Documente Academic
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1. Reader Response
The feeling you get from the literature The impression it leaves on you How it changes/affects you How the elements of literature work to affect your reading experience
2. Genre Criticism
Genre kind or type of literature
Novel Genres
A. B. C. D. E. F. Picaresque- social underdog has humorous
adventures and comments on society Historical- uses setting/characters/ situations from history and builds on them Social- depicts how people acted in a certain time period (Novel of Manners) Metaphysical- deals with the Truth; usually religion or philosophy Bildungsroman-(German=formation) coming of age, growing up Psychological- deals with the workings of the mind (mental disorders or struggles)
3. Historical/Biographical Criticism
Looks at the literature as a result of the authors life and times Ask
Is the authors biographical info used in the story? Does the author try to portray a certain historical time period or his own time period? How was the literature received by critics when it was published? Today?
4. Psychological Criticism
Looks at literature through Freuds psychological theories
A. Most mental processes are subconscious (not done on purpose) B. All human behavior is motivated by sex C. We control our desires and instinctive actions because of social pressure to behave D. We repress taboo desires, thoughts and memories (keep them from our thoughts)
A. Ego
The rational governing agent of the mind Controls your actions to protect the self Reality principle = reason and good sense
A. Superego
The other rational governing agent of mind Controls your actions to protect others/society Morality principle = conformity to social rules
A. Parental Rebellion
A. Phallic Symbols
A. Oral/Anal Fixations
5. Myth/Archetype Criticism
Myth- every civilization everywhere tells
stories (ancient times to today)
A. Water
Creation; birth-death-resurrection; purification
The Sea (ocean, lake)- mother of all life; eternity; death-rebirth Rivers (any flowing water)- the life cycle; phases of life; flow of time
A. Sun
Creative energy; law in nature; thinkingenlightenment
Rising Sun- birth; creation; enlightenment; new beginning Setting Sun- death; destruction; failure; the end
A. Numbers
A. Garden
Paradise; innocence Inexhaustible life; growth; phases of life Emptiness; death Striving to attain some goal; inspiration; obstacles to overcome
Archetypal Characters
A. Archetypal Hero
Goes on a quest, goes through impossible tasks, solves questions to save the homeland or others Overcomes ordeals/challenges in order to pass from immaturity into adulthood (or ignorance into knowing) Character who must die or be sacrificed so that others can live on
A. Archetypal Women
1. Good Mother- life; birth; warmth; nourishment; protection; fertility (good female character) 2. Terrible Mother- witch; siren; whore; femme fatale; evil; corruption (bad female character) 3. Ingenue- perfection; spirituality; angelic goodness (perfectly innocent, beautiful female character)
A. Trickster
The End!