An Introduction to

Literary Criticism
 Watch the “Try” video by Pink
You will find this video on our web page on the Lit Crit page!

1. What did you think while you were

watching the video? Tell me five things.
2. What stood out to you? Tell me three
things.
3. What scene did you think was the most
important? Why? Explain in 4-6
sentences.
What is literary or critical theory?
The terms “literary theory” and
“critical theory” refer to
essentially the same fields of
study. They both address ways
of looking at literature beyond
the typical plot-theme-character-
setting studies.
What is literary or critical theory?
Just as a PERSPECTIVE is a way
of looking at something, a
CRITICAL PERSPECTIVE is a
way of criticizing or analyzing
literature. Your CRITICAL
PERSPECTIVE is the view you
bring to the literature you read.
 How and why did literary theory develop?
We all know that different
people will experience the same
event differently. It follows, • One person may be
then, that different people will offended by a character’s
approach the same literary text actions, while another finds
differently. Literary theories them comic.
emerged as ways to explain • One reader is energized by
different people’s views and
a story’s political
responses to literature. Rather
than insisting that one view is
implications, while another
the best or correct view, literary is awed by the same story’s
theory attempts to find value in philosophical bent.
all views that are based on a
careful study of the literature.
What are the benefits of studying a work
from more than one critical perspective?
• One of the views is likely to affirm your
perspective and speak to what you see in the
literature you are studying.
• Studying a view different from yours—not to
disagree with it, but to understand it—helps you
understand those who hold that view.
• Studying a work from more than one view gives
you a deeper understanding of the author’s work
and a better appreciation for the richness of it.
What does studying a work from multiple
critical perspectives involve?
• Essentially, all you have to do to study a
work from more than one critical
perspective is to put your own view on
hold and entertain the other view.
Although you may be a staunch green-
thinker, you now ask yourself, “What
would a yellow-thinker see in this
work?”
What does studying a work from multiple critical
perspectives not involve?

First and foremost, studying a work

from multiple critical perspectives does
not require that you agree with any of
the perspectives you study. You are not
being asked to become a yellow-thinker,
only to consider—without criticism and
judgment—what a yellow-thinker would
see in the text.
What does studying a work from multiple critical
perspectives not involve?
Second, studying a work from multiple critical
perspectives does not require that you blend
or merge two or more perspectives into a
single interpretation. Some of the points of
some of the theories are actually mutually
exclusive and cannot be reconciled. While
examining a work from the feminist
perspective, you do not need to take into
account what a Marxist would find. You would
examine each perspective independently.
 What are the most common or popular
critical theories?

• Feminist
• Marxist
• Psychological
• Archetypal
 Pick Up the Survey!
• Take a moment to honestly respond to each
statement. Think before you check!
• Which critical theory do you lean towards
naturally?
Strongly Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly
Agree Disagree
5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point

• Add together each section of three and put it

on the far right of the grid!
 Take a minute and
use your graphic
organizer and in the
notes section write
down some of the
key terms that have
popped up for each
type of criticism!
You do not need
sentences – just the
key words !
Now that you have your notes
section complete . . . . Fill in your
survey rank – which type of criticism
ranked the highest for you? Next
highest? And so on . . ..
With your table you are going to complete a
basic critique of a Coldplay video. After we
watch the video we will see what comments
can be made looking through the lens of each
criticism! On your graphic organizer you can
just bullet these ideas!
The Literary Criticism
Microtheme
The Literary Criticism
Microtheme
 For each Literary Theory . . . .
You will need to . . .
Review the lit crit power point – this is where you will get
the actual information about the literary criticism we will be
exploring.
Each Lit Crit will have an assessment. You will want to
prepare for the assessment by reviewing the appropriate power
point. You can take notes on the Lit Crit Breakdown AND use
this on your assessment. You can ONLY use this handout
during the quiz – nothing else. You CANNOT take notes on
notebook paper. Keep in mind that you will only have a set
amount of time to complete the assessment – so it is important
that you understand that literary criticism. For each assessment
you will be asked about key ideas as well as address one of the
essential questions.
 For each Literary Theory . . . .
Please keep in mind the following if you choose to
use the Lit Crit Breakdown graphic organizer for any
of your assessments:

You can print out the graphic organizer and

handwrite on it or you can type into it and use it
electronically.
Your breakdown sheet CANNOT go beyond one
page!
The Literary Criticism Units
The Literary Criticism Units
The Literary Criticism Units
The Literary Criticism Units
questions?