FORMALISTIC OR LITERARY APPROACH

The first approach is called “formalistic” or “literary” The selection

is read and viewed intrinsically or for itself independent of author , age, or
any other extrinsic factor. The approach is close to the art for art sake”
dictum. The study of the selection is more or less based on the so-called
literary elements which more or less boil down to the literal level.

MORAL OR HUMANISTIC APPROACH

Another approach is the moral or humanistic approach where the
nature of man is central to literature. The reader or teacher or critic more
or less “requires” that the piece present man as essentially rational; that is
endowed with intellect and free will; or that the piece does not
misinterpret the true nature of man. In these times of course, the true
nature of man is hotly contested. Making literature all the more
challenging. Whatever the case, this approach is close to the morality” of
literature, to question or ethical goodness and badness.

HISTORICAL APPROACH
The very popular historical approach based on Taine’s “moment-
miieu-race” see literature as both a reflection and a product of the times
and circumstances in which it was written. Man a member of a particular
society or nation at aa particular time, is central to the approach and
whenever a teaches gives a historical or biographical backgrounds in
introducing a selection, or arranges a literature course in chronological
order, he is hewing close to his approach.
CULTURAL APPROACH
This approach as one of the principal manifestations and vehicles
of a nation’s or a race’s culture and tradition. It includes the entire complex
of what goes under ”culture” the technological, the artistic, the
sociological, the ideological aspects, and considers literary piece in total
culture milieu when its it was born.

PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH