LITERARY APPROACHES IN CRITIQUING A LITERARY SELECTION

Formalistic Approach
A formalist critic examines the form of the work as a whole, the form of each individual part of
the text (the individual scenes and chapters), the characters, the settings, the tone, the point of
view, the diction, and all other elements of the text which join to make it a single text.
Point of View- Point of view is the viewpoint from which you view the setting, see the action,
observe the characters, and hear the conversations. Depending on the powers the author has
granted this narrator, you may even be able to see inside a character's mind, learning what he
or she thinks and feels. (. . .ever wish we all had these powers. . .?)
Setting- Setting is more than just the place and time a story takes place. Setting also includes
the atmosphere: the social and cultural context of the story. A novel may have many settings or
occur at different times; however, each time and place were selected by the author for a
particular reason.
Characters- Characters are the lifeblood of every novel, and some characters are more
important than others. Characters may be round (more like real life with positive and negative
traits) or flat (usually stereotypes that symbolize a certain type of person/place/thing).
Characters may also be dynamic (changing and growing as the novel's events unfold)
or static (those who remain unchanged no matter what happens to them)
Plot- is the sequence of events in which each event affects the next one through the principle
of cause-and-effect.
Symbols- Symbols extend beyond one-to-one comparison.
Theme- Theme is the point of the book, the author's message to us: the readers. Theme is often
complex, and thus, it may be difficult for two people out of ten to interpret the same theme.
Though certain readers may see similar themes, most likely the themes they interpret will be
different in some way or another to varying degrees.
Tone- attitude of place, writing and situation

Moralist Approach
What is moralist criticism?
- Moralist criticism is a type of literary critique that judges the value of the literature
based on its moral or lesson or ethical teachings.
It is not only concerned by discovering the meaning but also to determine whether the work of
literary are both true and significant.

Moralist Criticism weighs the text by these considerations:

- Is a practical, moral, or ethical idea being presented?
- How does the text play out of the given ethical principles?
- Does the work seem to build a positive or negative influence on its readers?
Marxist Approach
Marxism is a political philosophy and method of socioeconomic analysis developed by a
German Philosopher, Karl Marx.
Divided into 2 main classes
1. Bourgeoise (Rulling Class) – who pwn the means of production
2. Proletariat (Working Class)- are exploited for their labor

Marxist literary criticism- examines how literature becomes part of the superstructure, how
literature becomes a site for ideological battles and propaganda, and how it portrays class
struggles and conditions of the world.

Critiquing Literary Works through Marxist lens

Critiquing literary work in the perspective of a Marxist involves asking these questions:

1. What is the role of class in the said literary work?

2. How do the protagonists/characters fight against oppression?
3. Does the work advocate for Marxist values (whether implicitly or explicitly) or does
the work oppose them?
4. How is oppression discussed by the work; are impeding issues in society brushed
aside or are they condemned elsewhere?
5. Are there any proposed idealistic answers to the issues faced in the literary work?

HISTORICAL APPROACH
Based on the context in which a work was written including the facts about the
authors life and historical and social circumstances of the time.
The following questions are designed to act as a guide for evaluating apiece of literature using
the historical approach.
1. Who is the author, where dis she or she come from , and what was her/his object in
writing the work?
2. How did the political events of the time influence what the writer wrote?
3. How did the predominant social customs of the time influence the writer’s outlook?
4. What is the predominant philosophy that influenced the work?
5. Were there any special circumstances under which the work was written?
FEMINIST APPROACH
Feminist Theory- explores gender inequality, aiming to understand its roots and nature. In sociology,
feminism is a key conflict theory, which argues that society is in continuous conflict due to the
inequalities between men and women.

Feminist Approach in Literary Criticism- Feminist literary criticism explores the social relationships and
roles of men and women. This form of literary criticism draws on the ideas of feminist theory to critique
literature, considering how literature portrays and is influenced by patriarchal narratives.

Feminist criticism technique in writing

-When applying a feminist lens to texts in a literary context, you consider how gendered social
constructs have influenced the way in which the text is written.

-When viewing literature through a feminist lens you should consider either the gender of the author,
the presentation of characters based on their gender, or both.

Here are key questions which can act as a base when analysing literature through a feminist lens:

1. Is the author, and/or narrator, male or female?

2. What are the roles of the female characters in the text? Are they minor, secondary, or main
characters?
3. How are women characterised in the text? Do you notice any stereotypes?
4. What is the social and cultural context that the text was written in? How has this influenced the
author's attitude toward women?

Reader Response Approach- is a school of literary theory that focuses on the reader (or “audience”)
and their experience of a literary work, in contrast to other schools and theories that focus attention
primarily on the author or the content and form of the work.

Thus, the purpose of a reading response is examining, explaining, and defending your personal reaction
to a text.

Your critical reading of a text asks you to explore:

 why you like or dislike the text;

 explain whether you agree or disagree with the author;

 identify the text’s purpose; and

 critique the text

LITERARY SELECTION USED IN APPROACHES

Structuralist/Formalist- Desiderata by Max Ehrman

Moralist- Federigo’s Falcon by Giovanni Boccaccio

Marxist- The Necklace by Guy De Maupassant

Feminist & Historical- The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin

Reader Response- The Last Leaf by O. Henry