Module 1

Literary Criticism
Term Paper
1st Semester
AY 2020-2021
Name: BSED – III
Instructors: Rating:

Literary criticism and Literary theory.

In the first topic of our module we study the literature and literary theory, it is important
that we define exactly what literary theory is identify some of the main characteristics of such, as
well as identify some of the key differences between traditional “literary criticism” and “literary
theory.

First , for me literature is simply a group of works of art made up of words. Most are
written, but some are passed on by word of mouth and literature is simply means imaginative or
creative writing like poetry and prose. Literature usually means works of poetry and prose that
are especially well written. Our brain takes raw data from the senses and makes it meaningful
by relating it to our previous experiences. By reading and discussing literature, we can apply it
by expanding our imagination, our sense of what is possible, and our ability to emphasize with
others. Improve your ability to read critically and interpret texts while gaining appreciation for
different literary genres and theories of interpretation. Read samples of literary interpretation.
Write a critique of a literary work. Lets go on to the difference between literature and literary
criticism. For me , literature simply use to describe written and sometimes spoken. It refers to
works of the creative imagination such as poetry and drama while Literary criticism or literary
studies is the study of literature. It is influence by literary theory which is the discussion of
literatures goals and methods. It is often published in essay of book form. Literary criticism
involves in this because in reading we can enhance our ability to write , interpret and
understand a poetry and drama that’s why we can sharpen our critical thinking abilities. That’s
why we need this literary criticism because this study od literature has a powerful effect on our
lives because it is the art or practice of judging and commenting on the qualities and character
of literary works. It is involves the reading , analysis , explanation and interpretation of texts
which are designated as literary while literary theory should do two things . First it helps to
provide the readers with a range of criteria for identifying literature in the first place , and an
awareness of these criteria should inform critical practice and second it should make us aware
of the methods and procedures which we employ in the practice of literary criticism , so that we
not only interrogate the text , but also the ways in which we read and interpret the text.

Therefore I conclude, that in studying literature in education , we must understand and

appreciate the literary texts to know its meaning . For the majority of people around the world,
our first serious encounter with literature comes from school. Reading and writing has been
drilled in all of us from an early age and this is set in motion with the start of examinations. In
history , literature allows a person to step back in time and learn about life on Earth from the
ones who walked before us. We can gather a better understanding of culture and have a greater
appreciation of them. We learn through the ways history is recorded, in the forms of manuscripts
and through speech itself. And last we must have concerned with the study of the function of the
literary text in social and cultural terms , which leads to a construction of its value.
 Module 2
Literary Criticism
Term Paper
1st Semester
AY 2020-2021

Name: BSED – III

Instructors: Rating:

The Classical Literary Theory

After knowing that literary criticism and literary theory is regarded as a homogenous
body of works with similar characteristics which are read in similar ways by an audience. In this
module , you will understand other approaches.

Classical literary theory is about literature of ancient Greece and Rome. Begin with the
Greek art of imaginative creation , there are a couple of concepts that are very different from our
present day ideas. It is simply defined as the classical ideas and imaginary by some classical
thinkers , there is some of very important writers like Aristotle and Plato. This theory has 5 basis
on literature it is mimesis, function, style, catharsis, and censorship. Mimesis is the Greek word
for imitation. Plato says that all art is mimetic by nature. In his theory of Mimesis, Plato says that
all art is mimetic by nature; art is an imitation of life. He believed that 'idea' is the ultimate reality.
Art imitates idea and so it is imitation of reality. Hence, he believed that art is twice removed
from reality. Function or Horace is refers to a piece of literary work is written in a low , middle ,
or high style. Example of this is the function of colors it tells different function of different colors
to use. It is focus in many description and functions of colors,indication of each color , symbol ,
the significance , quality , expression of each can be shown into the person using it , knowledge
of color.Catharsis is refers to the purification or purgation of the emotions primarily through art.
Romeo and Juliet is a great example of a tragedy, and its popularity might be explained by the
idea of catharsis. In the end, the young lovers end up dead because they made the mistake of
following their childish passions instead of being rational and patient. And last censorship is an
issue for plato for literary works that show bad mimesis. Literary works that show bad mimesis
should be censored according to plato . Pornography, for example, is often censored under this
rationale, especially child pornography, which is illegal and censored in most jurisdictions in the
world.

Therefore I conclude and I believe that understanding or interpreting any piece of text is
important is for me to know what the writers purpose and to find what is the message of the text
and learn other new information. So, through learning about various types of text, students learn
not about discrete and isolated forms of writing but instead about the construction of
written texts in general. it is through the analysis of particular forms that students begin to learn
about the writing system as a whole.
 Module 3
Literary Criticism
Term Paper
1st Semester
AY 2020-2021

Name: BSED – III

Instructors: Rating:

The historical – biographical and moral – philosophical approaches

After knowing that classical literary theory is premised on the idea that literature is an
imitation of life. In this module , you will understand other approaches. Also to define and
explain what is historical biographical and moral – philosophical approaches.

In Historical biographical approach from the word history it tackles all about reflections
of its authors life and their work. Historical-Biographical approach establishes a bridge between
the reader and the world's of the author. The life of the author, the historical events and the
values of his age help us understand the work, and in a similar way the literary work gives
information of the author and his own period. While the moral – philosophical approaches is a
type of literary criticism that believes literature should instruct morality. When we say morality
this is the principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad
behavior.Works that are clearly written to be subject to such criticism include various fables,
allegories and morality plays.

Therefore , I learned in this topic that in traditional approaches it is analyse a

work of art as the mirror of the author and the society of the period in which it is written.Studying
the historical events of the period, getting information about the author’s life and experiences
could help us understand what the text explains and what the author intends.
Module 4
Literary Criticism
Term Paper
1st Semester
AY 2020-2021
Name: BSED – III
Instructors: Rating:

The Romantic theory

In our past lessons we tackled about literature is simply a group of works of art made up
of words, Classical literary theory is about literature of ancient Greece and Rome. Begin with the
Greek art of imaginative creation , there are a couple of concepts that are very different from our
present day ideas. In Historical biographical approach from the word history it tackles all about
reflections of its authors life and their work and the moral – philosophical approaches is a type
of literary criticism that believes literature should instruct morality. After we recall all of our
previous lessons . This time. We are now on module 4 . Module 4 will discuss to you another
theory which help you doing literary criticism.

Wordsworth is perhaps the only romantic poet who made his poetic experiences it is
called romantic theory. Romanticism also known as the Romantic era was an artistic, literary,
musical and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th
century, and in most areas was at its peak in the approximate period from 1800 to 1850.
Romanticism was characterized by its emphasis on emotion and individualism as well as
glorification of all the past and nature, preferring the medieval rather than the classical. The
characteristics of romantic theory is may be approached from the primary importance of the free
expression of the feelings of the artist. For William Wordsworth, poetry should begin as "the
spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings", which the poet then "recollect in tranquility", evoking
a new but corresponding emotion the poet can then mold into art. The purpose of romantic
theory. Romanticism as a mind-set. It involved breaking with the past, and consciously moving
away from the ideas and traditions of the Enlightenment. In so
doing, Romanticism fundamentally changed the prevailing attitudes toward nature, emotion,
reason and even the individual.

As a result of this study, as a student I can say about William Woodsworths literary work
that it is focus about writer or narrator emotions and inner world. Its about his own feelings of
loneliness and being loss. Also Woodsworths wants to recall that as a youth nature once stirred
on him, an appetite, a feeling and love , but by the time he wrote Lyrical Ballads, it evoked the
still sad music of humanity. As a whole the poem are often explained to us the representation
booth woodsworth opposing views of nature and a meditationg on natural cyle of life. It is show
the characteristics of Romatic theory are focusing on the writers emotions and inner world ,
beauty and imagination, rejection of industrialization and idealization of women and rural life.
When I given a chance to write a piece of literature, I like to use historical – biographical
approach because I can write the reflection of authors life and also his works. I think it is easy to
write this kind of approach to make the reader familiarize the person.
 Module 5
Literary Criticism
Term Paper
1st Semester
AY 2020-2021

Name: BSED – III

Instructors: Rating:

American New Criticism / New Criticism

In our previous lesson we learn about William Wordsworth, poetry should begin as "the
spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings", which the poet then "recollect in tranquility", evoking
a new but corresponding emotion the poet can then mold into art. In this module, you will find a
new theory. This theory was journalist movement in literary theory that dominated American
literary criticism in the middle decades of the 20th century that is called American New Criticism /
New Criticism

New Criticism was a formalist movement in literary theory that dominated

American literary criticism in the middle decades of the 20th century. It emphasized close
reading, particularly of poetry, to discover how a work of literature functioned as a self-
contained, self-referential aesthetic object.The reader does not need outside sources, such as
the author’s biography, to fully understand a text; while New Critics did not completely discount
the relevance of the author, background, or possible sources of the work, they did persist that
those types of knowledge had very little bearing on the work’s merit as literature. Like Formalist
critics, New Critics focused their attention on the variety and degree of certain literary devices,
specifically metaphor, irony, tension, and paradox. The purpose of new critics is to emphasized
“close reading” as a way to engage with a text, and paid close attention to the interactions
between form and meaning.

Therefore the new criticism is about close reading, which means examining the text very
carefully! Use “i think” or “in my opinion.” Try to remember that in new critics they felt there were
right answers to literature—individual interpretations are irrelevant, the more narrow your focus,
the more you understand your analysis will be.
 Module 6
Literary Criticism
Term Paper
1st Semester
AY 2020-2021

Name: BSED – III

Instructors: Rating:

Psychoanalytical Theory

We have now five different theory of approaches before that is Literary criticism and
Literary theory, The Classical Literary Theory, American New Criticism / New Criticism, The
Romantic theory, The historical – biographical and moral – philosophical approaches and now
we have another theory to discuss.Psychoanalytical theory is the theory of personality
organization and the dynamics of personality development and also influenced by the tradition
of psychoanalysis begu by Sigmund Freud. In this module, this theory will be discussed.

Psychoanalytic criticism adopts the methods of "reading" employed by Freud and later

theorists to interpret texts. It argues that literary texts, like dreams, express the secret
unconscious desires and anxieties of the author, that a literary work is a manifestation of the
author's own mind. Psychoanalytic theory says that there is a deeper reason for April's slip -
for example, she still has feelings for Mark and her mind is on him, and therefore she called her
new date by her old boyfriend Mark's name. At this point the Psychoanalytic Theory is the
personality theory, which is based on the notion that an individual gets motivated more by
unseen forces that are controlled by the conscious and the rational thought. Sigmund Freud is
closely related to the psychoanalytic theory. It has also division of this theory. Psychoanalytic
theory divides the psyche into three functions: the id—unconscious source of primitive sexual,
dependency, and aggressive impulses; the superego—subconsciously interjects societal mores,
setting standards to live by; and the ego—represents a sense of self and mediates between
realities of the moment and psychic needs and conflicts.  Sigmund Freud was the founding
father of psychoanalysis, that’s why it is important for him because it is a method for treating
mental illness and also a theory which explains human behavior. Freud believed that events in
our childhood have a great influence on our adult lives, shaping our personality.

In addition , though primarily of historical interest, an understanding of Freudian

theory may give classroom teachers insight into the importance of unconscious feelings and
drives that motivate some student behavior .Students learn with greater understanding when
they share ideas through conversation, debate, and negotiation.
 Module 7
Literary Criticism
Term Paper
1st Semester
AY 2020-2021

Name: BSED – III

Instructors: Rating:

Mythological/Archetypal Theory

In our previous lessons we discussed about Literary criticism and Literary theory, The
Classical Literary Theory, American New Criticism / New Criticism, The Romantic theory, The
historical – biographical and moral – philosophical approaches and Psychoanalytical Theory.
This time in this module , a new literary approach is presented including importance,
characteristics, concept, and examples . To know these let discussed it one by one.

At first when we say Mythological criticism it explores how the imagination uses myths,
symbols to different cultures. A central concept in mythological criticism is an archetype that
analyses symbols and characters to find a deeper meaning. It is has important role to us
because it becomes a foundation for a lot of religions that are practiced. These
particular myths are stories that tell us about battles between good and evil. Every religion has
stories like that, both ancient and modern. One example of myth is Myth of Malakas and
Maganda - this tells the story of how men came to be. It is the Genesis story of Adam and Eve
in the Philippines. In the beginning there existed only the Sea and the Sky and their friend Bird
who flew between them. Sea and Sky got married and gave birth to a child named Bamboo.
Bird got tired and took a rest perching on the shoot, then it heard some voices asking it to free it.
It pecked at Bamboo, effectively killing him and broke him open, and a naked man and woman
came out, they were known as Malakas (“strong”) and Maganda (“beautiful”). Bird offered to
take them for a ride to Lupang Hinirang, the Land of the Chosen where they would live and
start humankind . On the other hand the Archetypal Theory is a product of both cultural
anthropology and psychoanalysis which are academic fields that might seem to be far from the
concept of archetypal criticism.  The main characteristic of this theory is that it revolves around
the identification of the archetypal figures within the texts and argues that these archetypes
determine the form and function of the text. The most famous example of an archetype is the
Hero. Hero stories have certain elements in common heroes generally start out in ordinary
circumstances, are “called to adventure,” and in the end must confront their darkest fear in a
conflict that deeply transforms the hero.

In summary we all know that Mythological criticism came from the word myths and that
is a traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or
without a natural explanation, that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some
practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature, stories . Myths are as relevant to us today as they were
to the ancients. 
And Archetypal Theory is a theory that is called universal, inborn models of people, behaviors,
or personalities that play a role in influencing human behavior. They were introduced by Carl
Jung theory of the collective unconscious.

Module 8
Literary Criticism
Term Paper
1st Semester
AY 2020-2021

Name: BSED – III

Instructors: Rating:

Structuralist literary theorist

In this module will discuss with you the Structuralist literary theory. This theory drawn
from the linguistic theory of Ferdinand de Saussure. Therefore language is a system of
structure. The way we respond to it are dictated or constructed of the structure of the language
we speak this is our perception of reality.

For me , it is have a broader meaning when we say structuralist theory because it is a

way of perceiving the world in terms of structures. The purpose of Structuralist literary theory is
sought to analyze the adult mind in terms of the simplest definable components and then to find
the way in which these components fit together in complex forms. However, the
structuralism's basic characteristics are a holistic interpretation of the text, a focus on the
underlying patterns or systems that cause changes in actions, a look at the structure beneath
the world that can be seen, and an acknowledgement that societies create structures that
repress actions. The essence of structuralism is the belief that “things cannot be understood in
isolation, they have to be seen in the context of larger structures they are part of”, also contexts
of larger structures do not exist by themselves, but are formed by our way of perceiving the
world but there is a constant movement away from the interpretation of the individual literary
work towards understanding the larger structures which contain them.

In summary taking the structuralist’s approach to language teaching will help the
teachers and practitioners develop a methodology and then apply to any problem. It assists the
students to learn through context. The structural approach views the language as being divided
into various components interacting with each other and then forming the rules of the language.
 Module 9
Literary Criticism
Term Paper
1st Semester
AY 2020-2021

Name: BSED – III

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Deconstruction Theory

This module will simply present to us another theory which is an opposition of the theory
you have learned in the module 8, the structuralist literary theory.

At first we must know the meaning of deconstruction. Deconstruction is an approach to

understanding the relationship between text and meaning. Deconstruction perceives that
language, especially ideal concepts such as truth and justice, unstable, or impossible to
determine. Deconstruction is defined as a way of analyzing literature that assumes that text
cannot have a fixed meaning. An example of deconstruction is reading a novel twice, 20 years
apart, and seeing how it has a different meaning each time. The pupose of Deconstruction is to
denotes the pursuing of the meaning of a text to the point of exposing the supposed
contradictions and internal oppositions upon which it is founded—supposedly showing that
those foundations are irreducibly complex, unstable, or impossible.

As I learned this lesson first , I thought that deconstruction theory is a theory with
opposite meaning of structuralism. Secondly ， I learned the difference of the deconstruction
and structuralism. Structuralism  pays more attention to deep structure ，
but Deconstruction exposes the instability of meaning and ambiguity of language.
 Module 10
Literary Criticism
Term Paper
1st Semester
AY 2020-2021

Name: BSED – III

Instructors: Rating:

Russian Formalism

In the past lessons you have, there are several literary theories discussed which,
accordingly , is said that literary criticism is best understood as the application of a literary
theory to specific texts. Hence, you learned about Classical theory, bibliographical- historical
theory, Moral- historical theory, the romantic theory , the American New criticism, the
Psychoanalytical theory, the Mythological / archetypal approach, the structural literary theory,
and the deconstruction. Now , in this module, you will study another literary theory, the Russian
formalism.

First we have to know more about Russian Formalism. To know what does Russian
Formalism stress? Why do Formalists read literature? And what did Russian Formalism
establish? The Russian formalism stresses that art is artificial and a great deal of acquired skills
goes into it as opposed to the old classical maxim that art conceals its art. The purpose of
Russian formalism is to establish a science of literature which has a complete knowledge of the
formal effects which together make up what is called literature. Also a formalist can read
literature to discover its meaning, and to highlight the devices and technical elements introduced
by the writer in order to make language literary. There are key ideas to remember in this theory :
baring the device, defamiliarization, retardation of the narrative, naturalization and
carnivalization. Baring the device - sense-making processes in digital games in common a
severe lack of knowledge about how games convey meaning and express ideas.
Defamiliarization mean it is to present in an unfamiliar artistic form usually to stimulate fresh
perception. Retardation of the narrative is a set of theories about the relationships between text
and meaning. Naturalization refers to how we refuse to allow a text to remain alien and stay
outside our frames of reference. Carnivalization is originated as "carnival" in Mikhail Bakhtin's
and was further developed in Rabelais and His World. For Bakhtin, "carnival" the totality of
popular festivities, rituals and other carnival form is deeply rooted in the human psyche on both
the collective and individual level.
Furthermore , Formalism in literary studies was not merely about formal elements of
literature, though it stressed the importance of studying form. In fact, it proclaimed the unity of
form and content by emphasizing that in a literary work the former cannot properly be
understood when separated from the latter and vice versa. At the same time, formalism
stressed the need to view literature as an autonomous verbal art, one that is oriented toward
itself. Thus, formalism addressed the language of literature and established the basis for the
origins and development of structuralism in literary studies.

Module 11
Literary Criticism
Term Paper
1st Semester
AY 2020-2021

Name: BSED – III

Instructors: Rating:

Marxist Literary Theory

In module 10 , we discussed the theory of Russian Formalism which stress that art is
artificial and that is a great deal of acquired skills goes into it as opposed to the old classical
maxim that true art conceals its art. In the formalist, reading literature is to discover its
literariness meaning the devices and technical elements introduced by the writer in order to
make language literary. Module 11 will discuss with you another theory. This is Marxist literary
theory. Here, you will know the difference between the two.

In Marxist literary criticism it is a loose term describing literary criticism based on

socialist and dialectic theories. Marxism was introduced by Karl Marx. As we recall our previous
lesson Karl Max is was a German philosopher, economist, historian, sociologist, political
theorist, journalist and socialist revolutionary. Marxist literary critics look into the structure of
history and society and then see whether the literary work reflects this structure. It is also need
to maintain the Marxist Literary criticism that a writers social class and its prevailing it is the
outlook and values. The difference between the marxist approach and russian formalism. When
we say Marxist approach it relates literary text to the society, to the history and cultural and
political systems in which it is created while Russian formalism is distinctive for its emphasis on
the functional role of literary devices and its original conception of literary history.

As a whole , we consider that literature must have a social dimension it exists in time
and space, in history and society. A literary work must speak to concerns that readers recognize
as relevant to their lives. And also Marxism is a social, political, and economic philosophy
named after Karl Marx.
 Module 12
Literary Criticism
Term Paper
1st Semester
AY 2020-2021

Name: BSED – III

Instructors: Rating:

Feminist Criticism

In module 11, you have learned that Marxist literary criticism it is a loose term describing
literary criticism based on socialist and dialectic theories. Module 12 will present to you another
theory, the feminist criticism, which is so different from the two theories you have just studied.

For several years now, governments and development agencies have given top priority
to gender issues in development planning and policies. Discussions focused on gender issues,
stressing the empowerment of women for equitable development:. Lets now take a look what is
feminist criticism ? What are the 2 kinds of feminist criticism? What does feminism ask? What
does feminist literary criticism study? Feminist Criticism is a critical and theoretical practice
committed to the struggle against patriarchy and sexism. There are two kinds of Feminist
Criticism one is concerned with unearthing, rediscovering or re evaluating womens writing. The
other one is concerned with the re reading from the point view of women. Feminism asks why
women have played a subordinate role to men in society. It is concerned with how womens
liveshave changed throughout history and what about womens experience is different from men.
In addition it studies literature by women for how it addresses or expresses the particularity of
womens live and experience. It also studies the male- dominated canon in order to understand
how men have used culture to further their domination of women.

In this module I have learned that women can also have the opportunity to voice out in
this society also to have power to govern that’s why do women have less access to educational
opportunities? Many people around the world living in poverty tend to lack the financial
resources needed to educate all the children in a household. The result is to encourage
education for boys, who have the potential to earn higher incomes, while girls, who are not
expected to earn an income, are made to work at home from childhood, doing housework or
farm work.
 Module 13
Literary Criticism
Term Paper
1st Semester
AY 2020-2021

Name: BSED – III

Instructors: Rating:

Postcolonial Criticism

In the previous module, you have learned what is Feminist literary Criticism studies. This
time, you will understand postcolonial criticism, the challenges faced by postcolonial writers, and
how Postcolonial emerged. You will also understand what are involved in Postcolonial theory of
Homi K. Bhabha.

In this module we must know what is Postcolonialism? How did Postcolonial Literature
emerge? What does Homi K. Bhabha’s postcolonial theory involve? Postcolonial Criticism is
undergone by Third World countries after the decline of colonialism. Many Third World writers
focus on both colonialism and the changes created in a postcolonial culture. Postcolonial
Literature emerge in their form out of the experience of colonization and asserted themselves.
They say language became a site of struggle for postcolonial literature since the main features
of imperial is control over language. The person Homi K. Bhabha in Postcolonial Criticism is
involve his analysis of nationality, ethnicity, and politics with poststructuralist ideas of identity
and indeterminacy, defining postcolonial identities as shifting, hybrid constructions.

In summary Post-colonial criticism is similar to cultural studies, but it assumes a unique

perspective on literature and politics that warrants a separate discussion. Specifically, post-
colonial critics are concerned with literature produced by colonial powers and works produced
by those who were/are colonized.