LITERARY THEORIES & CRITICISM

A Quick Overview

What would happen…

…We must constantly look at things in a different way…When you read, don’t just consider what the author thinks, consider what YOU

think.

What is Literary Theory/Criticism?

Studies devoted to the comparison, analysis, interpretation, and evaluation of works of literature.

The term "criticism" is derived from the Greek word kritikos, meaning a "judge."

Simply, a method for readers to “judge”/interpret what they believe a text is about, states or represents

Why Literary Criticism? Literary theories provides readers

alternative ways of “seeing” or reading/interpreting a text (Roethke’s “My Papa’s Waltz”)

Stimulates readers and deepens meaning in a text by showing how there may be multiple interpretations of the same text

Sharpens one’s critical thinking skills Empowers readers to find their own

interpretations/readings of a text

Literary Criticism Examples F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby

(Historical/Sociological) William Golding’s Lord of the Flies

(Sociological) Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow

Wallpaper” (Feminist) Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman

Brown” (Mythological/Hero Journey) Victor Fleming’s The Wizard of Oz

(Psychoanalytical)

Other Examples…Other Examples…

In Film and ImageIn Film and Image

““Reading” Reading” The GodfatherThe Godfather• Good escapist fun/action

(aesthetic)• Spin on the mafia/gangster”

genre (archetypal)• Greek tragedy/Tragic Hero

(mythological/archetypal)• Dysfunctional families

(sociological)• The failure of the American

Dream & its leaders (historical/sociological)

• Trying to live up to your father’s example (psychological)

• Showing mafia as ordinary people with real problems (mimetic)

• Try the same with The Sopranos or Scarface

“Reading” The Lion King

• Action/adventure (aesthetic)

• Good vs Evil (archetypal)• Coming of age tale

(archetypal/mythological)• Hero journey

(mythological)• African culture

(sociological)