PSYCHOLOGICAL CRITICISM AND DICKINSON’S POETRY

The three branches of psychological criticism are:

1. PSYCHOANALYTIC CRITICISM- this is the first approach which is:

A. A discipline founded on a procedure for the investigation of mental processes that are
otherwise inaccessible because they are unconscious;

B. A therapeutic method for the treatment of neurotic disorders;

C. A body of psychological data evolving into a new scientific discipline. · Freud believes that
society sublimates, or channels its unconscious through the creative process.

 The psychoanalytic critic would look at the unconscious desires sublimated by Dickinson in her
poem.

2. TRAUMA- the second approach of psychological criticism discussed in class is trauma.

 In trauma the greatest confrontation with reality may also occur as an absolute numbing to it,
that immediacy, paradoxically enough, may take the form of belatedness.

3. COGNITIVE CRITICISM- the third approach of psychological.

 The process is scientific in nature and draws evidence such as evolutionary findings tosupport its
claim

PSYCHOANALYTIC LITERARY CRITICISM CAN FOCUS ONONEORMORE OF THE FOLLOWING:

I. THE AUTHOR- the theory is used to analyze the author and his/her life and the literary work.
II. THE CHARACTERS – this theory is used to analyze one or more of the characters; the
psychological theory becomes a tool to explain the character’s behavior and motivations.
III. THE AUDIENCE – the theory is used to explain the appeal of the work for those who read it.
IV. THE TEXT – the theory is used to analyze the role of language and symbolism in the work.