ENGLISH 10

3rd Quarter
Week 6-7

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

Division of Surigao del Sur
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 Competency: Critique a literary selection based on the following
approaches: (a)Structuralist /Formalist, (b)Moralist, (c)Marxist(d) Feminist,
(e)Historical, and (f)Reader-response. EN10RC-IIIa-22

Objectives: At the end of the week, you shall have:

 identified the different types of critical approaches to literature;
 distinguished critical approaches used from sample critiques of
literary selections;
 written a critique of a literary selection read from one of the
perspectives of literary theories; and
 discussed the importance of using critical approaches/ theories in
writing a critique.

Learner’s Tasks

Lesson Overview

Critical approaches to literature reveal how or why a particular work is constructed

including its social and cultural implications. Understanding fundamental points of view
will aid you in seeing and appreciating a scholarly work as a multilayered development
of significance. You'll be inspired to rehash, reevaluate, and respond when you read
scholarly study. As a result, we employ a specific method for reading, examining,
assessing, deciphering, and judging scholarly content. How about we start learning how
to work in this manner?

Here are the types of critical approaches to literature.

 Formalist/Structuralist

Structuralism is an extension of Formalism that have both devoted attentions to matters

of literary forms rather than social or historical content and that both bodies of thought
were intended to put the study of literature on a scientific and objective cases.

A. Formalism – an approach that studies text as a text. It views literature as a unique

form of human knowledge that needs to be examined on its own terms. In
formalism approach, a literary work can be understood only by reference to its
intrinsic features, which are the elements. These elements include the
CHARACTERS, SETTING, PLOT, POINT of VIEW, THEME and SYMBOLISM.

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 The Road Not Taken
By Robert Frost

(I)Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
(III)And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

(II)Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted
wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
(IV)I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Here's an example of a critique using Formalist Approach:

In the lyric poem, “The Road Not Taken”, written by Robert Frost, the setting paints a scene
for the reader. It determines the mood, tone and type of poem. This particular
composition is set in a forest. Frost describes it as ‘yellow’ and speaks about leaves on the
forest floor, so it is clearly autumn. It is also early in the day, morning to be exact. There is
a road through the woods, suggesting that many people have walked the path before.
However, since it is early, and because of newly fallen leaves, both paths show no signs
of wear, and one is even grassy. Because it is early, fall, and the speaker is alone in a
wooded area, it is safe to assume that it is quiet and the air is fresh and crisp.

B. Structuralism- is a method of interpreting and analyzing a literary piece that

focuses on contrasting ideas and show how they relate to the whole structure. This
approach treats the text as linguistic construct. In Structuralism, a piece is open
to interpretation. It depends on how the reader views the meaning on the text
based on his /her understanding, which may involve personal belief, environment,
behavior or moral perception.

The nursery song “Jack and Jill” may be just a simple children song about the two
characters who fetch water from a hill but using structuralism approach, the song can
be interpreted in different ways.

Jack and Jill went up the hill

To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown
And Jill came tumbling after.

Here’s an example of a critique using Structuralist Approach:

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The nursery rhyme, Jack and Jill, reminds us to be careful in all our actions or else we can
drag others down with us just like what happened to Jill. Because of Jack’s carelessness,
he fell down and dropped the pail of water which made the way down the hill slippery.
So as Jill went down, she slipped and lost her balance. With regards to Jack’s crown, this
may symbolize authority. Relating this to governance. If the ruler fails, it affects the
people.

 Moralist

It is concerned with content and values. This approach is old as literature, since
literature is an old mode of teaching morality, philosophy and religion. It is concerned
not only with finding significance, but also with determining whether literary works are
both real and meaningful.

“Again and again he tried after the tempting morsel, but at last had to give it up,
and walked away with his nose in the air, saying: ‘I am sure they are sour.”
(From The Fox and the Grapes, by Aesop)

Here’s an example of a critique using Moralist Approach:

These are the closing lines taken from Aesop’s The Fox and the Grapes. It is through the
last statement that the fox expresses its dislike of grapes, which it had tried again and
again to grasp. This particular story by Aesop discusses a general habit of persons who
cannot admit their defeat. Instead, they pass on the blame to someone or something
else. The same with the case of the fox in this story, who fails after several attempts.

 Marxist

It is based on examining a piece of literature to see how it reveals class conflict, the
differences between economic groups, and the difference between the material
and spiritual.

An age-old vendetta between two powerful families erupts into bloodshed. A group of
masked Montagues risk further conflict by gatecrashing a Capulet party. A young
lovesick Romeo Montague falls instantly in love with Juliet Capulet, who is due to marry
her father’s choice, the County Paris. With the help of Juliet’s nurse, the women arrange
for the couple to marry the next day, but Romeo’s attempt to halt a street fight leads to
the death of Juliet’s own cousin, Tybalt, for which Romeo is banished. (Excerpt of the
story, “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare)

Here’s an example of a critique using Marxist Approach:

In Romeo and Juliet, the two families are at war- the Montague's and the Capulet's- are
going through a power struggle, the fact that they are both of higher class made them
rivals in power. Both families are in conflict with each other, trying to become the highest

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class and aiming to climb the social ladder because of the great importance of
connections (e.g. closest to the royal court, most favorable by the Prince of Italy).

 Feminist

It seeks to describe and analyze the ways in which literature portrays the narrative
of male domination in regard to female bodies by exploring the economic, social,
political, psychological forces embodied with literature.

Mary Maloney, a devoted seemingly obsessed and pregnant housewife, expects her
husband Patrick to return home from his job as a local police detective. When he returns,
Mary notices that he is strangely aloof and assumes that he was tired from work. Patrick
finally reveals to Mary what is making him act strangely. Seemingly in a trance, Mary
fetches a large leg of lamb from the deep-freezer in the cellar to cook for their dinner.
Patrick angrily tells Mary not to make him any dinner, as he is going out. (Excerpt from the
summary of the story, “The Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl)

Here’s an example of a critique using Feminist Approach:

“Lamb to Slaughter” by Roald Dahl is written in a manner which deteriorates the

value of women. Mary Maloney is a housewife, who is six months pregnant. She loves her
husband very much. “She sets down her sewing and hung it in the closet” (Dahl 318). That
is a very descriptive quote about the style to how the story was written. It says two things.
One, that women stay at home and sew all day, which is a stereotype and two, that she
is there to serve. She is always trying to be comforting to Patrick.

Mary is a victim of Patrick’s disrespect and verbal abuse. “For God’s sake” (Dahl
319)) and “Sit down” (Dahl 319) were some of the disrespectful commands at her. He
snaps at her when she offers him food and drinks. Patrick obviously shows the quality of
patriarchy where men overpower women.

 Historical

This approach seeks to understand a literary work by investigating the social,

cultural, and intellectual context that produced it—a context that necessarily
includes the artist’s biography and milieu. A key goal for historical critics is to
understand the effect of a literary work upon its original readers.

"They were dying slowly -- it was very clear. They were not enemies, they were not
criminals, they were nothing earthly now -- nothing but black shadows of disease and
starvation, lying confusedly in the greenish gloom. Brought from all the recesses of the
coast in all the legality of time contracts, lost in uncongenial surroundings, fed on

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unfamiliar food, they sickened, became inefficient, and were then allowed to crawl
away and rest.” (Excerpt of the story, “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad)

Here’s an example of a critique using Historical Approach:

The historical context of Heart of Darkness is firmly rooted in imperialism and European
conquests across the globe. The Belgian Congo colony, where Heart of Darkness is set,
was one of the most brutal and exploitative colonial regimes in history. Moreover, the
inevitable tyrannical power exercised by the colonizers against the Africans reveals much
of racism in the story.

 Reader-Response

Reader-response suggests that the role of the reader is essential to the meaning
of a text, for only in the reading experience does the literary work come alive. Its
purpose is to examine, explain, and defend your personal reaction to a text. There
is no right or wrong answer to a reading response. Nonetheless, it is important that
you demonstrate an understanding of the reading and clearly explain and
support your reaction.

The whiskey on your breath

Could make a small boy dizzy;
But I hung on like death:
Such waltzing was not easy.
(Excerpt from a poem, “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke)

Here’s an example of a critique using Reader-Response Approach:

After my first reading of this poem, Roethke portrayed the scenario in a dark and
depressed tone. It was about a boy recalling his abusive father. A few specific lines
brought me to this conclusion, “The whiskey on your breath /Could make a small boy
dizzy; /but I hung on like death: /Such waltzing was not easy” (lines 1-4). There were also
a few words that lead to my assumption of a much darker meaning behind the poem,
such as “death” and “battered.”

For you to be guided in writing your critique paper, here are additional information:

 A critique is a careful analysis of an argument to determine what is said, how well the
points are made, what assumptions underlie the argument, what issues are
overlooked and what implications can be drawn from such observation. It is not a
listing of complaints or faults.

These are the steps in writing a critique:

1. Describe: Give the reader a sense of the writer’s overall purpose and intent.

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 2. Analyze: Examine how the structure and language of the text convey its meaning.
3. Interpret: State the significance or importance of each part of the text.
4. Assess: Make a judgment of the work’s worth of value.

Activity I: Go with description!

Directions: Identify what critical approach is described in each of the statements below.
Write your answers in your answer sheet.

1. It suggests that the role of the reader is essential to the meaning of a text, for only
in the reading experience does the literary work come alive.

2. It seeks to understand a literary work by investigating the social, cultural, and

intellectual context that produced it—a context that necessarily includes the
artist’s biography and milieu.

3. It is an approach that studies text as a text.

4. It seeks to describe and analyze the ways in which literature portrays the narrative
of male domination in regard to female bodies by exploring the economic, social,
political, psychological forces embodied with literature.

5. It is a method of interpreting and analyzing a literary piece that focuses on

contrasting ideas and show how they relate to the whole structure.

ACTIVITY 2. Which One Is One!

Direction/s: Read each sample critique below and distinguish what critical approach is
used in each of them. Write your answers in your answer sheet.

1. We can find imagery, which really helps bring aspects of the text to life as we read.
The short story, “Story of an Hour” creates a vast amount of imagery in Mrs. Mallard’s
changing emotions throughout the text. (An excerpt critique from the story, “Story of an
Hour” by Kate Chopin)
Critical Approach used: _____________________

2. “...The boots must have been stuffed with something so that he would seem taller.”
(An excerpt critique from the story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” by
Joyce Carol Oates)
Critical Approach used: _____________________

3. Judith Little and Megan S. Lloyd are both of the former camp. They argue that Alice is
a “literally ‘underground’ image of a woman resisting the ‘system” (An excerpt critique
from “Alice in Wonderland” by Lewis Carrol)

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Critical Approach used: _____________________

4. In Beowulf, a fusion of the old and new, a blending of ideals from Northern antiquity
with Christian virtues (An excerpt critique from “Beowulf)
Critical Approach used: _____________________

5. These characters played a key role in Marlin’s journey, but it is clear that Dory was the
most critical to the pending success of Marlin’s pursuit. (An excerpt critique of movie,
“Finding Dory” by Andrew Stanton and Victoria Strouse)
Critical Approach used: _____________________

Activity 3

A. Be Critical!
Directions: Read each passage below and write a critique using the most appropriate
critical approach. Write your critique in your answer sheet.(5 pts. each item)

1. “I have here the world before me; I will review it at leisure: surely happiness is
somewhere to be found … Happiness must be something solid and permanent,
without fear and without uncertainty.” (From The History of Rasselas, Prince of
Abissinia by Samuel Johnson)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

2. “My God, my God, look not so fierce on me!

Alders and serpents let me breathe a while!
Ugly hell, gape not: come not Lucifer:
I’ll burn my books: Ah Mephistophilis!”
(From the story of Dr. Fausto by Christopher Marlow)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

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 B. Be a Critique!
Directions: Read the poem carefully then write a critique employing at least 2 critical
approaches/theories.

Dover Beach
By Matthew Arnold

The sea is calm tonight. Ah, love, let us be true

The tide is full, the moon lies fair To one another! for the world, which
Upon the straits; on the French coast the seems
light To lie before us like a land of dreams,
Gleams and is gone; the cliffs of So various, so beautiful, so new,
England stand, Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light,
Glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for
bay. pain;
Come to the window, sweet is the night- And we are here as on a darkling plain
air! Swept with confused alarms of struggle
Only, from the long line of spray and flight,
Where the sea meets the moon- Where ignorant armies clash by night
blanched land,
Listen! you hear the grating roar
Of pebbles which the waves draw
back, and fling,
At their return, up the high strand,
Begin, and cease, and then again
begin,
With tremulous cadence slow, and bring
The eternal note of sadness in.

Sophocles long ago

Heard it on the Ægean, and it brought
Into his mind the turbid ebb and flow
Of human misery; we

Find also in the sound a thought,

Hearing it by this distant northern sea.

The Sea of Faith

Was once, too, at the full, and round
earth’s shore
Lay like the folds of a bright girdle furled.
But now I only hear
Its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar,
Retreating, to the breath
Of the night-wind, down the vast edges
drear
And naked shingles of the world.

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 Rubric in Writing a Critique
Accomplished-
Exemplary-5 Developing-3 Limited-2
4
Shows evidence of Shows evidence Shows Shows
strong skills of of application of inconsistent inconsistent
analysis, skills of analysis, application of application of
Critical Thinking synthesis, and synthesis, and skills of analysis, skills of analysis,
evaluation. Logic is evaluation. Logic synthesis, and synthesis, and
virtually flawless. is nearly evaluation. Logic evaluation. Logic
flawless. may be flawed. may be flawed.
Reflects mastery of Reflects a solid Reflects a some Reflects little
the literary understanding of understanding of understanding of
perspective the literary the literary the literary
applied. The writer perspective perspective perspective
is fluent in the applied. The applied. The applied. The
language and writer is using writer struggles writer barely
theory behind the much of the to use the uses the
Application of Critical perspective. language and language and language and
Technique & Analysis and theory behind the theory behind the theory behind the
Perspective conclusions drawn perspective. perspective. perspective.
are virtually Analysis and Analysis and Analysis and
incontrovertible. conclusions conclusions conclusions
drawn are strong drawn are drawn are
with minor somewhat questionable
"errors." questionable with obvious
with a few "errors."
obvious "errors."
Strikingly Well-organized Competently Inconsistently
organized with a with a logical organized with a organized with a
keen sensitivity to approach to logical if haphazard
building an building an uninspired approach to
Organization & argument. argument. approach to building an
Transitions Transitions are Transitions are building an argument.
sophisticated and solid and varied. argument. Transitions are
varied. Transitions are choppy or
ordinary but lacking.
sufficient.

Source:http://www.maitespace.com/english/ScoringGuides/writingaboutlitru
bric.html

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Activity 4: It Matters
Directions: In 5 sentences, share your idea about the importance of critical
approaches/ theories in writing a critique.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Formative Test

Multiple Choice
Directions: Read each question carefully, then choose the letter of the correct
answer. Write your answers in your answer sheet.

1. Which type of critical approach wherein a literary work can be

understood only by reference to its intrinsic features, which are the
elements?
A. Formalism
B. Feminism
C. Marxism
D. Moralism

2. Which type of critical approach is concerned with content and

values?
A. Formalism
B. Feminism
C. Marxism
D. Moralism

3. How should we use reader response theory in writing a critique?

A. In using reader response theory, we have to examine, explain, and defend
our personal reaction to a text.
B. In using reader response theory, we have to focus on the elements such as
the characters, setting, plot, point of view, theme and symbolism.
C. In using reader response theory, we have to investigate the social, cultural,
and intellectual context that produced it.
D. In using reader response theory, we need to examine a piece of literature to
see how it reveals class conflict, the differences between economic groups,
and the difference between the material and spiritual.

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4. How is structuralism used in writing a critique?
A. In writing a critique, structuralism is used by examining a piece of literature to
see how it reveals class conflict, the differences between economic groups,
and the difference between the material and spiritual.
B. In writing a critique, structuralism is used by interpreting and analyzing a
literary piece that focuses on contrasting ideas and show how they relate to
the whole structure.
C. In writing a critique, structuralism is used by focusing on the elements such as
the characters, setting, plot, point of view, theme and symbolism.
E. In writing a critique, structuralism is used by investigating the social, cultural,
and intellectual context that produced the text.

5. Teacher Mac is a women’s right advocate; he is requiring his learners to write

a critique paper about an article that underestimates the capability of women
using feminist approach. In order for the learners to do it, what important point
should be given focus?
A. The learners should focus on the economic, social, political, psychological
forces that challenge women.
B. The learners should give attention to the characters, setting, plot, point of
view, theme and symbolism.
C. The learners should emphasize class conflict, differences between
economic groups, and the difference between the material and spiritual.
D. The learners should investigate the social, cultural, and intellectual context
that produced the text.

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 Answer Key

Activity 1:
1. Reader-response 2. Historical 4. Formalist 5. Feminist 7. Structuralist

Activity 2
1. Formalist 2. Marxist 3. Feminist 4. Historical 5. Formalist

Activity 3-A: Sample answers only

1. In his famous novel, Rasselas, Samuel Johnson narrates the story of a prince
who escapes from the valley of happiness in search of eternal happiness,
which he ultimately finds nowhere. And this is the moral lesson of this tale.
2. One can easily detect the horror and terror expressed by Dr. Faustus in his
final soliloquy. His fall indicates that, in spite of being an educated person,
he made a great mistake by selling his soul to the devil. His repentance from
his misdeeds leads the reader to realize that the path of the devil is
doomed. The story of Dr. Faustus symbolizes the eternal struggle between
good and evil, and vice and virtue.

Activity 3-B: Answers may vary

Activity 4: Answers may vary

References
Almonte, Liza R., et al, 2015. Celebrating Diversity Through World
Literature. Meralco Avenue, Pasig City: REX Book Store Inc.

Agonoy, Shiela., et al,2020. Self-Learning Module, Alternative Delivery

Mode. Pasig City.

Critical Approaches in Writing A Critique: Course Hero, Accessed

February 16,2021,
https://www.coursehero.com/file/52856951/CRITICAL-APPROACHES-in-
writing-a-critiquepptm

Robert C. Evans, Critical Approaches to Literature:

ResearchGate.ResearchGateGmbH, August 2019, Accessed February
20,
2021,Researchgate.net/publication/335099513_Critical_Approaches_to
_Literature.

X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia’s Literature: An Introduction to Fiction,

Poetry, and Drama, Sixth Edition (New York: HarperCollins, 1995), pages
1790-1818.

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