Historical-Biographical approach

and
Moral-Philosophical approach

Historical Criticism
 Involves understanding the events and experiences surrounding the composition of the
work, especially the life of the author, and using the findings to interpret that work of
literature.
 Critics investigate the time and place in which the literary work was produced.
 New Historicism
 History is subjective. (eg. Emilio Aguinaldo’s True Version of the Philippine
Revolution, 1899 vs Apolinario Mabini’s The Philippine Revolution, 1969)
 Study how literary interpretations are shaped by the culture of the various
interpreters.
 Old Historicism
 A literary work should be read with a sense of time and place of its creation.

Four steps in utilizing this approach:

1. Discovering the time when the work was made.
2. Analyzing whether it is connected to the content of the literary work.
3. Finding the clues left by the author.
4. Interpreting the literary work based on the moment underlying the creation of it.

Things to consider for your historical critique:

 Author's biography and social background
 When the work was written
 Ideas circulating at the time of writing.
 Events occurring at the time of writing.
 What the work meant to the people who first read it

References:

https://goodwin.libguides.com/c.php?g=950365&p=7427341
https://www.britannica.com/art/Formalism-literary-criticism
http://awinlanguage.blogspot.com/2012/03/historical-approach-to-analyze.html
https://slideplayer.com/slide/9447333/

BIOGRAPHICAL CRITICISM

Definition

- Biographical criticism is a form of literary criticism which analyzes a writer's biography

to show the relationship between the author's life and their works of literature.
- Biographical criticism is often associated with historical-biographical criticism, a critical
method that "sees a literary work chiefly, if not exclusively, as a reflection of its author's life and
times".

- Biographical criticism emphasizes the relationship between the author and his or her
literary work. Since the premise of biographical criticism maintains that the author and his or her
literary work cannot be separated, critics look for glimpses of the author’s consciousness or life
in the author’s work. Early childhood events, psychological illnesses, relational conflicts, desires
(fulfilled or unfulfilled), among other things, may all arise in an author’s work.

Key terms

- Who?

- What kind of person

- Life events

- Political views

- Economic status

- Educational Background

- Family

History of Biographical Criticism

- As early as the nineteenth century, scholars considered literary texts against the
background of the author’s biography. The aim was to find references to the author’s life,
education and socio-cultural in a literary work.

- This longstanding critical method dates back at least to the Renaissance period, and was
employed extensively by Samuel Johnson in his Lives of the Poets.

- Ever since the French critic Roland Barthes announced the “death of the author” in 1968,
the biographical approach has lost its appeal for many scholars.

Difference between Historical and Biographical Criticism

- Historical criticism works by looking into a literary works background: cultural and social
contexts, as well as the authors biography. Enter in Biographical Criticism. Biographical
Criticism works by considering the author and the fact-based knowledge of his life which
accompanies him.

Purpose of Biographical Criticism

- The purpose of such an approach is to discover connections between the author’s personal
growth and the development of their work.

Example of Biographical Criticism

Nicholas Sparks

- Lives in North Carolina

- Author of the Notebook, The Choice, and A Walk to Remember

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Author of the Great Gatsby

- Mr. Gatsby, Daisy, Tom Buchanan

- F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ginevra King, Zelda Fitzgerald

Similarities of Gatsby and Fitzgerald

- Wealth

- Alcohol

Benefits of Biographical Criticism

- Biographical Criticism enables readers to approach the writer’s work with a deeper
understanding of how they were crafted and their meaning.

- The lens allow us to see the imaginative spirit of how writers have taken events from their
own lives and shaped these experiences into their works for the readers to enjoy.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

- Works well for some which are obviously political or biographical in nature.

- It is also necessary to take a historical approach in order to place allusions in their proper
classical, political, or biblical background.
Disadvantages

“The intentional fallacy” tends to reduce art to the level of biography and make it relative rather
than universal.

Moralistic Approach
 It is defined as an approach that suggests that the larger purpose of literature is to teach
morality and to probe philosophical questions, in the words of Samuel Johnson. It is
believed that authors intend to instruct the audience in some way. This approach forces
readers to dig deeper, discover the moral values, and ask questions instead of accepting
things the way they seem. In this way, the text can be interpreted in various ways rather
than just one.
 It has the longest history and critics believe that the importance of literature lies not just
in how the message is conveyed but in the message itself as well. Additionally, they often
judge literary works by their ethical teachings and by their effects on readers. Literature
that is ethically sound and encourages virtue is praised while literature that misguides and
corrupts is condemned. Some modern critical theories resist the idea that literature has a
didactic purpose; however, many of the greatest writers have considered themselves
teachers as well as artists.

Practitioner of Moralistic Approach

 Matthew Arnold, Plato, Aristotle, and Horace. Arnold suggests that the most important
thing about literature is its moral of philosophical teaching. He believed that works must
possess a “high seriousness” to convey that teaching as well. He firmly believed that
literature, poetry in particular, is an important source of moral and spiritual inspiration
and would one day replace philosophy and religion entirely. While this belief of his has
not yet come true, today many can accept his idea that there is in fact moral and religious
significance in literature.
 Plato acknowledged literature’s power as a teacher by believing it capable of corrupting
morals and undermining religion. He insisted that literature must exhibit both moralism
and utilitarianism.
  On the other hand, Aristotle and Horace viewed literature capable of fostering virtue.
They believed it portrayed usefulness and beauty; therefore, literature should be both
“delightful and instructive.”

Advantages of Moralistic Approach

 This approach includes its usefulness for works which present an obvious moral
philosophy and for when considering the themes of works. This approach does not view
literature strictly as “art” that is isolated from any moral implications. It recognizes that
literature can affect readers either subtly or directly. Finally, it implies that both the
message and the way it is conveyed in a text is important.

Disadvantages of Moralistic Approach

 This approach mainly includes it being too “judgmental.” This simply means that some
believe literature should be judged primarily or solely on its artistic merits and not on its
moral or philosophical content. People who hold this belief generally think literature is
meant to be art and nothing more. They focus more on how the work is written and
admire that instead of looking for the meaning of the work and asking questions.
Philosophical Approach
 Moral and Philosophical Approach on Literary Criticism are synonymous and
interchangeable. One always implies the other.
 It assumes that the purpose of literature is to teach values.
 Expresses universal truths about life, ideal or excellent codes of conduct or behavior of
human beings that society or civilizations need to emulate for better life.
 Philosophical (or moral) criticism evaluates the ethical content of literary works.
However, these critics evaluate the work in its totality, not passages taken out of context.
Philosophical critics acknowledge that literature can have positive effects on people by
increasing their compassion and moral sensitivity, but it can have negative effects on
people, too. If humans are rational, they will listen to reason when it is spoken; and they
will reject evil and embrace good.
 Tips/Guide Questions when engaging on Moral-Philosophical Approach
 What truths or views of life does the work present?
 Which characters best represents the truth of life and philosophical viewpoints?
 What moral judgment are made by the characters?
 What does the work say about human nature, truth, or beauty?
 All philosophical features are considered

Disadvantage
- Bias and Judgmental
- Literature goes beyond moral teachings
- Art for Art’s sake
Advantage
- Conveys educates people about the truth and morality that is relevant in making
society virtuous, organized and peaceful
- Art for a cause
How to critique in this way?
- You can choose one focus or more. Depending on how or where you want to put light
on.
- One may focus on one question (can be about morality, a certain philosophical issue,
one or more – but more elements you want to focus on would require more
discussion)

Magda by Gloc 9 Analysis

On October 2013, Gloc-9, a Filipino rapper released his seventh album “Liham at Lihim” with
the song "Magda" featuring Rico Blanco as its first single. The lead single “Magda” –short for
Magdalena–is a heart-rending narrative about a pretty provincial lass, who is indeed her father’s
“princess” and who had every other lad’s heart besotted by her beauty. In this single, Gloc-9
takes the role of ‘Ernesto’ who is Magda’s childhood friend. In the song’s preview, ‘Ernesto’
takes us back to their happy childhood years and recalls those times when they would sail their
paper boats in the stream. Those carefree and innocent years are cut short when ‘Magda’ meets a
man from Manila who suddenly takes her away.

According to the preview of the song, ‘Magda’ is a social commentary on the sad turn of events
for many of our young innocent girls who are deceived, led astray and trapped helplessly to
becoming “ladies of the night” in the city. Ernesto as the storyteller has found the girl he had lost
in Magda. That he finds the latter as an adult woman, working nights on a stage, with only her
shoes on, is all that we know about what Magda does. Although she might be the star of the
song, it is Ernesto who speaks for and about her, and Magda’s silence is what fills the song. Her
story reflects a moral issue that has long been sought to be resolved. Technically, it is only due to
circumstance and poverty, which tends to push these women to do so.

Magda as they say is the modern version of Freddie Aguilar’s “Magdalena,” with its new
concept, spoken rhyming lyrics and a Fiesto Bandido sound because of its percussions. In the
song by the said singer, Magdalena is said to be a “kalapating mababa ang lipad” which
translates to the same thing as a prostitute or a woman who is paid by other people, men most
especially, for entertainment.

Fortunately, Gloc-9 isn’t shy to admit that Freddie Aguilar’s Magdalena served as an inspiration
for him to compose the song. It’s title was from his wife’s idea instead of using the same title as
Magdalena. The rapper also shared that a part of his inspiration for writing the song is his love
for his daughter since he cannot imagine a girl who is blessed to have a father that will end up
working the same job as Magda.

The name “Magdalena” is often linked with being a prostitute. If we'll look back, it somehow
started in the Scriptures. A woman named “Magdalene” or Magdalena in tagalog was branded
as a prostitute and was subject to be thrown by rocks by other people due to her sin. But later on,
Magdalene changed when Jesus saved her from those people who are about to throw rocks at her
when he said that only those who have not sinned can hit her with rocks.
Women can be named with whatever it is that their parents want. No song should ever imply that
being named as Magdalena translates to being a prostitute or being named as Mary translates to
being holy and sinless. Women have their fair share of mistakes and sins committed despite
being named Cristi, Joy, Rachel, or Angel. A name can never cage a woman's personality. We
should always bear in mind that regardless of what our name is, it is only used as something to
address us but not define us. Even if a woman is named Magdalena, it will never be right to
boldly assume that she is a prostitute or something similar to that.

As I listened to the mere preview of the song, it is clear that ‘Magda’–short for Magdalena–is a
social commentary on the sad turn of events for many of our young innocent girls deceived and
led astray and trapped helplessly and hopelessly to becoming “ladies of the night” in the city.

It is interesting to observe that as Gloc-9 has become more and more popular, he has not, as
would normally be expected, become distant and detached from daily realities of life. As he
progressively climbs the ladder of success in the music industry, he continues to keep his ears to
the ground. Thus, his sensitivities and sensibilities have become more sharpened and refined and
all of these have made him the artist he is now… and a powerful messenger too.

Personally, I think that the song not only reflects our women but also our relationship with our
country. We, the people are represented by Ernesto while Magda symbolizes our nation. While
we learn to love and care for our country as youngsters, as time goes by, other nations will do
their best to woe us in giving them our most precious resources, be it our natural resources or
even human resources only to be exploited in the end. This kind of music is what makes it more
than just a simple tune for everyone to groove on. This kind of music reflects what we are and
who we are. More so, it also tends to challenge us to strive to make our country a better place to
live in and to fight for equality among all genders.

References:

https://prezi.com/-amzxltduesg/biographical-and-historical-criticisms/

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/sunycorning1020elec201819/chapter/116/
https://artsandculture.google.com/entity/biographical-criticism/m0bhbs3v?hl=en

https://prezi.com/2jvsbczkvtq7/biographical-criticism/

http://katielittyblog.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-great-gatsby-biographical-criticism.html