Midterm
response.
Lesson 4: Literary Criticism
What is Literary Criticism?
"LITERARY CRITICISM” REFERS TO THE
ACT OF INTERPRETING AND STUDYING
LITERATURE.
LITERARY CRITICISM IS ANALYSIS,
INTERPRETATION AND EVALUATION OF
AUTHORS AND THEIR WORKS OF
LITERATURE, WHICH CAN INCLUDE
NOVELS, SHORT STORIES, ESSAYS, PLAYS
AND POETRY.
helps us understand what is important about
the text:
• its structure
• its context: social, economic, historical
• what is written
• how the text manipulates the readers
FUNCTIONS OF LITERARY CRITICISMS
• To analyze, study, and evaluate works of
literature.
• To form general principles for the
examination of works of literature.
LITERARY APPROACHES
1. Formalism
2. Archetypal
3. Feminist
4. Marxist
FORMALISM
• The Formalist Literary Approach, also
known as Formalism, is a literary theory
and critical approach that emerged in the
early 20th century, primarily in Russia and
later in the United States.
• Formalism emphasizes the formal aspects
of a literary text, such as its structure,
language, and literary devices, while often
downplaying or disregarding the author's
biography, historical context, and reader
Focus on the Text Itself: Formalism prioritizes
the examination of the literary work as an
autonomous entity, separate from the author's
intentions or the cultural and historical context
in which it was created.
Attention to Form and Structure: Formalists
pay particular attention to the formal elements
of a text, such as plot, narrative structure, point
of view, syntax, rhyme, rhythm, and other
literary devices. They believe that the form of a
work carries intrinsic meaning.
Unity and Wholeness: Formalists emphasize
the unity and wholeness of a literary work,
looking for how all its parts contribute to the
overall meaning and effect.
Objective Analysis: Formalist criticism aims to
be objective and systematic in its analysis,
relying on close reading and linguistic analysis
to uncover the structure and meaning of a text.
ARCHETYPAL
• The Archetypal Literary Approach, often
associated with the work of Carl Jung and
Joseph Campbell, is a literary theory that
focuses on the presence and significance of
archetypes in literature.
• Archetypes are universal symbols,
characters, themes, or motifs that are
deeply ingrained in the human collective
unconscious and are found across cultures
and time periods. This approach seeks to
uncover the recurring patterns and symbols
in literature that tap into these universal
human experiences.
Emphasis on Universal Themes and
Symbols: Archetypal criticism looks for
recurring themes, symbols, and motifs that
transcend cultural and historical boundaries.
These archetypal elements are considered to
be expressions of universal human
experiences.
Connection to the Collective Unconscious:
It draws on the concept of the collective
unconscious, as proposed by Carl Jung,
suggesting that certain symbols and themes
are part of a shared human psychic inheritance
and are reflected in literature.
Journey and Transformation: A common
focus is on the hero's journey or quest, which is
seen as a universal narrative pattern involving
trials, challenges, and transformation. This
journey is often linked to rites of passage and
personal growth.
FEMINIST
• The Feminist Literary Approach is a critical
perspective that focuses on the portrayal of
gender roles, power dynamics, and issues
related to gender and sexuality in literature.
• It emerged as a significant literary theory in
the 1960s and 1970s as part of the broader
feminist movement, with the aim of
highlighting and challenging the historically
male-dominated literary canon.
Focus on Gender and Patriarchy: Feminist
criticism examines how literature reflects and
reinforces traditional gender roles and
patriarchal power structures. It seeks to
uncover how these elements influence
character development, plot, and themes.
Exploration of Female Characters: Feminist
critics analyze the representation of female
characters in literature, looking at how they are
portrayed, whether they conform to or
challenge gender stereotypes, and how their
experiences are depicted.
Intersectionality: Feminist criticism often
incorporates intersectionality, which means
considering how gender intersects with other
aspects of identity, such as race, class, sexual
orientation, and disability. It explores how these
intersecting identities affect a character's
experiences and the narrative as a whole.
MARXIST
• The Marxist Literary Approach, also known
as Marxist criticism or Marxist theory, is a
literary theory and critical approach that
examines literature through the lens of
Marxist ideology.
• Marxism, founded by Karl Marx and
Friedrich Engels, focuses on the
relationships between social classes, the
role of capitalism, and the struggle for
economic and political power. The Marxist
Literary Approach seeks to understand how
literature reflects and critiques the
socioeconomic and political structures of
society.
Class Struggle and Conflict: Marxist criticism
emphasizes the presence of class struggle and
conflict in literature. It explores how characters
and events in a text represent the conflicts
between different social classes, especially
between the bourgeoisie (capitalist class) and
the proletariat (working class).
Material Conditions and Economic Forces:
This approach looks at how material conditions
and economic forces shape the lives of
characters and influence the narrative. It
examines how economic systems, such as
capitalism, affect characters' motivations and
actions.
Characterization and Social Class: Marxist
critics pay attention to the way characters are
portrayed in relation to their social class. They
look for instances of character development or
transformation driven by socioeconomic
factors.
READER-RESPONSE LITERARY
APPROACH
Reader-response literary criticism started in the
1960s to 1970s in response to formalist and
structuralist methods that focused on the text
rather than the reader's interpretation.
Formalist and structuralist literary methods
focus on the form, structure, and internal
elements of the literary text, such as language
and narrative structure.
Who is the author of the reader-response
literary approach? Louise Rosenblatt
Born: August 23, 1904, Atlantic City, New
Jersey, United States
Died: February 8, 2005, Arlington County,
Virginia, United States
Education: University of Paris (1927–1931),
Columbia University, Barnard College
The reader-response idea was founded by her
work "Literature as Exploration" on 1938.
DEFINITION
An approach to literary criticism and analysis
that focuses on how readers are actively
engaged in the creation of meaning in a text.
CRITIQUE
There are others that disagree with reader-
response approach. They've made a number of
accusations against the literary approach.
It argues that it places too much emphasis on
the reader's subjective interpretation of the
text, and that it neglects the objective qualities
of the text itself.
Critics also point out that reader-response
theory may not be applicable to all types of
texts, such as technical manuals or scientific
papers, where the reader's personal response
may be less relevant to the meaning of the
text.
Lesson 5: Anglo-Norman Literature
Definition:
It is the body of writings in Old French
Language as used in medieval England.
The use of this language started in English
courts during Edward the era but gained
Confessor's prominence after the Norman
Conquest in 1066. It became the everyday
language in various court, law, universities,
institutions like the court, church, schools,
parliament, and eventually in towns and trade.
For the English aristocracy, Anglo-Norman
became an acquired tongue and its use a test
of gentility.
What is Gentility?
"Gentility" refers to the quality of being
refined, polite, and having good manners. It
often conveys a sense of elegance,
sophistication, and social grace.
The alienation toward France during the
Hundred Years’ War started an increasing use
of English, the last strongholds of a French
dialect being Parliament and the law, in both of
which it still survives in a few formulas.
During the period, the following is also present:
1. Four years of ruthless war.
2. Rapid displacement of English bishops
and abbots in the monasteries.
3. Eviction of the English language and culture
4. Complete indifference of the new rulers to
books in a language which they did not
understand.
5. Old English manuscripts continued to
be copied.
Many authors wrote in French because it was
the prestige language of the court, such as
Marie de France and Wace.
Women Writers
In the Middle English period though, we have a
clearer picture because named authorship
came to be considered important— major
works by women include The Book of
Margery Kemp, the first autobiography in
English, Julian of Norwich's Showings, a
series of mystical and theologically rich
visions, and the works of Marie de France.
Poetry-Lyrics/ Ballads
There are a great number of anonymous lyric
poems and ballads found in manuscripts from
this entire period. These tend to be short
pieces written in rhymed couplets that reflect
on such topics as the cycle of nature ("sumer
is i-cumen in"), religious reflections ("Adam Lay
a-bunden"), or romantic laments.
14th Centure
A significant event for England and Europe was
the devastating Black Death from 1347 to
1350, causing a widespread loss of about 30%
of the population. This plague affected people
across all social classes, creating gaps in
societal structures. After the plague, laborers
were in high demand, leading to increased
wages. This shift in social dynamics gave
merchants more influence and contributed to
quick urban development.
In the latter half of the fourteenth century, two
of the era's most famous poets emerged from
this urban merchant background: Geoffrey
Chaucer and John Gower.
Geoffrey Chaucer:
- -Born c. 1342/43, London, England-died
October 25, 1400, London
- -The outstanding English poet before
Shakespeare and “the first finder of our
language.”
- - The Canterbury Tales ranks as one of the
greatest poetic works in English.
Canterbury Tales:
• A collection of tales united by a frame
narrative.
• -His most famous characters include the
Miller, the Wife of Bath, and the Pardoner.
• The work remained unfinished at the time of
Chaucer’s death, it has been cherished for
centuries because of Chaucer’s skill at
creating extremely vivid characters who tell
highly memorable stories.
What is frame narrative?
• A literary technique where a main story
is presented, and with it, there is
another story or set of stories.
Canterbury Tales: It narrates the journey of a
group of travelers who are going from London
to Canterbury on pilgrimage. Along the way,
they have a story telling contest, and so each
of the 24 tales is supposed to tell their own
kind of tale.
John Gower:
• Born 1330 – died 1408, London
• A medieval English poet, following the
traditions of courtly love and moral
allegory, had a reputation on par with
his contemporary Geoffrey Chaucer.
He significantly influenced other poets of
his time.
Lesson 6: Renaissance Literature
Renaissance
- It comes from the Fench word for “rebirth”,
and refers to a period of cultural, artistic,
and intellectual revival that began inItaly in
the 14th century and spread throughout
Europe in 15th and 16th centuries.
- It was a period of cultural and intellectual
rebirth that occured in Europe marked by a
renewed interest in classical learning,
humanism, individualism, and “the rejection
of medieval theological norms”, it also had
a profound impact on literature and the arts.
- According to many significant scholars,
renaissance is a “bridge between
Modernism and Medievalism”.
Leading Renaissance Figures
• Dante Alighieri
• Francesco Petrarca
• Leonardo da Vinci
Humanism
• It was a key feature of the Renaissance,
and it emphasized the importance of human
beings and their potential.
• This was a shift away from the medieval
emphasis on religion and the afterlife, and it
encouraged people to focus on their lives
and their achievements in the present.
Secularism
• The Renaissance was a period of increased
secularism, with people focusing more on
the world around them and less on religion
and the afterlife.
• This led to a new interest in science,
mathematics, and other areas of knowledge
that were not traditionally associated with
religion.
• As literary period, it also focus on the use of
vernacular language and the exploration of
individual emotions.
KEY POINTS
In the 13th century, Italian authors began
writing in their native vernacular language
rather than in Latin, French, or Provençal. The
earliest Renaissance literature appeared in
14th century Italy; Dante, Petrarch, and
Machiavelli are notable examples of Italian
Renaissance writers.
From Italy the influence of the Renaissance
spread across Europe; the scholarly writings of
Erasmus and the plays of Shakespeare can be
considered Renaissance in character.
Writers: William Shakespeare, John Donne
Printing Press: The invention of the printing
press is a gift of the renaissance’s innovative
norms as well as a key thing in the mid-15th
century that revolutionized the way of
knowledge gaining and give a bloom to the
spread of the renaissance movement.
Printed books and pamphlets made information
more widely available and helped to spread
new literary ideas.
Realism
• Renaissance artists and writers focused on
realism, depicting the world and its people
as they really were
England under the TUDORS
The Tudor period in England spans from 1485
to 1603, encompassing the reigns of five
monarchs: Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI,
Mary I, and Elizabeth I. This era is marked by
significant political, social, religious, and
cultural changes in England.
1. HENRY VII
- Henry VII, the first Tudor monarch, came to
power after defeating Richard III at the
Battle of Bosworth Field, effectively ending
the Wars of the Roses.
- He established the Tudor dynasty and
married Elizabeth of York, uniting the rival
houses of Lancaster and York.
2. HENRY VIII
- Henry VIII is one of the most famous Tudor
monarchs, known for his six marriages and
his break from the Roman Catholic Church.
- His desire for a male heir led him to seek
an annulment from his first wife, Catherine
of Aragon, which ultimately led to the
English Reformation.
- Henry dissolved the monasteries in
England, transferring their wealth to the
Crown, and established the Church of
England with himself as the Supreme Head.
- His reign also saw significant changes in
governance and foreign policy, including
wars with France and Scotland.
3. EDWARD VI
- Edward VI, Henry VIII's son with Jane
Seymour, succeeded his father at a young
age.
- His reign was dominated by Protestant
reforms, and England moved further away
from Catholicism.
- Edward's advisors, notably the Duke of
Somerset and later the Duke of
Northumberland, implemented Protestant
reforms in the Church and the government.
4. MARY I
- Mary I, also known as "Bloody Mary," was
Henry VIII's daughter with Catherine of
Aragon.
- Mary sought to reverse the Protestant
reforms of her brother's reign and return
England to Catholicism.
- Her reign is remembered for the
persecution of Protestants, leading to
hundreds of executions and earning her the
nickname "Bloody Mary."
- Mary's marriage to Philip II of Spain and her
attempts to restore Catholicism were met
with resistance and ultimately failed.
5. ELIZABETH I
- Elizabeth I, the last Tudor monarch, is often
regarded as one of England's greatest
rulers.
- Her reign saw the consolidation of the
Church of England and the defeat of the
Spanish Armada, which secured England's
status as a major naval power.
- Elizabeth's reign was marked by a
flourishing of English literature and culture,
often referred to as the Elizabethan era.
- She never married and was famously called
the "Virgin Queen."
- Elizabeth's reign is considered a period of
relative stability and prosperity, though it
was not without its challenges, including
tensions with Catholic powers and internal
religious conflicts.

Elizabethan Writers
Edmund Spenser
- The author of “The Faerie Queene”, a long
heroic poem dedicated to Queen Elizabeth.
Christopher Marlowe
- The author of “The Passionate Shepherd to
his Love” a pastoral verse which idealizes
the rustic simplicity of rural life.
Sir Walter Raleigh
- The author of The Nymph’s Reply to the
Shepherd- a famous response to Marlowe’s
poem.
William Shakespeare
- England’s greatest playwright.