LITERARY CRITICISM

is the evaluation, analysis, description

or interpretation of literary works.
 FORMALISM:
qSTUDIES TEXT AS TEXT
qLITERATURE IS A UNIQUE FORM OF HUMAN
KNOWLEDGE THAT NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED ON ITS
OWN TERMS
qA LITERARY WORK CAN BE UNDERSTOOD ONLY BY
REFERENCE TO ITS INTRINSIC FEATURES, WHICH
ARE THE ELEMENTS.
qTHESE ELEMENTS INCLUDE THE CHARACTERS,
SETTING, PLOT, POINT OF VIE, AND SYMBOLISM.
CHARACTERS:
A PERSON OR EVEN ANIMAL WHO
TAKES PART IN THE ACTION.

CHARACTERS CAN BE:

Ø STATIC - CHARACTER WHO DOES

NOT CHANGE OVERTIME

Ø DYNAMIC - CHARACTER WHOSE

PERSONALITY CHANGES
OVERTIME
SETTINGS:

REFERS TO TIME AND PLACE THE

STORY HAPPENED. THIS INCLUDES

WEATHER CONDITION AND SOCIAL

CONDITION.
POINT OF VIEW:
THIS IS THE ANGLE THE STORY IS
TOLD:

FIRST (I, ME), SECOND (YOU, YOUR, YOURS)

OR THIRD PERSON (SHE, HE, THEY).

WHO SPEAKS IN THE STORY?

THEME:
THE CENTRAL IDEA OF THE STORY.

IT ANSWERS THE QUESTION:

WHAT IS THE STORY ALL ABOUT?

SYMBOLISM:

ANY OBJECT, PERSON OR SITUATION,

EVENT OR ACTION THAT HAS

DEEPER MEANING.
STRUCTURALISM:
q INTERPRETING AND ANALYZING A LITERARY PIECE THAT
FOCUSES ON CONTRASTING IDEAS AND SHOW HOW THEY
RELATE TO THE WHOLE STRUCTURE.

q A PIECE IS OPEN TO INTERPRETATION. THE TEXT IS BASE

ON THE READER’S UNDERSTANDING, WHICH MAY
INVOLVE PERSONAL BELIEF, ENVIRONMENT, BEHAVIOR OR
NORMAL PERCEPTION.
EXAMPLE:

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
INTERPRETATION 1:

WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL IN ALL

OUR ACTIONS OR ELSE WE CAN
DRAG OTHERS DOWN WITH US.
INTERPRETATION 2:

JACK’S CROWN MAY SYMBOLIZE

AUTHORITY. SO WE CAN APPLY
THIS TO GOVERNANCE. IF THE
RULER FAILS, IT AFFECTS THE
PEOPLE.
QUIZZICAL
QUEST!
DIRECTION:

TELL WHICH LITERARY APPROACH IS USED IN THE

STATEMENTS.

HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN BRAWLS

WHEN HE WAS YOUNG.

FORMALISM
DIRECTION:

TELL WHICH LITERARY APPROACH IS USED IN THE

STATEMENTS.

DURING 1800, MERCHANTS USED TO

TRAVEL TO DISTANT PLACES FOR
TRADE.
FORMALISM
DIRECTION:

TELL WHICH LITERARY APPROACH IS USED IN THE

STATEMENTS.

THE STORY TELLS ABOUT HOW GOD

GIVES JUSTICE TO THE OPPRESSED.

FORMALISM
DIRECTION:

TELL WHICH LITERARY APPROACH IS USED IN THE

STATEMENTS.

JUSTICE IS ABOUT HARMONY, REVENGE

IS MAKING ONESELF FEEL BETTER, BUT
FOR SOME PEOPLE THEY ARE JUST THE
SAME.
STRUCTURALISM
DIRECTION:

TELL WHICH LITERARY APPROACH IS USED IN THE

STATEMENTS.

IVAN’S 25 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT IS NOT

A WASTED TIME OF HIS LIFE BECAUSE HIS
FAITH MADE HIM A BETTER PERSON EVEN IN
THE WORST PLACE ON EARTH.
STRUCTURALISM
 QUIZZY
BUSINESS!
Define formalist and structuralist approach. Choose your answer from the box.

1. What is the primary focus of the formalist approach in literary analysis?

2. Which literary theory is likely to focus on intrinsic qualities of a text rather than its external
influence?
3. According to structuralism, what is the key to understanding a text?
4. According to structuralism, what role do recurring patterns and structures play in understanding a
text?
5. A theory that analyzes literature by examining its underlying structures and system

Literary elements and form Formalism

The structure of the text Structuralism
They provide insight into universal structures of thought.