Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Region I
Division of Ilocos Sur

SELF-LEARNING KIT IN ENGLISH 10

Quarter 3 Week 5

LESSON TITLE:
Moralist Literary Criticism

MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING COMPETENCY:

EN10RC-IIIb-22.2 Critique a literary selection based on Moralist Approach

At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:

1. analyze literary pieces using moralist approach;
2. appreciate literature through moralist approach; and
3. write a literary criticism on various literary devices using moralist approach.

SHORT DISCUSSION

What is Moralist Literary Criticism?

Moralist Criticism is a type of literary critique that judges the value of the literature based on its moral
lessons or ethical teachings.
Source: Moral Criticism, https://prezi.com/2iou0jas86h/moral-criticism,
Accessed February 10, 2020

$Mull Over/ Explanation:

The moral criticism approach talks about the values. From the term moral, it is about what is right or
wrong. As a critic, you are going to analyze a text whether it is ethical or not. If you are using this
approach, you have to determine, whether the literary piece conveys a lesson or message that could
inspire the readers to make the right or wrong choices in life. The moralist criticism approach measures
whether literary texts positively or negatively affect readers.
However, the moralist approach is not limited to the theme of the story. You can also use the characters
in analysis. For instance, a character in a story makes wrong decisions leading him to become a villain.
Although this character, no matter how evil his actions are, he/she only want to change the world for the
better. You can start analyzing the through asking questions: What his/her purpose? What mistakes did
he/she commit? What makes these actions wrong? Those are only example. And you can formulate your
own according to the angle you will take to analyze a literary selection.

Aspects of Moral Criticism:

1. Evaluate literature based on its moral or ethical teaching:
A. Praise literature that promotes values and encourages ethics.
B. Condemn literature that misguides and corrupts readers.
2. Literary works that both instructs and entertain are often seen as contemporary criticism as didactic.

3. Literature can be: A) moral 😎 practical. Some writers believe that literatures have the ability to either
corrupt or instruct people.
4. Post Modern Moral Criticism asks how the work affects the reader.
How to write a Moralist Literary Criticism?
1. Begin by writing an introductory paragraph. Your introduction or introductory paragraph must contain
the following information: title of the story or text, author, date of publication and the purpose of the
author in writing the text or story. Include your opinion and perception about women based on the story
or text that you have read.
2. Continue with the summary of the story. This is your second paragraph. As possible, the summary or
plot of the story should be stated in five sentences only. This is for your reader to have an idea of what
the story is all about.
3. The succeeding paragraphs must contain your analysis. This is where Moralist Literary Criticism comes
in. The following are guide questions which you may answer while writing a Moralist Literary Criticism:

Questions to consider when approaching a text with Moral Criticism (or Neo-Humanism or Christian
Humanism)
? Maturity, sincerity, honesty, sensitivity, and/or courage become important criteria in determining the
worth of literature and art. Is the author and his/her treatment of subject (both character and theme)
mature, sincere, honest, sensitive, or courageous? How so, and how does knowing this help us approach
the text in a meaningful way?
? Does the text seek to corrupt or negatively influence the reader? How so and/or why?
? What moral/lesson or ethical teaching is the author presenting in the text/or through character, plot,
or theme?
? How do characters, settings, and plot events represent or allegorize moral or ethical principles?
? Does the work in question pose a pragmatic or moral lesson or philosophical idea?

4. The last paragraph is your conclusion. Restate your opinion or perception of morality based on the
story that you have read. Summarize your main points in your analysis. You may encourage readers to
read the story.
.
EXAMPLE
Study the example below. Check if the critic answers one or more guide questions mentioned above.
NOTE: The story used in this example is attached on this SLK

Reading Text
Moralist Criticism Approach on the Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde
At the start of the story, one can already see the words, “Trespassers Will be Prosecuted”. In reality, it is
true that trespassers are punished, but they are not prosecuted. It is therefore shows, that the Giant in
the story is someone who does not forgive and someone who harbors hatred even for the smallest
things. In addition, it can be seen that the giant does not share, he is a selfish Giant.
The giant is just a symbol for people who think they are strong, and powerful. His size itself shows the
idea that sometimes, when people think they have everything and strong to take anything, they do not
need anyone. The garden represents wealth and his discouragement to let children play there shows
that he doesn’t share. There is only winter in his garden, spring forgot to visit there. Wilde used winter to
highlight the coldness and harshness of the Giant, the way real people forget their conscience to feed on
their greed.

Everything changed when a child visited his garden. Where the child is, blossoms appear and the giant
realized he is very selfish. So, the Giant began to change and he even let children play in his garden. This
scene is likened to human nature’s ability to change. Although the selfish Giant is bad and he became
good. He learned to share and accepts companionship.
This is the reason why this story can positively influence reader to share and to let people to their life. It
shows that being alone one tends to make mistakes and bad decisions. However, if there are people who
will tell it is wrong, who can guide those who have taken the evil road, one can change and they can
become good again.

The Selfish Giant taught a lesson that no matter how bad person could be, there is still hope that he
could change. If there is one who believe that he could change. Just like what it did to the selfish Giant
when the child accepted him and loved him. So the selfish Giant learned to share and love because there
is one who believed in him.

Mull Over/ Explanation:

The writer observed the attitude of the characters in the story whether they are considered moral or
ethical in today’s society. She also discussed symbolisms like the size of the giant and related to people’s
power over the weaker ones in reality.
The critique paper basically discussed the effects of bad attitudes and values of the characters. However,
it can inspire the readers that an evil person can change if there is someone who truly accepts and loves
him/her. By showing the bad characteristic of the Giant at beginning, the writer emphasizes the human
nature to transform into someone better.
In conclusion, the critique paper answers the question, “What moral lesson or ethical teaching is the
author presenting in the text/or through character, plot, or theme?”

GENERALIZATION
Always remember these important details:
• Literary criticism means to analyze the value of literature through different approaches.
• Moralist approach evaluates the effect of texts to the reader, whether they instruct them or corrupt.
• This approach looks at the theme, character, and plot if they give ethical principles or moral.

THE TALKING SKULL

A Nigerian Folktale

Be guided with the questions given below:

•Maturity, sincerity, honesty, sensitivity, and/or courage become important criteria in determining the
worth of literature and art. Is the author and his/her treatment of subject (both character and theme)
mature, sincere, honest, sensitive, or courageous?
•How so, and how does knowing this help us approach the text in a meaningful way?
•Does the text seek to corrupt or negatively influence the reader? How so and/or why?
•What moral lesson or ethical teaching is the author presenting in the text/or through character, plot, or
theme?
•How do characters, settings, and plot events represent or allegorize moral or ethical principles?
Does the work in question pose a pragmatic or moral lesson or philosophical idea?