 1890s when women’s rights movements became popular.
Women of all social backgrounds/classes joined, their interests were dampened by
people in leadership positions in politics. Formed into became a social movement
 Working conditions were poor, and many found themselves giving birth in these
workplaces, so the main goal was to find improvement. Even though women as a
whole were “inferior,” some still received better treatment than others.
 But, until they could get equal rights for all its members, they had to first deal with
the injustices they all faced.

Function of Feminist Literary Critique

The function of a feminist literary critique is to present and acknowledge woman’s
roles in literature or any form of text. The feminist critique highlights misguided
perspectives of woman. The attention to the main male character distorts the image of the
women. The feminist critique wants to eliminate inequality between men and women in
literature and have a main independent woman stand point within new literature. It also
encourages a strong woman protagonist who achieves enlightenment and erase the
traditional view of woman.
O. Henry - an American short story author whose real name was William Sydney
Porter. Henry’s rich canon of work reflected his wide-range of experiences and its
distinctive for its witticism, clever wordplay, and unexpected twist endings.

''The Last Leaf'' is an emotional short story that was written by O. Henry. It was first
published in 1907 in The Trimmed Lamp and Other Stories, a collection of O. Henry's
short works. O. Henry was the pen name of the famous writer, William Sydney Porter,
who lived from 1862 until 1910.