Scribd
Upload
207 views4 pages

Approaches in Writing Critiques

The document discusses four approaches to literary criticism: 1) The formalist approach examines a text based on its form, structure, genre, imagery, and other intrinsic elements without considering external contexts. 2) The moralist approach determines a text's meaning and significance as well as whether it conveys useful life lessons. 3) The feminist approach analyzes how a text portrays women and gender roles in a patriarchal society. 4) The historical approach uses context like historical events and the author's life to understand a text.

Uploaded by

MayRoseLazo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
207 views4 pages

Approaches in Writing Critiques

The document discusses four approaches to literary criticism: 1) The formalist approach examines a text based on its form, structure, genre, imagery, and other intrinsic elements without considering external contexts. 2) The moralist approach determines a text's meaning and significance as well as whether it conveys useful life lessons. 3) The feminist approach analyzes how a text portrays women and gender roles in a patriarchal society. 4) The historical approach uses context like historical events and the author's life to understand a text.

Uploaded by

MayRoseLazo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

ENGLISH 10

Quarter 3 - Module 4: Writing Critiques


Approaches in Writing Critiques
There are various approaches that can be used in critiquing literary works. Approaches in
literary criticism are like lenses that critics use to view and analyze the literary piece. These
different lenses allow critics to consider works of art based on certain assumptions innate to the
particular approach. These serve as perspectives that allow critics to focus on particular aspects
of a literary work.

I. Structuralist/Formalist Approach
The formalist approach to literature examines a text by its organic form - its setting, theme,
scene, narrative, image, symbol, and genre. It sees the innate attributes of texts objectively
excluding any external elements (i.e. author's personal life or the social, historic background of
the time the text was written or the reader's bias) in criticism.
This approach can be used in almost all literary works because language and structure are
innate aspects of any literary piece. In analyzing a text using formalist approach, you take a look
at the following aspects of the text.
1. Genre
This is the type of text and writing discipline to which the piece belongs. A work may be under
prose (essay novels, short stories, novellas, and scripts.) or classified as poetry. (sonnets, lyric
poems, epics, ballads, ode, etc.)
2. Structure and Organization
A work’s structure and organization can tell you a lot about the kind of message it wants to
convey. Some novels are narrated in a linear, chronological fashion, while others skip around in
time. Some plays follow a traditional three-or five-act structure, while others are a series of
loosely connected scenes. Some authors deliberately leave gaps in their works, leaving readers
to puzzle out the missing information.
3. Point of View
The perspective from which a story is told. In the first-person point of view, the narrator involves
him or herself in the story. (“I went to the store”; “We watched in horror as the bird slammed into
the window.”) A first-person narrator is usually the protagonist of the work, but not always. In the
third-person point of view, the narrator does not participate in the story. A third-person narrator
may closely follow a specific character, recounting that individual character’s thoughts or
experiences, or it may be what we call an omniscient narrator. Omniscient narrators see and
know all: they can witness any event in any time or place and are privy to the inner thoughts and
feelings of all characters.
4. Diction
Word choice is also considered in analyzing a text whether a character uses dry, clinical
language or flowery prose with lots of exclamation points can tell you a lot about his or her
attitude and personality.
5. Syntax
Word order and sentence construction. Syntax is a crucial part of establishing an author’s
narrative voice. Ernest Hemingway, for example, is known for writing in very short,
straightforward sentences, while James Joyce characteristically wrote in long, incredibly
complicated lines.
6. Tone
The mood or feeling of the text. Diction and syntax often contribute to the tone of a
work. A novel written in short, clipped sentences that use small, simple words might feel
brusque, cold, or matter-of-fact.
7. Imagery
Language that appeals to the senses, representing things that can be seen, smelled,
heard, tasted, or touched.
8. Figurative Language
Language is not meant to be interpreted literally. The most common types of figurative language
are metaphors and similes, which compare two unlike things in order to suggest a similarity
between them— for example, “All the world’s a stage,” or “The moon is like a ball of green
cheese.” (Metaphors say one thing is another thing; similes claim that one thing is like another
thing.)

Guide Questions asked in Formalist Approach


A. To which genre does the text belong?
B. What is the structure of the text? Is the structure appropriate to the genre of the text?
ENGLISH 10

Quarter 3 - Module 4: Writing Critiques


C. What can you say about the setting of the story?
D. Describe the characters/speaker of the text? What can you say about the characters’ actions
and lines?
E. Briefly describe the plot of the text. What can you say about the turnout of events?
F. Are there any difficult words in the text?
G. What part of the plot shows the theme or lesson? Which part is the most important?
H. What figures of speech are used? (metaphors, similes, etc.)
I. Is there a relationship between the beginning and the end of the story?
J. What tone and mood are created at various parts of the work and the effect of the story?

II. Moralist Approach


The moralist or intellectual approach in literary criticism is concerned with essence and values
present in a text. The concern of this approach in criticism is not only to discover meaning but
also to determine whether works of literature are both true and significant. To study literature
from the moral/intellectual perspective is therefore to determine whether a work conveys a
lesson or message and whether it can help readers have better lives and improve their
understanding of the world.
Guide Questions Asked in Moralist Approach
A. What lesson does the story teach the readers?
B. What is the central idea of the story?
C. What event in the story shows the theme or lesson of the story?
D. Is the lesson of the story realistic and applicable in real life?
E. Is the story’s lesson correct and relevant to the society?
F. What reality in life is shown in the story?
G. Is the lesson of the story effectively conveyed to the target readers?

III. Feminist Approach


Feminist approach in literary criticism is concerned with the ways in which literature relates the
economic, political, social, and psychological roles of women in a generally- patriarchic society.
In this approach, the importance of women in the society is being underscored, thus playing a
key role in the literary text.

Guide Questions Asked in Feminist Approach.


A. How are women’s lives portrayed in the work?
B. How do male and female characters relate to one another? Are these relationships sources
of conflict? Are these conflicts resolved?
C. Does the work challenge or affirm traditional views of women?
D. Are there events in the story that show gender inequality or prejudices?
E. Are the actions and dialogue of the female character appropriate?
F. Have the other characters in the text treated the female ones justly?
G. If a female character were male, how would the story be different (and vice versa)?
H. How does the marital status of a character affect her decisions or happiness?

IV. Historical Approach


Historical criticism makes use of historical evidence and investigates the context in which a
literary work was written, including facts about the author’s life and the historical and social
circumstances of the time. This is in contrast to other types of criticism, such as textual and
formal, in which emphasis is placed on examining the text itself while outside influences on the
text are disregarded. In this approach, factors such as historical events, author’s real life
experiences, and backgrounders are used to understand certain aspects and the totality of the
text.
Guide Questions Asked Historical Approach
A. How does the text reflect the time in which the text was written?
B. How accurately does the story depict the time in which it is set?
C. What aspect of local culture is shown in the text?
D. What literary or historical influences helped to shape the form and content of the work?
ENGLISH 10

Quarter 3 - Module 4: Writing Critiques


E. How does the story reflect the attitudes and beliefs of the time in which it was written or set?
F. What other literary works may have influenced the writer?
G. What historical events or movements might have influenced this writer?
H. Does the story reveal or contradict the prevailing values of the time in which it was written?

UNDERSTANDING PRACTICE

*ACCOMPLISH THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES ON A ½ SHEET OF PAPER. MAKE SURE TO INDICATE THE
ACTIVITY NUMBER.

ACTIVITY 1: THIS APPROACH!


(Structuralist/Formalist Approach, Feminist Approach, Moralist Approach, Historical Approach)
Based on the readings, read and examine what type of approach is used in each sample critiques.
*Answer may be repeated.
1 2

3 4

5
ENGLISH 10

Quarter 3 - Module 4: Writing Critiques


ACTIVITY 2: ASSESSMENT
Read the following questions carefully. Write the complete letter and phrase/sentence of your answer.
Ex. 1. A. What lesson in the story is applicable in real life? (SAMPLE ONLY)
1. Which of the following questions is asked in critiquing a text using formalist approach?
A. What lesson in the story is applicable in real life?
B. What female characteristic is highlighted in the story?
C. Is the language used in the text clear?
D. In what year was the story written?

2. Complete the analogy: Historical Approach: Background of the Story;


Formalist :____________
A. Women Empowerment C. Text Structure
B. Life Lessons and Values D. Real-Life Experiences

3. Moralist approach in literary criticism focuses on the story’s .


A. structure B. elements C. language D. life lesson

4. The female character’s essential role in the development of the literary piece is highlighted in
which approach in literary criticism?
A. Formalist B. Feminist C. Historical D. Moralist

5. Which approach in literary criticism sees the work as the work itself excluding all outside
factors such as author’s life, history, background, etc.?
A. Formalist B. Feminist C. Historical D. Moralist

6. Formalist approach looks at the following except .


A. genre of the text B. structure C. history of the place D. imagery

7. “(I) Approaches in literary criticism are like lenses that critics use to view and analyze the
literary piece. (II) These lenses allow critics to study works of art based from assumptions innate
to the particular approach.” What can you say about the two statements? A. Statements I and II
are both true.
B. Statements I and II are both false.
C. Statement I is true but II is false.
D. Statement I is false but II is true.

8. Which is NOT a literary analysis?


A. a type of writing that critically evaluates a piece of literary work in detail
B. a critical essay, an article evaluating a literary piece, or a review
C. a summary that identifies the central issue of a text
D. a write up that points out the flaws and mistakes of a literary piece

9. Literary analysis involves examining all the parts of a literary piece and thinking about how
the author uses those elements to create certain effects.” The statement is.
A. True B. False C. Uncertain D. Improbable

10. A is a type of writing that critically evaluates a piece of literary work in detail.
A. literary feature
B. literary critique
C. literary research
D. literary development

You might also like