How will the

following
individuals REACT
to the this picture?

Mother

Religious
Male

Teacher
Skeptic
Child

How does
this activity
reflect the
nature and

FEMINIST
APPROAC
H

 Concerned with the

impact of gender in
writing and reading
Usually begins with a
critique of patriarchal
culture
Concerned with the place
of female writers

 Concerned with the roles of female

characters within works
Often argues that male fears are
portrayed through female characters
May argue that gender determines
everything or just the opposite: that
all gender differences are imposed
by society and gender determines
nothing

MORAL/ PHILOSOPHICAL
o Asserts

that the larger

purpose of literature is to
teach morality and to probe
philosophical issues

o Authors

intend to instruct
the audience in some way

HISTORICAL/BIOGRAPHICAL
Views

literature as the reflection

of an authors life and times (or
of the characters life and times)

It is necessary to know about

the author and the political,
economical and sociological
context of his times in order to
truly understand his works.

PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH
Views

works through the lens of

psychology
Looks either at the psychological
motivations of the characters or of the
authors themselves
Most frequently applies Freudian
psychology to works but other
approaches also exist.

FORMALISM
CRITICISM
Involves

NEW

a close reading of the

text
All information essential to the
interpretation of a work must be
found within the work itself
Focuses on analyzing irony,
paradox, imagery and metaphor

Interested

in the works setting,

characters, symbols and point of
view
No need to bring in outside
information about the history,
politics or society of the time or
about the authors life.
Does not view works through the
lens of feminism, psychology,
mythology or any other such
standpoint

Not interested in
the works effect on
the reader

TERMS
USED IN
NEW
CRITICISM

Intentional
Fallacy the false

belief that the

meaning or value of a
work may be
determined by the
authors intention

Affective fallacy the false

belief that the meaning or
value of a work may be
determined by its effect on
the reader
External form rhyme
scheme, meter, stanza form
etc.